[Weekly SME] Daily Life, Beware of Straight Neck When Wearing Pajamas and Staying Home More in Hot Weather

Introducing Summer Season and Home Stay Health Management Tips

Unisex pajamas Solsol Love by Pyeongsosenghwal.
[Photo by Pyeongsosenghwal]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jonghwa] Although more people are choosing to sleep naked due to the heat, it is better to wear pajamas even in summer for comfortable sleep. With over a year of COVID-19 lockdowns, increased use of smart devices and computers has led to a rise in complaints of straight neck syndrome. When the cervical spine, which should maintain a C-shape, is transformed into a straight line, it causes pain in the neck and back as well as headaches and dizziness.

Lifestyle brand Pyeongsosenghwal introduces reasons why pajamas should be worn even in summer and shares summer health tips including how to prevent straight neck.

Sleeping Naked Lowers Sleep Quality by Losing Body Heat

Going to bed naked can cause excessive loss of body heat. While the cool temperature at bedtime helps you fall asleep quickly, the temperature drops gradually at dawn, which can lower body temperature more than necessary. Especially in summer, heavy sweating can cause chills when sweat evaporates, and in severe cases, hypothermia.

Repeatedly waking up due to cold can harm sleep quality. Therefore, instead of sleeping completely naked because of the heat, wearing a thin layer of pajamas to maintain proper body temperature is essential for a healthy summer night.

Pajamas absorb bodily secretions and prevent contamination. During sleep, about one cup of sweat is released daily. Without pajamas, the mattress absorbs the sweat directly, creating an environment conducive to bacterial growth and negatively affecting the mattress's lifespan.

Additionally, pajamas safely protect the skin from irritants such as dust, dead skin cells, and hair accumulated on the bed. Wearing pajamas is especially essential for those vulnerable to skin irritation, such as people with atopic dermatitis or allergic conditions.

If you dislike the feeling of clothes pressing against your body during the uncomfortable summer humidity, removing underwear can help. Without underwear, there is no pressure on the abdomen, improving blood circulation. Wearing loose-fitting homewear like gowns or robes with roomy sleeves and waist areas that offer excellent breathability is also beneficial.

Pyeongsosenghwal’s Solsolrobe is made from a linen and cotton blend fabric, providing a cool touch and good ventilation, making it ideal summer pajamas. Its 130cm long length eliminates the need to buy separate top and bottom pajamas, and it is unisex and suitable for both children and adults, allowing the whole family to economically prepare summer pajamas.

Everyday Life Ice Cream Pillow made with high-density memory foam.
[Photo by Everyday Life]

C-Shaped Cervical Spine Becomes Straight, 2.21 Million Treated for 'Straight Neck' in Hospitals

According to the National Health Insurance Service’s public interest statistics, the number of patients who visited hospitals for straight neck last year reached a staggering 2.21 million. This is about an 11% increase compared to 2016.

Straight neck refers to the condition where the cervical spine, which should maintain a C-shape, is transformed into a straight line due to repeated poor posture. Persistent straight neck causes stiffness and pain in the neck and back, and in severe cases, headaches and dizziness.

Straight neck syndrome mostly occurs when electronic devices are used with improper posture. Smartphones and tablet PCs, which are often held by hand, tend to have screens positioned too low, so caution is needed. When the screen is low, the head naturally leans forward, so it is important to maintain eye level when using smart devices.

Computer monitors should also be adjusted to be at eye level and horizontal. If the monitor is too low, use a monitor stand, monitor arm, or books to raise it. Be careful not to raise the monitor too high, as an excessively high monitor causes the neck to tilt backward, which can fatigue the cervical spine.

When staring at screens for long periods, people tend to unconsciously extend their necks. Taking short breaks and doing stretches during work helps prevent straight neck. Simple stretches like turning the head left and right or shrugging the shoulders can relieve neck fatigue.

Massaging the neck and back area is another method. The closer one is to having straight neck, the more likely the neck muscles are stiff, so regularly loosening the muscles is recommended. However, excessive stretching and massage can harm the cervical spine and surrounding muscles, so they should be avoided.

Many people avoid using pillows to improve neck wrinkles or because pillows feel hot. However, for cervical health, it is necessary to use a pillow with some height that supports the natural curve of the cervical spine. Not using a pillow can cause the cervical spine to lack proper support, leading to straight neck.

Overly soft cotton pillows are also bad for the cervical spine. Cotton pillows filled firmly tend to be too high, which also burdens the neck. On the other hand, pillows made of high-density memory foam provide firm support for the cervical spine and adjust height according to body contours due to excellent viscoelasticity.

Pyeongsosenghwal’s Ice Cream Pillow is made with ‘Cloud Memory Cell,’ which has excellent shape memory and resilience. It adapts to body movements during sleep, effectively disperses pressure, and provides stable support for the cervical spine. It also uses cooling fabric with excellent heat absorption, keeping users comfortable even in midsummer heat.

A representative from Pyeongsosenghwal advised, "The cervical spine is a body part prone to deformation, so it is important to maintain healthy habits and regularly check its condition. Wearing pajamas and always using a pillow even in summer are ways to spend a comfortable summer."