Menu

Best Pillows for Vertigo: Find the Rest You Deserve

Danielle Mcleod

1. Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Bed Wedge Pillow – Editor's Choice

Check Price
  • 100% memory foam, no poly foam layers
  • Greatly reduces certain discomforts
  • Great for injury recovery
  • 100% lifetime

2. Bed Wedge Pillow by Xtra-Comfort

Check Price
  • Adjustable lift
  • Is comforting and holds the body well
  • Soft, comforting surface
  • Lifetime

3. PharMeDoc C-Shaped Body Pillow

Check Price
  • Helps relieve back and neck pain
  • Loft is low enough for good side sleeping neck support
  • Shapes easily
  • 5 years

4. Medium Cradling Sleeper (for <160 pounds)

Check Price
  • Various sizes for all body types
  • Cradles body and relieves pressure points
  • Takes all weight off shoulder
  • Lifetime

5. Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Check Price
  • Washable cover
  • Highly responsive memory foam
  • Excellent support
  • Lifetime

If you have ever suffered from a bout of vertigo, or have a recurring chronic condition, you know exactly how disruptive to your life it can be even if it is fairly mild in nature. The dizziness, nausea, lack of balance, and vision impairment that often goes hand and hand with this condition doesn’t even go away at night, and laying down to sleep can feel if you are spinning in a dark whirlpool, or rocking back and forth upon a stormy sea.

Vertigo, in and of itself, is exhausting, and it can feel torturous to not be able to rest and recover. Luckily, bouts of vertigo are temporary, and you may be able to help alleviate the worst of your symptoms as you sleep by getting your head into just the right position. More important than your overall body alignment, is the ability to hold yourself in a position that keeps your dizziness from interrupting your rest. The best pillows for vertigo can help hold you in place and allow you the rest you deserve.

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a sense of dizziness, marked by visual impairment and nausea in the worst of cases, and can come on suddenly, or gradually, and last but a few moments – or a few days (or longer). It actually is a symptom of an issue you are experiencing, rather than the cause of your problem.

It is marked by a sense of spinning or rocking, and a general loss of balance is pretty typical no matter whether you are standing, sitting, or laying down. Many people tire of the constant motion they feel, even when sitting perfectly still, and movement- such as turning over in bed- can actually worsen the condition. Abnormal eye movement, called nystagmus, due to this feeling of movement is also often associated with vertigo.

What Causes Vertigo?

There are a few causes of vertigo, but to better simplify the cause- can be explained as either a problem with the way balance works within the inner ear, or a problem with certain parts of the brain.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – This is a condition when small calcium deposits develop in the inner ear canals. This causes vertigo when certain head movements move these ‘rocks’ creating a sense of imbalance and dizziness as your body tries to equilibrate itself.
Meniere’s disease – An inner ear disorder marked by fluid in the ear canal, this creates a sense of imbalance similar to BPPV.
Vestibular neuritis – This is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve which sends messages to the brain to help control balance.
Labyrinthitis – Simply put, this is an inner ear infection.
Injury – Injuries to the head, neck, or spine can create a sense of vertigo, as can other traumatic incidents.
Medications – Some medications can also create a sense of dizziness and mimic, or create a sensation of vertigo.
Migraines – MIgraines are severe headaches and can create vertigo due to pressure and pain.

What Can Help Alleviate Vertigo?

There are actually quite a few approaches to vertigo that you can take depending on the severity of the situation. Obviously any sort of infection or virus should be treated by a doctor, as should injuries, but lasting vertigo can be addressed with medications, therapy, and even chiropractic work.

Since most cases of vertigo are not severe or lasting, many people opt to treat it at home and try to accommodate their compromised balance as they wait for it to go away. Once of the biggest issues many people have is getting adjusted to the sensation when at rest, which is why addressing this discomfort is the topic of this article. Certain bedding choices can help you get a more stable sleep as you recover, but it is important to keep in mind that each case is unique to the person suffering from the affliction.

What to Consider When Choosing a Pillow for Vertigo

When choosing a pillow for vertigo, you have to keep in mind that each person will have to find their own comfort level that minimizes the feeling of dizziness. For some people that may mean they need to stay somewhat elevated, for other it may mean not using a pillow at all. The biggest drawback of vertigo is that even if do find what works for you, if you shift through the night, it may create a new flush of symptoms, causing you to wake and begin your suffering afresh.

Your spinal alignment and comfort associated with your usual preferred sleep position will become secondary to alleviating your dizzy spells, so you may find the pillow you normally prefer is no good. Since trying to stabilize your body is important to helping you get rest, you may want to use your pillows to better help stabilize your body to minimize movement. Pillows placed along your back can help keep you from rolling, for example.

Our Best Rated Pillows for Vertigo

As mentioned, trying to keep your body stable is a main concern if you have found a position that helps alleviate the worst of your discomfort. Your personal pillow, or a more traditional pillow shape, may work well to get you initially comfortable- but are you sure you won’t roll through the night? Pillows that help provide a more stable position are our main focus below, and can be used either with, or as a replacement of, the pillows you may already have.

1. Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Bed Wedge Pillow – Editor's Choice

Highlights

  • Filling- Memory foam
  • Loft- 7 inches
  • Comfort Positions- Back and side
  • Warranty- 100% lifetime

Pros

  • 100% memory foam, no poly foam layers
  • Greatly reduces certain discomforts
  • Great for injury recovery

Cons

  • Offgassing may be present
  • Takes some time to get used to

The 2 solid wedge layers that make up the Xtreme Comforts Wedge Pillow include a soft, conforming memory foam surface to help contour to your upper body to provide relief from pressure points as you sleep. The 30% angle is conducive to holding the body in a raised position without slippage to provide a stable surface for minimal movement through the night.

Wedge pillows are a helpful alternative for a wide variety of afflictions, such as snoring, sleep apnea, and back pain to name a few. It also can be used for various purposes and body support, making it a good choice for other uses as well. The plush bamboo casing is breathable, and can be removed for washing.

Who Should Purchase this Pillow

Many sufferers of vertigo prefer a raised support as their vertigo worsens when they lower their head. If dizzy spells lessen when you are more upright, this could be a good choice to consider.

2. Bed Wedge Pillow by Xtra-Comfort

Highlights

  • Filling- Memory foam
  • Loft- up to 12 inches
  • Comfort Positions- back and side
  • Warranty- Lifetime

Pros

  • Adjustable lift
  • Is comforting and holds the body well
  • Soft, comforting surface

Cons

  • Very firm
  • Takes time to get used to

Another great wedge pillow design, the Bed Wedge by Xtra-Comfort actually is adjustable as it has multi-incline uses, and is considered a 3 in 1 design. It can provide a 12 inch high loft on which to rest your upper body to provide you with one of the highest support in the industry. The dense memory foam adjust to your body weight and heat, and is considered a firm feel to help keep you from slipping down as you sleep on it.

A soft, microplush cover can be easily removed for washing, plus it contains a handle for easy storage and portability. This material also aides in helping to hold you upon the slope it provides at the texture negates slippage.

Who Should Purchase this Pillow

As described above, wedge pillow designs are excellent choices for anyone who needs to be help in a more upright position to get relief from their symptoms. This adjustable wedge can also be used to help stabilize the body, and provide support elsewhere if stability is more of a concern than height.

3. PharMeDoc C-Shaped Body Pillow

Highlights

  • Filling- Poly Fiber
  • Loft- 6 inches
  • Comfort Positions- All
  • Warranty- 5 years

Pros

  • Helps relieve back and neck pain
  • Loft is low enough for good side sleeping neck support
  • Shapes easily

Cons

  • May not be as comforting to taller people
  • Not easy to clean
  • Quality and strength of seams may be lacking

Body pillows are excellent ways to help provide whole body support. Since stability is such an important detail to consider surrounding vertigo to help keep from creating further distress, the length and shapes of various body pillows may come in handy. The PharMeDoc company actually specializes in body support pillows to address both spinal alignment and support for comfort and recovery.

This C-shaped pillow allows for various uses concerning head, neck, hip, and leg support, as well as being folded for height to hold the body in a consistent position through the night. A poly-fiber filling within the soft cotton casing allows for easy contouring and pliable shaping options for support.

Who Should Purchase this Pillow

Our own trials for both pregnant, and non-pregnant sleepers yielded great results for this pillow concerning comfort and support- exactly what is needed for those suffering from vertigo and in need of a stable sleep.

4. Medium Cradling Sleeper (for <160 pounds)

Highlights

  • Filling- memory foam
  • Loft- ~4 inches
  • Comfort Positions- side
  • Warranty- 30 day returns

Pros

  • Various sizes for all body types
  • Cradles body and relieves pressure points
  • Takes all weight off shoulder

Cons

  • Specific to side sleepers only
  • Slight offgassing when opened

Both traditional and body pillows may be excellent choices for helping to hold the body in position through the night, but sometimes a more firm hold may be needed especially if vertigo is severe. The Medium Cradling Sleeper (also available in a large) is made for people who weigh 160 lbs or more, and is a contoured pillow created specifically to work with your own choice of head pillow to hold you in a stable position through the night.

The design helps allow your upper torso to be held in a gentle, cradled slope, takes pressure off your shoulder if you use it for side sleeping, and keeps you from being able to rock from side to side. The low density foam conforms under your weight to alleviate pressure points as well.

Who Should Purchase this Pillow

This pillow support not only holds your body in place, but also gently elevates it, allowing you to use it with stacked pillows to hold your head ina higher position if needed. The design is a good one to work for multiple comfort solutions.

5. Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Highlights

  • Filling- memory foam
  • Loft- ~5 inches
  • Comfort Positions- travel, back, side support
  • Warranty- Lifetime guarantee

Pros

  • Washable cover
  • Highly responsive memory foam
  • Excellent support

Cons

  • May create heat retention
  • Might be too soft for some people

Not surprisingly, but not often considered, is the support a traditional u-shaped travel pillow can lend to your sleep. When holding your head still is needed, the Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Travel Pillow is a great alternative to other choices on the market. The flattened side lays flat against your mattress surface, while the curved side conforms to your head and neck. The memory foam is soft enough to provide good response and hold without creating unnecessary pressure points.

The sofy, valour feeling cover is also removable and washable, making it a good choice for regular use if needed unlike other covers that can not be put into a washing machine. Plus, as a travel pillow you have a product that can be used for various needs.

Who Should Purchase this Pillow

A u-shaped travel pillow is an excellent way to hold head still through the night. Memory foam conforms best to your head for comfort, unlike other materials that may be too firm in nature.

Conclusion

Vertigo can put a serious damper on your mobility, and wreak havoc on your comfort. And the sleep you need to recover is often seriously compromised by the spinning sensations you may be experiencing. If sleep is what you crave, then stability is what you need, and if you can find a position that alleviates the worst of your suffering, then you need sleep products to help hold you in such a manner. The best pillow above will be the one that works for you personally as only you can find the position that works with your body type and vertigo affliction.