Monday, December 18, 2006
Choosing the Perfect Bed for the Perfect Nights Sleep
Every one of us, regardless of any health conditions, needs a good, comfortable nights sleep. It's a medical fact that quality sleep is very beneficial to our overall well being. We spend one third of our lives in bed and we all know the remaining two thirds can be stressful enough without the added problems of restless nights trying to get to sleep. So it is imperative that we choose a bed that will get the most out of our 'downtime', allowing us to get a truly restful nights sleep, waking up feeling refreshed, relaxed and ache free.
Many people are unaware that the cause of many health issues such as, fatigue, stress, aches, pains and more could be due to, or at least being made worse by, sleeping on an inferior quality, often old and worn out bed or mattress. Many people are sleeping (or trying to sleep) on uncomfortable beds and doing nothing about it, either because they are unaware it's a problem or they are unaware of the alternatives.
Nowadays there is a daunting choice when it comes to choosing a new bed, not to mention a vast difference in price. Sprung, pocket sprung, foam, memory foam, ensembles, electric adjustable beds....the list goes on. So where do you start?
The first and most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a new bed, and the one thing most people tend to overlook, is that our bodies are naturally curved and not flat. So for a truly restful nights sleep you need a bed that is designed around this fact. This being the case, there are really only two choices for the majority of people who want to experience the best possible nights sleep: a bed incorporating a memory foam mattress or an electric adjustable bed (or combination of the two). The only bed that can truly allow you to discover your own ideal sleeping position is an electric adjustable bed. Electric adjustable beds allow you to raise and lower the upper body and legs at the touch of a button, which can offer many health benefits and a greatly improved nights sleep for many people. Those who suffer with health conditions such as upper or lower back pain, chronic snoring (sleep apnea), poor blood circulation and even asthma, may benefit greatly and enjoy a much more comfortable nights sleep with an electric adjustable bed. Electric adjustable beds also offer the luxury of being able to sit up in bed by simply raising the back section, making it much easier to get out of bed, read or watch TV. The days when electric adjustable beds were big, ugly, noisy and really only at home in hospital wards are long gone. Many companies now offer sleek, modern designs with discreetly placed electric motors which are highly reliable, virtually silent and very smooth in operation.
Memory foam mattresses, or Visco-Elastic mattresses to give them their correct name, mould to the body relieving pressure at key points on the body. They were developed by NASA to relieve astronauts from the great g-forces exerted on them at certain times during take off and landing. If you prefer to sleep on your side a memory foam mattress could be ideal for you as it will relieve pressure at the shoulder and hips, the points where you may experience discomfort sleeping on your side on a conventional mattress. Memory foam mattresses come in various degrees of firmness and can be used on conventional bed bases or combined with an electric adjustable bed base. People who may, due to certain health conditions, spend long periods of time in bed will find a memory foam mattress much more comfortable than a conventional mattress and extremely helpful in the prevention of bed sores. Memory foam mattresses are also much less susceptible to dust and bed mites making them a good choice for people with related allergies.
As for regular beds the choice is endless. If you do decide that a more traditional bed is right for you, it will pay to spend a little more and go for the best quality mattress you can afford. If you can stretch to a memory foam mattress, it would be money well spent. Be sure to try out any mattress before buying to ensure you get a mattress of the correct firmness for you. Try to avoid beds with extremely cheap sprung mattresses, these are generally of inferior quality and only intended to be used as guest or occasional beds. Do not assume that a mattress must have magical health properties just because it claims to be ‘orthopedic’. Orthopedic is a word bandied around a lot when it comes to mattresses, but there is little or no official regulation of the use of this word.
In short, buy the best bed you can afford and always try before you buy, you'll be extremely glad you spent that little extra cash and took the time to select a bed that’s right for you, not to mention healthier and happier in the long run.
Many people are unaware that the cause of many health issues such as, fatigue, stress, aches, pains and more could be due to, or at least being made worse by, sleeping on an inferior quality, often old and worn out bed or mattress. Many people are sleeping (or trying to sleep) on uncomfortable beds and doing nothing about it, either because they are unaware it's a problem or they are unaware of the alternatives.
Nowadays there is a daunting choice when it comes to choosing a new bed, not to mention a vast difference in price. Sprung, pocket sprung, foam, memory foam, ensembles, electric adjustable beds....the list goes on. So where do you start?
The first and most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a new bed, and the one thing most people tend to overlook, is that our bodies are naturally curved and not flat. So for a truly restful nights sleep you need a bed that is designed around this fact. This being the case, there are really only two choices for the majority of people who want to experience the best possible nights sleep: a bed incorporating a memory foam mattress or an electric adjustable bed (or combination of the two). The only bed that can truly allow you to discover your own ideal sleeping position is an electric adjustable bed. Electric adjustable beds allow you to raise and lower the upper body and legs at the touch of a button, which can offer many health benefits and a greatly improved nights sleep for many people. Those who suffer with health conditions such as upper or lower back pain, chronic snoring (sleep apnea), poor blood circulation and even asthma, may benefit greatly and enjoy a much more comfortable nights sleep with an electric adjustable bed. Electric adjustable beds also offer the luxury of being able to sit up in bed by simply raising the back section, making it much easier to get out of bed, read or watch TV. The days when electric adjustable beds were big, ugly, noisy and really only at home in hospital wards are long gone. Many companies now offer sleek, modern designs with discreetly placed electric motors which are highly reliable, virtually silent and very smooth in operation.
Memory foam mattresses, or Visco-Elastic mattresses to give them their correct name, mould to the body relieving pressure at key points on the body. They were developed by NASA to relieve astronauts from the great g-forces exerted on them at certain times during take off and landing. If you prefer to sleep on your side a memory foam mattress could be ideal for you as it will relieve pressure at the shoulder and hips, the points where you may experience discomfort sleeping on your side on a conventional mattress. Memory foam mattresses come in various degrees of firmness and can be used on conventional bed bases or combined with an electric adjustable bed base. People who may, due to certain health conditions, spend long periods of time in bed will find a memory foam mattress much more comfortable than a conventional mattress and extremely helpful in the prevention of bed sores. Memory foam mattresses are also much less susceptible to dust and bed mites making them a good choice for people with related allergies.
As for regular beds the choice is endless. If you do decide that a more traditional bed is right for you, it will pay to spend a little more and go for the best quality mattress you can afford. If you can stretch to a memory foam mattress, it would be money well spent. Be sure to try out any mattress before buying to ensure you get a mattress of the correct firmness for you. Try to avoid beds with extremely cheap sprung mattresses, these are generally of inferior quality and only intended to be used as guest or occasional beds. Do not assume that a mattress must have magical health properties just because it claims to be ‘orthopedic’. Orthopedic is a word bandied around a lot when it comes to mattresses, but there is little or no official regulation of the use of this word.
In short, buy the best bed you can afford and always try before you buy, you'll be extremely glad you spent that little extra cash and took the time to select a bed that’s right for you, not to mention healthier and happier in the long run.
# posted by Medical Information : 3:38 AM
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