How
a Mattress Can Affect Your Health
Do you…
· Experience sleeping problems such as aches and pains after waking up?
· Have chronic lower back pain?
· Get tired feet, especially after traveling?
· Sleep better when you’re not in your own bed?
Today,
millions of adults are having health and behavior problems because they don’t
get enough sleep in order to be fully awake and alert the next day. (2002
sleep in
“How we function during our waking hours is greatly influenced by duration and quality of night time sleep,” said James K. Walsh, PhD, president of the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). “Concentration, alertness and reaction time are among the many performance factors that can suffer when sleep is acutely or chronically disturbed.”
We all know that there is a link between sleep and performance. Proper sleep boosts metabolic efficiency, which helps burn body fat, increases the release of growth hormones, which helps build muscles and accelerate recovery, and improves concentration and reaction times. Good sleep is very important to have a healthy life and as important as good nutrition and exercise.
Many people change their houses, cars more often than they change their mattress or pillows. When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, your mattress plays a major role. With too many choices and advertising, consumer is more confused than ever in the today’s mattress market. The most expensive or latest model doesn’t necessarily mean one mattress is better than another. The right mattress should be firm enough to provide support to your back, neck, and legs and some comfort to your body as well. It should be firm enough to distribute the weight of your body and also it should be soft enough to give you the comfort you need. Generally, people who have back problems are more comfortable on a firm mattress.
On the other hand sleeping on the wrong mattress has many bad effects on your lower back, and the rest of the body. It doesn’t keep the spine in alignment and as a result low back pain can occur.
Different types of mattresses:
Coil Mattresses:
Coil mattresses provide most people with extreme comfort. It’s necessary to consider the density of the coils. The higher the number of coils in a mattress, the smaller and more flexible they are. This makes the mattress more easily adjustable. In other words, a mattress is better if it has a higher number of coils. It’s recommended to buy a mattress with at least 680 (double mattress coil count) or more coils per mattress. Stronger or heavier people should go with more than 680 coils. A pocket coil mattress is a very good choice if you’re sharing the bed with a partner. In this type of mattress, coils are not connected to each other and they’re wrapped individually to prevent motion transfer while preserving the shape of the mattress. Since they prevent motion transfer, you won’t be bothered if your partner moves.
Foam Mattresses:
Some people consider these more comfortable than normal mattresses, but this type of mattress has no health benefit over coil mattresses. Foam mattresses are made with latex foam or memory foam. Since these materials are hypoallergenic and sensitive to the body heat and pressure, the body moulds into the mattress.
Pillow Top Mattresses:
These have an extra layer of cushioning for added softness to a firm mattress. Most people feel these mattresses are exceptionally comfortable.
Air Beds:
These beds don’t have springs; air chambers provide the support. Quality, flexibility and adjustability depend on the chamber size. The advantage of air mattresses is that it allows people to adjust the firmness.
Foundations:
There are few different kinds of foundations: box-springs, wooden foundations and grid foundations. A box-spring is comprised of a frame with extra heavy duty springs. This gives softer support and a bouncier mattress.The wooden foundation is made of soft or hard wood, and it gives the feeling of firmness and stability. Grid foundations are a combination of steel and wood.
How to find the best mattress for you:
Since it depends on a person’s individual requirement, nobody else can find the right mattress for you. You need to invest some time for it. A good mattress should give you comfort as well as proper body support. Therefore, it’s necessary to spend some time to find the right mattress.
· Test the mattress; lie on your back, side and stomach for about 10-15 minutes. If you keep sinking into the mattress and you feel that your spine is not straight, it might be too soft, and vise versa; if you feel discomfort and that the mattress is hard, the mattress is too firm.
· If you have a sleeping partner, bring him/her with you. A pocket-coil mattress is a good choice for a couple. Also try to find a mattress wide enough for two people. Queen and King are the two best choices.
· Don’t just assume the most expensive ones are the best, but don’t go with the cheapest mattress either. Make sure it’s very well-manufactured and comprised of fine quality materials. Compare the prices along with the quality and keep coil counts in mind as well.
· Try to find a place where you can customize your mattress according to your personal body requirements. Buying directly from a manufacturer, you can customize the mattress and save money at the same time.
· If you have lower back pain, try to find a firmer mattress (but not a rock hard mattress).
· Try to find a place with a money-back refund or exchange policy.
How to take care of your mattress:
· Flip your mattress from time to time. If you have a euro-top mattress (extra layer of cushioning only on one side), instead of flipping it, rotate it, to prevent permanent indentations from forming.
· Set up the frame, box-spring & mattress properly to ensure a good night’s sleep and preserve the durability of the mattress. Otherwise the mattress could get torn or be damaged.
· Use a strong bed frame. If it’s a Queen or a King sized mattress, the frame should have a centre support to prevent bending the mattress.
· Let the mattress breathe; never use a plastic cover. A new mattress should be left for a few hours before being covered with sheets.
· Use a good mattress pad to keep the mattress clean. It also will give extra support, cushioning & protection from allergens.
· Don’t let your children to jump on the bed.
· Clean your mattress with a vacuum extension cleaner to get rid of dust, mites, hair and allergens.
· Throw away the mattress when it no longer provides the support you need. Buy a new one to prevent back & sleeping problems.
· Never smoke on the bed because most regular mattresses are made with flammable material.