You Cant Seem To Fall Asleep
Youve tried all the sleep soundtracks and have even committed to minimizing screen time an hour before your head hits the pillow. But despite your best efforts, falling asleep feels more challenging than it should. No matter how many breathing techniques you master, if your mattress isnt supporting your spinal alignment or providing your body with the degree of firmness it needs, dozing off might become a seemingly impossible feat.
The average person falls asleep in about 10 or 20 minutes at night.2 If you find yourself constantly in need of an hour or more to do so, you may want to take a closer look at your bed and try some sleep hacks on how to fall asleep.
Body Mass Index And Number Of Mattress Sharers
The weight and pressure can also significantly affect the mattress lifespan. Do you often toss and turn? How many people share the mattress? Ultimately, heavier sleepers will have more impact than lighter sleepers. Their mattresses, along with shared beds, wear out faster than light sleepers or those with lighter weights. Also, consider the height and mattress size when assessing the mattress. Tall people will require a longer mattress, while mattress sharers need few extra inches to move comfortably.
How Long Can Foam Mattresses Last
Ghassemi explains that all-foam mattresses typically have a life span of 810 years. And gel foam can boost the longevity of a foam mattress.
Gel mattresses help disperse the pressure over time. The recoil factor of gel adds life to the mattress, she adds.
How long can latex mattresses last?
According to Wayne Ross, senior sleep researcher at InsideBedroom, latex foam is the most durable kind of mattress. One hundred percent natural latex mattresses can be considerably more durable, and they can last up to 25 years without losing support, he explains. One hundred percent natural latex is known to be very resilient and durable compared to other mattress materials.
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Could Your Mattress Be The Reason You Can’t Sleep
A new pillow can go a long way to helping you sleep better, but if your mattress isn’t right, that’s going to have a much bigger impact on your sleep.
Before you start shopping for a new mattress, there are a few ways to fix issues with your current one. Was your mattress once firm, but has become softer and softer over the years? That lack of support can mess with the alignment of your spine and could cause aches and pains. There are a few ways to make a soft mattress more firm that are cheaper than buying a new mattress. Mattress toppers and using the right foundation for your bed can help.
If your mattress isn’t right for you, you’ll really struggle getting a restful night of sleep.
What if you ended up buying a new mattress that turned out to be too firm, and you’re past the trial period that most online mattress companies offer? A firm mattress can put too much pressure on your body, causing pain and stiffness. You can use a few tactics to make your firm mattress feel softer.
What if you mattress feels just right, but you wake up feeling congested night after night? Just like with your pillow, if your mattress is more than a few years old, it’s likely collected a lot of dust, dust mites and debris that can trigger allergies. You can easily deep clean your mattress to help it feel new again.
Your Mattress Doesnt Provide Support Resulting To Back Pain
The amount of support your body receives from your mattress is important. In fact, a mattress that doesnt provide adequate spine support will not only compromise the quality of your sleep it can also become the reason why youll lose the natural curve of your spine and experience other health conditions, such as ligament or muscle strain, in the long run.
If you notice that you usually wake up with throbbing back pain, its a tell-tale sign that your mattress isnt providing you the support that your body needs. Aside from investing in a brand new mattress that provides support, you can also consider purchasing the best CPAP pillow to properly support the entirety of your spine and neck.
Itll be very easy for you to doze off every night if your entire body is supported and free from any type of aches and pains.
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Consider Buying A New Mattress
If you want to improve your sleep pattern and get more sleep every single night, assess the condition of your mattress. If youre using something thats more than eight years old and no longer provides the comfort you once enjoyed, its best if you replace your old mattress with a new one.
The mattress you sleep in every night should support your body and pressure points, not become the reason why youll wake up with severe body aches and pains.
If your sleep problems are caused by more than just the wrong mattress, call Alaska Sleep Clinic today and speak with one of our board-certified sleep specialists. Our free consultation will get you on the right track to improving your sleep and your life.
Obvious Signs And Symptoms Of A Bad Mattress
If youre not resting well at night, you might think your noisy neighbors or snoring spouse are to blame, or maybe that afternoon cup of coffee or glass of wine with dinner. While that could all be true, the real sleep-depriving culprit might be right under your noseor your back, in this case.
Not sure if your mattress is putting strain on your shut-eye, or if it really is your snoring partner? There are a number of signssome more obvious than othersthat you should pay attention to, some visible just by looking at your mattress and some that you can only feel.
Read on to find out more about the cautionary signs of a bad mattress. If youre experiencing one or many of them, it may be time to upgrade to a new mattress to set you up for sleeping success.
Made with your comfort and proper support in mind, our selection of mattresses has something for everyone and is sure to leave you feeling well rested after a nights sleep.
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You Experience Allergic Reactions
Older mattresses are more susceptible to accumulating sweat, oils, dead skin cells, dust mites, and other allergens. If you’re going through asthma and allergies, it’s time to check your mattress. Furthermore, we highly recommend regular mattress cleaning and the use of a mattress protector and other bedding accessories that can help preserve the sanitation of your bed.
What To Look Out For If You Think Your Mattress Is Affecting Your Sleep Cycle
If youre concerned that your mattress is affecting your sleep cycle, follow this checklist to see if any of these factors may apply to you. Once you have a greater understanding of how your body, mind and mattress work together youll be able to find an appropriate mattress solution.
- The age of your mattress
- How long have you been sleeping on your current mattress?
- The maintenance of your mattress
- How often do you air out your mattress? How often do you flip it over?
- The firmness of your mattress
- Does your mattress suit your desired body alignment or compliment your sleeping positions and movements?
- The heat qualities of your mattress
- Do you prefer sleeping in a cool environment where your body temperature can be easily regulated?
- The motion of your mattress
- If you sleep with a partner, does the motion of the mattress from their movements affect your sleep cycle?
Now you have a better understanding of how your mattress can affect your sleep cycle, browse our range of mattresses or visit us in store so we can help you find the best mattress solution for your sleeping needs!
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What Makes A Good Mattress
Research suggests that sleeping on a medium-firm mattress, especially one with adjustable firmness, promotes comfort, proper spinal alignment, and quality sleep.
If body aches and pain are a concern for you, research also suggests that the surface you sleep on makes a difference in your comfort. According to a small , people who slept on memory foam mattresses of medium firmness experienced a decrease in pain, and they fell asleep faster.
Other studies suggest that, compared to memory foam, latex foam puts less peak pressure on the body. This means it better resists the sinking in feeling commonly associated with memory foam. This may help sleepers stay at a comfortable temperature and sleeping position.
More generally, a mattress should support the healthy curvature of your spine, shouldnt cause you to get too warm, and should fit your budget and other needs.
Surprising Signs Youre Sleeping On A Bad Mattress
Runny nose? Non-existent sex drive? Your mattress may be to blame.
Some mattress-related issues are hard to miss. If you climb out of bed every morning with a sore neck or backyeah, you should probably look into an upgrade.
Firmer mattresses tend to be better for chronic pain because they provide adequate support, says Michael Grandner, PhD, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
But while thats true generally, Grandner says the right mattress for YOU depends on many different factorslike where you experience pain, your preferred sleep position, the thickness and firmness of your pillow, and a whole lot else.
His number-one piece of advice when it comes to choosing a mattress? I recommend something with a good return policy, he says.
You can spend all day reading mattress reviews. But until you actually sleep on the thing for a week or two, you wont know if its a good fit for your needs.
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With that in mind, here are some surprising warning signs that you should be thinking about a new mattress. If youre experiencing any of these issues, its probably time to replace yours. Also included below: some smart new mattress picks .
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Sleep Apnea And Your Mattress
Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition in which the airway becomes fully or partially obstructed while youre sleeping. The obstruction blocks airflow, depriving your body of the oxygen it needs to carry out life-sustaining functions. If you have sleep apnea, you may snore loudly, wake up gasping for air or experience brief pauses of breathing during the night. Sleep apnea may also cause daytime drowsiness, excessive daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headaches and dry mouth upon waking.
If you have sleep apnea, purchasing an adjustable mattress may help you reduce your symptoms and get more rest. In a study conducted by researchers from the United States and Brazil, participants who slept with their beds slightly elevated had fewer symptoms of sleep apnea than participants who didnt. Getting an adjustable mattress wont cure your sleep apnea, but it may help you reduce the number of apnea episodes you have each night, improving the quality of your sleep.
Bedroom Color And Your Sleep Quality
Color has the ability to affect our mood, and our mood in turn affects our sleep. When were anxious or angry, we have a harder time falling asleep. This makes sense from a biological perspective. When compared to when were relaxed and happy, feeling hyped up makes sleep feel elusive and difficult to achieve. Colors can and do produce these feelings! Whether you want to repaint your bedroom or buy new bed sheets, make sure to surround yourself with colors that will help you doze off easily and wake up feeling happy, healthy, and refreshed.
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How To Tell If Your Mattress Is Giving You Back Pain
There are so many causes of back pain, so it can be hard to pinpoint where your aches are coming from. However, there are some clues to look out for to see if your mattress is to blame. The first clue is when your back pain occurs. If your back pain is there when you first wake up, but you can stretch to get rid of it within 15-30 minutes, then that is a major sign that your mattress is doing more harm than good. Also, if you find yourself waking up more frequently or are tossing and turning trying to get to sleep, then that should also be a sign. Even if you are not prone to back pain, you should ideally replace your mattress every eight years.
Mattress Online Rock Hard Super Firm Mattress 32995
The name might sound like Mattress Online is protesting too much but our testing confirmed that this mattress really is about as firm as you can possibly get. It’s made of foam, with a particularly hard block of foam at its centre.
When it comes to warmth, we classified it as average. So most people will get on with it, unless you prefer a very cool-feeling mattress.
You’ll need to rotate it periodically, but it’s not designed to be flipped over.
Head over to our review of the Mattress Online Rock Hard Super Firm Mattress for our full results.
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Replace Your Old Mattress And Reclaim Your Life
You might feel its fine to settle for just any slumber surface, but do you know how profoundly mattresses affect your sleep quality and as a result, health?
After a long tiring day, all we truly need and deserve is a good nights rest. None can deny the revitalizing effect of deep slumber. Research proves that sound sleep has the potential to optimize the regenerating power of our bodies. For this reason alone, you must invest in a good mattress sooner than later and read some mattresses review online.
Poor sleep quality not only declines our productivity but also weakens our body. That is why a comfy mattress is vital for our well being. According to a 2011 survey, 92% of Americans think a right mattress is crucial for good nights sleep.
Here are the five surprising ways your mattress affects your sleep and health!
- Restful Sleep Removes Stress and Anxiety
The right mattress improves your sleep quality and surprisingly, you feel surrounded by positive energy.
Snoozing on an old and uncomfortable mattress can lead to stress buildup. If you continue to get inadequate sleep, it can have serious repercussions. You may experience elevated anxiety or tension, and confusion may set in. Long term stress and sleep disturbances may lead to depression or other psychological problems.
- The Right Mattress Relieves Aches and Pains
- Worn-Out Mattress Increases Allergy Risk
- Creaking Beds Are Culprit for Chronic Back Pain
- The Right Mattress Improves Life Quality
Your Skin Doesnt Look So Hot
Poor-quality sleep is associated with a surge in stress-related hormones like cortisol, shows a study in the journal Sleep Medicine Clinics. More research shows this uptick in cortisol and the systemic inflammation it causes can promote wrinkles, a loss of skin firmness and elasticity, dull skin, and itchy skin conditions like eczema.
Old mattresses may be one cause of poor sleep and stress. A recent study in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found the average persons mattress was 9.5 years old, and that a switch to a newer mattress both improved sleep and lowered stress.
While the study authors say theres not enough research to show that one type of mattress is ideal for every sleeper, their experiment linked improved sleep quality with new medium-firm mattresses that featured foam-encased springs.
New mattress pick: Along with their strictly foam bed, Leesa makes a hybrid spring-and-foam mattress very similar to the one used in the above stress study.
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Does Your Mattress Really Matter
Historically, studies that have investigated the correlation between mattress type and quality of sleep have concluded that, generally speaking, a medium-firm mattress is the best choice for any one of us, but this conclusion presents a problem: given that we come in vastly different shapes and sizes, our individual judgement of just how firm or soft a mattress feels is completely relative.
The solution to this problem in results was overcome by two researchers, Krystal and Edinger, who simply went bigger than ever before in their sample sizes: 128 people, seven different mattress firmness variations, and a combined 16,000 hours of sleep time over a period of four weeks.
This super-sized study revealed that even the tiniest of changes in mattress firmness can provoke changes in comfort, sleep patterns and morning stiffness and pain, proving conclusively that, while the nuances involved are many, the mattress you lie down on at night has a real, measurable effect on how you feel when you rise from it in the morning.
Unfortunately, the study tells us nothing about how to choose the best mattress firmness for your particular body, a more important task that most of us think. Why are we so bad at choosing mattresses, you ask?
Blame your spine.
Spinal Support: As Different as Night and Day
What is a would-be sound-sleeper to do?
How to Choose the Best Mattress For You
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Can A Mattress Really Affect Sleep
So can a mattress really affect a persons sleep? The answer is quite obvious and it is yes, a mattress can definitely affect a persons sleep. We understand that many of us can sleep anywhere at all, be it a spring mattress, and orthopedic mattress, a gel mattress or even the floor. The question here is not about whether you can sleep or not but rather about the kind of sleep you get on a certain surface.
Many of us sleep on mattresses which are unsuitable for us for most of our lives and then develop back pains and other more serious issues. In this article we are going to tell you the kind of effect the kind of mattress you have is having on your sleep and how to optimize your sleep so you wake up fresh and do not develop any sleep-associated issues.
Changing Your Mattress
Most mattresses have a lifespan of around 8-10 years. You must try your best to not keep a mattress for longer than 10 years, because you may start developing problems in your back and with your sleeping patterns without knowing.
If you buy a new mattress and after 4-5 months of use you realize that you have not been sleeping well then change it as soon as you can. If you have been sleeping well but after some time you start to develop backaches or neck and shoulder aches, then too you must consider changing your mattress as soon as possible.
Kinds of Mattresses
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