We spend a third of our lives sleeping —that’s roughly 229,961 hours. A great mattress provides an even balance of comfort and support to reduce aches and improve sleep. The right bed also offers benefits to boost overall health.
Benefits of a Great Mattress
Best mattress improves sleep by helping individuals fall asleep and stay asleep, and provides a comfortable and supportive sleep surface. Mattresses that are too soft or too firm lack support, causing misalignment of the spine. Health benefits of a great mattress include spinal alignment, pressure point relief, and better breathing.
Spinal Alignment
A good mattress evenly distributes weight without risk of sagging. After several years, mattresses break down in materials, resulting in a definite sag. While some add a mattress topper to combat this problem, the truth is, once a mattress starts to sag, it’s time for a new one —no amount of mattress toppers or additional layers can re-establish proper support.
Even weight distribution can also properly support the natural curve of the spine. Heavier sections of the body, like the shoulders and hips, need more compression, while lighter sections under the head, back, and legs require firmer support. A mattress that lacks support can misalign the spine and create pressure points, leading to pain. Click to read more about how a good mattress can help with your spinal alignment.
Pain and Pressure Point Relief
The top layers of a mattress (comfort and transitional layers) are responsible for relieving pressure points in the body. Heavier sections, like the shoulders and hips, produce more pressure because of the amount of weight bearing down on the sleep surface.
A good mattress with excellent pressure point relief (i.e., memory foam, latex) helps ease muscle tension with sleepers waking with fewer aches and pains. Pressure relief may also improve muscle recovery by releasing tension and relaxing muscles. Some mattresses include a zoned support system for targeted pressure relief.
Better Breathing
More mattress manufacturers are incorporating hypoallergenic materials to enable better breathing by reducing snoring and allergic reactions. Memory foam and latex are naturally dust mite-resistant, while mattress covers made of cotton and bamboo keep dust mites and other allergens out of the bed. A mattress with the right level of support can also improve breathing by opening up airways.
Less Stress and Improved Moods
Sleeping on a lumpy, unsupportive mattress is not only uncomfortable, but it may be hindering your sleep more than you think. Waking up feeling groggy and sore is not the ideal way to start the day. And we all know the feeling of being tired and cranky after a night of poor sleep. A mattress that’s compatible with your body type and sleeping position helps you fall asleep faster and sleep undisturbed, allowing you to enter the deeper, more restorative stages of sleep. The result is waking up feeling rested and ready to take on the day.
Start Sleeping Better
If you have trouble sleeping and regularly wake with aches and pains, you might need a new mattress. A great mattress offers a range of health benefits, including spinal alignment, pressure point relief, and better breathing. Instead of toughing it out on your old bed, look into a new mattress to fit your needs and improve your sleep.
