Mattresses

It is thought that the average person spends about 26 years of their life sleeping, roughly 9490 days or 227,760 hours. Having the right mattress is an important part of getting a good night’s sleep.

Why is sleep so important?

During childhood, sleep supports growth and development, but sleep continues to be important throughout our lives to support both physical and mental health. Here are a few reasons why sleep is important:

• When we sleep, our bodies release a of hormones. One example is the growth hormone, which helps your body to grow and repair itself. This includes repairing your muscles, organs, and cells. 
• Sleep lowers your pulse and blood pressure, allowing your heart and blood vessels to rest and recover. 
• Scientists think REM sleep helps your brain to clear information you don’t need. 
• Activity in the sympathetic nervous system, which controls your fight or flight responses, decreases. This allows your body to relax. 

The importance of the right mattress 

A mattress should keep your spine aligned but allow your muscles to relax while you sleep. Pain, particularly back and neck pain, can be made worse by the wrong mattress.  It can also lead to headaches or fatigue. 

What to consider when buying a mattress:

Mattresses often have several layers, but the support system and comfort layer can help you choose the right mattress. 

• The support system is the spring or foam layer that supports your weight and provides spinal alignment. This is rated by firmness and choosing the right firmness depends on your body type. 

It is not the case that firmer mattresses are the best solution for pain. There are problems with mattresses that are too firm or too soft, as the mattress should support your spine’s natural curve.

• The comfort layer is above the support layer and is unique to your preferences. Latex and memory foam are two examples of comfort layers that are beneficial to preventing aches and pains. 

Replacing your mattress 

Even if you have found the perfect mattress, it is recommended that you replace your mattress every seven to ten years. Over time, mattresses lose the ability to support you, leading to waking up with aches and pains. Here are a few more signs that it’s time to treat yourself to a new mattress:

• Noisy springs. This indicates that the springs have worn down, which means they will not be providing the necessary support. 
• Signs of wear and tear. For example, the mattress is saggy, lumpy or you can feel the springs through the mattress. 
• Allergies or asthma symptoms have worsened. Mattresses collect lots of dust and allergens and, over time, this can make your symptoms worse. 
• Other beds feel more comfortable. If you regularly find it hard to fall asleep in your own bed, but find almost every other bed comfortable, this might indicate your mattress is to blame.