A good mattress can make a world of difference in your sleep quality. Good quality sleep means feeling rested when you wake up.
Along with a balanced diet and exercise, getting adequate sleep is an important part of maintaining good health. Several studies suggest that sleeping on the right mattress can significantly improve your sleep and overall wellness.
Improved Sleep Quality
The quality of your sleep depends on many factors, from getting enough rest to avoiding distractions and sleeping in a dark room. But the quality of your mattress plays a big role as well. If you find that your bed is uncomfortable, you wake up a lot during the night, or it takes you a long time to fall asleep, you may have an old or worn out mattress that’s affecting your sleep. A mattress that offers balanced support and comfort will promote a better night’s rest and improve your overall health.
The best mattresses are made of materials that can wick away heat, support your body’s natural curves, and reduce motion transfer from a partner’s tossing and turning. Memory foam and natural latex are good choices, as both offer breathability and help control body temperature. These materials also are hypoallergenic and resist mold growth and dust mites.
A medium-firm mattress, which is considered the best for sleep, is also recommended by experts. Research shows that a mattress of this type can help reduce back pain, improve sleep quality and provide spinal alignment. Australian mattress for back pain is a suggested type of mattress to cater to your needs.
Poor sleep can lead to a wide range of issues, including next-day fatigue and a weakened immune system. It can also contribute to obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Mattresses that don’t support your back or reduce your pressure points can cause aches and pains throughout the day, which can interfere with your daily activities.
Your mattress is your most important purchase for a restful night’s sleep, so choose wisely! If you find that you are waking up tired, having trouble falling asleep or waking up often during the night, or you feel more refreshed after sleeping in a hotel bed than your own mattress at home, you may have an old or uncomfortable mattress.
A new, supportive mattress can significantly improve your sleep and increase your energy levels for the day ahead. So what are you waiting for? Shop for a new mattress today! You deserve a great night’s sleep. And your health and wellness depend on it!
Reduced Pressure Points
A quality mattress should offer some degree of pressure relief, which is a critical feature for people with pain in the neck or back. Mattresses designed with proper pressure relief have a comfort system that molds around curves to reduce the force around common contact points and alleviate sore spots. Advanced models sometimes incorporate zoning, which allows different areas of the bed to be firmer or softer to address specific needs.
Stimulating certain pressure points, or acupoints, can improve sleep quality and help individuals find the right position to drift off. These points are strategically located along energy pathways known as meridians, and can be stimulated using a variety of techniques. Acupressure involves applying pressure to acupoints with your hands or with massage tools. The goal is to balance the body’s energy flow, which can be hampered by stress, anxiety, or fatigue.
Licensed acupuncturists and doctors can recommend pressure point stimulation for sleeping issues, but you can also try self-massage. Acupoints are found in various parts of the body, including the head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, buttocks, knees, and ankles. These points are important for reducing high blood pressure, stress, tension, and anxiety, all of which can disrupt sleep.
For example, the Yintang point, or third eye, is located between the eyebrows. By stimulating this point with gentle pressure, you can calm your mind and promote relaxation, allowing you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep. Another effective acupoint for sleep is Shen Men, located on the upper part of the ear. This point can help alleviate insomnia, as well as reduce headaches and neck pain.
Lastly, you can target the Heart 7 pressure point by pressing and massaging it with two fingers. To do so, make a fist and turn your palm upwards. This makes the tendons that form the pressure point appear more prominent, making it easier to locate. Apply moderate pressure to the point and take five slow, deep breaths. Repeat the same process on the other wrist. These pressure points can be beneficial for anyone who struggles with sleep, but they are especially important for people with chronic pain or other health concerns.
Better Sleep Habits
Getting good sleep requires more than just a comfortable mattress. You also need to develop better sleeping habits. The best way to do this is by making your bedroom a place that is exclusively for rest and sleep. This means not using it as a second lounge room or for watching TV or talking on the phone.
In addition, the bedroom should be quiet and free of distractions. Noise from a television, phone or neighbours can interfere with sleep and lead to unwanted awakenings. A white noise machine or ear plugs can help drown out these distracting sounds.
A dark environment is also important for a good night’s sleep. Studies show that exposure to light can cause a delay in the body’s onset of sleep. The use of blackout curtains or a dark eye mask can block out all light in the bedroom and help you get to sleep faster.
Another important factor is establishing a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends and holidays. This helps to synchronize the body’s internal clock with its alternating sleep-wake cycle. This is essential because the body’s circadian rhythm controls many of its organ function and physiological processes.
The length of your sleep each night and the percentage of time you spend in deep (SWS) and REM sleep are important factors in overall sleep quality. In addition, studies have shown that a lack of sleep can lead to cognitive impairments and reduced performance. For adults, experts recommend between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night.
Other factors to consider include the type and thickness of your mattress and your pillow. Mattress thickness and firmness affect comfort and support, while the type of pillow you use influences your neck posture and the amount of pressure put on your spine and joints during sleep.
Choose a pillow that supports your head and neck in a natural position when you’re asleep, without tilting or pushing on your shoulders. If you suffer from back pain, a medium-firm or soft pillow may be more comfortable for you than a firm one.
Reduced Pain
Anyone who has ever suffered from chronic back pain or other aches and pains knows that a good night’s sleep can make all the difference. However, getting enough restful sleep becomes more difficult when a person is dealing with pain. This is because the discomfort often keeps them awake at night or makes it harder to fall asleep. A quality mattress can alleviate this issue by providing the right amount of support to the body’s natural curves and reducing pressure points on joints and muscles.
Another benefit of a new mattress is that it may help reduce the pain and inflammation caused by ongoing medical conditions. In fact, the results of a recent study suggest that pain relief medications may be more effective if people are getting sufficient restful sleep on a comfortable mattress. The researchers, who included Harvard-trained pain physiologist Alban Latremoliere and sleep physiologist Chloe Alexandre, found that the better a person’s sleep is, the less sensitive they are to painful stimuli.
This is due to the fact that sleeping is when the brain consolidates and processes memories, transferring those that are most important into long-term storage and clearing out the less relevant ones. It’s also when the brain releases natural chemicals that promote healing and reduce inflammation, bruising, swelling and tissue growth. This is why a mattress that provides proper support and comfort can be such an important part of a person’s recovery.
The key is finding the right mattress for each person’s unique needs. For example, a person who weighs less than 130 pounds will need a soft to medium mattress (3 to 5). This will provide cushioning and cradling and support the body’s natural curves. In contrast, a person who weighs more than 230 pounds will need a firmer mattress (6 to 8). This will offer more support for the back and other joints that are most vulnerable.
As the market for mattresses has exploded in recent years, manufacturers have responded by offering a wide variety of options including memory foam, hybrid and latex mattresses in addition to traditional innerspring and coil beds. Additionally, online retailers have made it easier to purchase a mattress and receive it at home via delivery. This has allowed customers to try out a new mattress without committing to one that they might not like or be able to afford.