back pain

How To Choose The Perfect Mattress

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It is recommended to change your mattress every 8 years. Buying a new one is easy but getting the right one for you may be hard especially if you don’t know what you are looking for. We made a definitive guide in buying a mattress that will probably change your view with sleeping.  

Choosing a Mattress

There are several factors that one should consider for having a good night’s sleep such as comfort, stress, diet, the environment and even sleeping on the right mattress. To ensure that you buy the right one, here are some things you should consider:

Measure Up – Whether you already have a bed and just want to change its mattress, or you are just planning to buy one. It is important for you to know what size your mattress is as it comes in a range of sizes – single, double queen and king.

Know your Budget – A mattress is a long-term investment and you’ll probably use it for 8 years or more. Aside from that, you will also spend most of your nights here therefore you need to buy the best quality of mattress there is, but it should fit within your budget. Make sure to let the salesperson know so that they will be able to give you a good but economical one.

Bring your Partner – If you share a bed, it is important that both of you will agree on what mattress you will buy. You should also consider your preferences and agree on what to buy together.

Comfort – Make comfort your goal. It is the most important part of buying a mattress. We spend more time on the bed than in doing other things that’s why you need to buy a comfortable bed. A good mattress will not only support your body on whatever position you want but also helps keep your body in alignment. Try spending 10 minutes lying on the mattress in your sleeping position to know if it gives the right amount of comfort that you needed.

Allergens – If you have a quite sensitive body, you might need to consider looking for a mattress that has a hypoallergenic quality. This is to prevent any allergic reactions from whatever material that your bed might have.

Consider your Bed – Bed and mattresses should work together. Also, the bed should be able to accommodate whatever is the weight of your mattress and should provide a good foundation for your mattress

A Good Mattress

  • A good mattress helps keep you back in alignment and perfectly conforms to your body shape. It does not cause curvature of the spine or should not cause high pressure on your hips and shoulder.
  • It gives your back proper support and alleviates your back pain.
  • Has a good temperature and moist control. It should not cause you to sweat or be too cold.
  • Lastly, it lets you sleep comfortably throughout the night with no pain and body aches in the morning.

Mattress Types

Innerspring Mattresses

This type of mattress is readily available on the market and has a lot of styles to choose from. It has different range of firmness and is economical. Because of its wide range of brands and types, it is advised not to buy the cheapest innerspring mattress there is on the market as it may not have the same support like the others. For someone who has quite a heavy weight, spring mattress provides a firmer support making it easy to get in and out of the bed.

Memory Foam Mattresses

This type of mattress molds to the shape of your body as your weight shifts when you sleep at night. Also, memory foam was proven to reduce pressure points and relive back pain. Since memory foam is a good movement absorber, sleeping with your partner will not disturb you especially when they get out of the bed to pee. The only common complaint with this mattress is that it is temperature sensitive and might make you feel extremely hot during the night. Lastly, it has a arduous smell unlike the others.

Latex Mattresses

Latex might be one of the best materials for a mattress because it is not only firm enough but also provides support and comfort like the memory foam but in much affordable price. The only disadvantage of is its firmness so if you are not a fan then this might not be the mattress for you.

Air Mattresses

This mattress is advisable for couples who have different preferences when it comes to a mattress because of its unique quality of changing the firmness level of each side of the bed. Avoid making it too firm as it might cause you to wake up at night due to back aches.

Adjustable Beds

This bed is ideal for people who have a difficulty getting in and out of the bed or for those who often watch Television before going to sleep. Adjustable beds make it easier for you to move closer wherever you want to be. It also causes you to sleep flat on the bed which is not a good idea especially if you are suffering from sleep apnea or acid reflux.

Sofa Beds

The most convenient bed there is. It’s multifunctionality allows you to use it as a bed or a sofa whichever is needed. It is advisable for naps and such but not for long-term sleeping as the mattress of it is very thing and the springs are quite weak.

How Often You Should Change Your Mattress

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Almost one-third of your life is spent sleeping on your comfortable mattress. It plays a valuable role in your everyday life and gives you the comfort you needed after a tiring day at work or after binge watching TV series. Sleeping on a comfortable mattress affects your everyday energy and mood. We listed down a few things that will help you determine if you need a change of mattress or not.

Signs that you should Change your Mattress

Do you still have a good night’s sleep?

If sleeping becomes uncomfortable for you and you wake up in the morning with body stiffness, aches, pains and even filled with tick bites all-over your body, your mattress may not be providing the level of support, comfort and protection that your body needs to have. A torn-out mattress will lessen your comfort while sleeping which may affect your day by feeling worn-out and sleep-deprived.

Does it cope with the changes in your body?

Did you a get a couple of pounds heavier or lighter compared to your weight a few years back? If you noticed a certain change on your body, and you think that your mattress is not able to support your body anymore, you might consider getting a new mattress. This can also be applied to a kid’s mattress which they outgrow as they get older. Mattresses can’t adapt by themselves to the growing body of a kid.

Does your mattress have a visible wear and tear?

If you can feel springs when you lie down and there are dips left on the mattress even after you got out of the bed. It is a definitive sign that you should change your mattress. You might also hear a creaking, squeaking sound when you go over the bed then that means that it is not on a sound condition and using it might harm your back.

Does your mattress keep you awake at night?

People age and so is your mattress too. As it ages, its ability to reduce the motion transfer like it previously did before declines. This causes much problem especially when it is a shared bed. It lessens the support it can give to two sleepers.

Is your mattress a home for dust mites or bed bugs?

Ever woke up feeling itchy all-over your body because the bed bugs made you a meal during the night? These bed bugs or dust mites loves to live in a warm and moist place and they also feed on dead skin cells. Also, a worn out and old mattress can accumulate a lot of dirt and allergens which can trigger allergic reactions and even asthmatic attack. There are many ways to remove these unwanted guests on your mattress but most of it doesn’t work when your bed has visible wear and tear.

Is your mattress older than 8 years old?

The sleep council strongly advice to replace mattresses every 8 years. During this time, the original comfort and support that it provided you previously has declined and can no longer maintain it. A mattress may just be hidden under a fitted sheet throughout its life, but we cannot remove the fact that it has become an important part of our daily lives.

If your answer is YES to almost every question above, you might need to consider saying goodbye to your old mattress and welcome a new and ergonomic mattress that will provide you good sleep for the next 8 years.

Tips for a Better Mattress Health

To ensure that your mattress will have a longer life than intended, here are some tips that you should follow:

  • Make sure that your bedroom is well-ventilated and always keep the windows open in the morning. This lets the air move in and out of your room with ease while providing a great temperature for your mattress.
  • When washing the fitted sheet, comforters and pillowcase, make sure to wash them on a hot temperature (about 60C or more). To make sure that any bacteria or germs living on the sheet will be eradicated.
  • You may use a mattress protector, waterproof or not. This will help prevent the mattress from being soiled by liquids or fluids that may seep through the inside of the mattress causing damage to its components. For better hygiene, regularly wash it.
  • During summer, where nights are warmer and a lot of sweating may have occurred, do not make your bed right away. Leave the bed uncovered and ideally, the duvet should be hanged somewhere where it will dry fast. In this way, the sweat that the sheet absorbed will dry fast lessening the chances of the bacteria from reproducing on the bed.