A good night’s sleep, just like proper diet and exercise, is essential to your mental, emotional and physical health. But many people do not get the recommended amount and quality of sleep required each night, waking up tired, experiencing difficulty concentrating, irritability, weakened immune system, higher stress levels and feeling drained throughout the day. Some people will experience a stiff neck, back pain, pins and needles sensation and waking up soaked in sweat after sleeping on a poor quality or old mattress. The solution can be as simple as sleeping on a better mattress. You May Need a New Mattress if… Your mattress like an old pair of shoes can still feel comfortable long after it has lost its ability to provide your body with the proper comfort and support it needs. The life span of a mattress depends on a few points such as how often it’s used, the quality, your own changing comfort and support needs such as age and weight. In general, a mattress that has been used for five to eight years may no longer provide proper comfort and support you may need, and should be reassessed.
A scientific study from Oklahoma State University, “Found that people with mattresses five years old or older reported significant improvements in sleep quality and comfort when sleeping on a new mattress, regardless of the sleeper’s age or weight”. So it is important to compare the mattress you are sleeping on now to newer models every few years. Is it time to Buy a New Mattress ? If you answered yes to these questions more than no it may be time for a new bed or mattress. According to an Oklahoma State University study, a new mattress provided sleepers with significant improvements, including*: *As compared to sleeping on a mattress 5 years old or older. When choosing a new bed you should consider: Choosing the right mattress for that great night’s sleep is a mattress that provides the correct comfort and support for you. But you should also consider what sleep position you prefer, whether you prefer a cooler or warmer sleep, do you have any injuries that affect you sleep and if you prefer a firmer or softer feeling mattress.
Also consider your partner when selecting a new mattress as they may have different sleeping requirements to you. Modern beds are made from a vast number of different materials and technologies, which can be confusing but with some general mattress information on the variety of choices available, will make it easier to choose the right bed for you.A good mattress is designed to provide support for your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as a person with good standing posture. Pay special attention to your shoulders, hips and lower back—the heaviest parts of the body.A good quality mattress is built to provide you with superior comfort. Luxurious comfort layers materials and extra-soft surface fabrics are used to create a plusher, more comfortable feel. 3). Durability: It’s the quality of the materials used and how they’re put together that determines how long a mattress and foundation will provide comfort and support. Regardless of the type of sleep system you decide to purchase, always evaluate a mattress for comfort, support, durability and space.
The mattress that best addresses these needs is the mattress for you. Did you know: The warranty on a mattress and foundation is not an indicator of how long the product should be used before replacement? Instead, the warranty exists to protect the consumer from product defects, not against gradual loss of comfort and support. However the length of warranty on a product will in normal cirumstances give an indication of the quality of materials used and therefore the confidence a manufacturer has in this product in regards to reliability and in turn durability. A double bed is 4ft6 wide, which is just 17.5 inches wider than a single size. That leaves each partner only 26.5 inches of personal space, or about the width of a crib. Both single and double sizes are approximately 6ft3 long, which may be too short for some adults, especially men. Recommendations: A double bed is only enough space to comfortably sleep a single sleeper or two small people. Parents are increasingly choosing double size over single for teenage bedrooms.
Parents are even making this choice for younger children to give themselves a more comfortable place to rest when reading bed time stories together. Finding the Mattress of your Dreams: Remember it is important to have an educated salesperson who can guide you through the many choices in bedding to help you find the mattress that best meets your personal needs and preferences. Shop for the best value mattress, not the lowest price, the best assurance for good mattress performance over many years is to buy the highest quality sleep set you can afford. Be sure to “test drive” your new mattress (if you’re a woman, it’s best to go mattress-shopping in jeans or pants) and lie down on several different models in various positions, especially the one you usually sleep in. Spend at least 3-5 minutes on the mattress focusing on the “feel” the longer you spend on the mattress the better as some mattresses can take a few minutes to mold to your body. After selecting your new mattress it is recommended to purchase the matching base to support the mattress, as the two are designed to work best together.
In fact, buying the mattress without its matching divan base may affect the terms of the warranty. You should never put a new mattress on an old divan base. Create a sleep sanctuary and routine For the second part of this guide please continue on to the Bed Buying Guide. Come and visit us at your local Harvey Norman Store or shop on line today and we'll find the perfect mattress for you!Okay, “miracle” is over the top(per). But if you’ve been waking up feeling achy, have certain kinds of pain, or just need to renew the comfort of a hard but still-sound mattress...the right topper can feel pretty miraculous. Here’s a handy primer on how to choose the best mattress topper for your situation. Toppers for Hip Pain If you wake up with stiff, sore hips—your mattress is most likely too firm. You might also be a side sleeper or tend to stay in one position for most of the night. When your body is under constant pressure from a too-hard surface, circulation is compromised as the tiny veins called capillaries collapse.
That often creates hip soreness and aches, with discomfort at its worst in the mornings. Underlying problems such as arthritis of the hip, of course, may compound the misery. A soft, natural latex mattress topper can make your bed feel new and your hips much more comfortable. Customizable toppers allow you to choose the type of latex or even the degree of softness you’d like; others add casings made of stretchy, knitted fabric for a luxurious, embracing feel. Toppers for Shoulder Pain When you’re on your side, the greatest amount of torso weight is borne by your shoulders. When a mattress has a shallow memory foam or cold gel surface, or features “perimeter support” (extra-stiff foam around the edges)—side sleeping can become very uncomfortable. Broad-shouldered people often experience soreness, stiffness and tingling. And they miss out on how comfortable a sleep surface can be when it accommodates the widest parts of the body. A mattress topper in soft natural latex allows shoulders (and hips) to sink in just enough to relieve the pressure while still keeping the spine aligned.
If a topper is too thick, however, back support may be compromised. A 3" to 4" natural latex topper provides enough cushioning to make side sleeping comfortable again without destabilizing the spine. If you prefer moderate softness, a duvet-style topper can add deluxe cushioning without the uber-pillowy feel. Wool-filled toppers offer dense but breathable comfort that feels quite different from foams. Learn more about our organic mattress toppers HarmonyThe Harmony is one 3" layer of your choice of natural latex in the Savvy Rest organic casing. VitalityThe luxurious Vitality is one 3" layer of Soft natural Talalay latex in a certified organic cotton knit casing. Savvy WoolsyAdd pillowy softness to your mattress with three inches of domestically-sourced, natural wool. Enter zip code to find your nearest Savvy Rest dealer Toppers for Back Pain Many people who have had “slipped” (herniated) disks or other nerve injuries to the back will endure very hard mattresses in order to keep their spines stable during the night.
It makes sense, as the electric pain of sciatica can be acute. But there are better solutions. Generally, a very deep or ultra-soft mattress topper, while it may feel wonderful for a few minutes in a showroom, is a risky choice for people with severe back pain. After a few nights or weeks, the pain may flare up again. Pain that results from injury or disk problems can be re-triggered by toppers that allow a back sleeper to “sink in” too far. But even people with these back issues can enjoy a more comfortable mattress, with a fiber-filled topper that’s not too thick. A 3" wool-filled topper will gently cushion the mattress, improve air circulation and reduce heat build-up beneath the sleeper. These toppers won’t compromise spinal support. Simple pressure point areas in the back, such as over the tailbone, can be relieved by almost any topper. You can choose whichever style appeals, and any depth that feels comfortable. A Note on Memory Foam Toppers The contouring reaction of this synthetic foam occurs when your body heat sets off a chemical reaction within the foam.
It’s a molding, almost clasping feel that some users compare to sleeping in damp sand. If you’ve never encountered memory foam before, the novelty of the sensation can feel exhilarating—at first. Apart from the toxic chemicals, another downside of memory foam toppers is that the foam not only requires trapped body heat to create its close-fitting feel—but also to maintain it. This means that every time you shift or adjust position during the night, your body has to re-heat the foam to make it feel good again. The full response can take up to 15 minutes, so many people find that despite its gadget-y appeal, memory foam makes sleep more restless. Natural latex is more supple, more breathable, and safer for your health than memory foam, hybrid foams or gels. You might also enjoy... The Right Mattress Firmness For You One of the questions we always make sure to ask our customers is whether they sleep on their back, stomach or side. This is one of the most important factors when trying to determine the right mattress feel for you.