Would you go mountain climbing without the right gear? No, obviously. Yet, even though you spend about one third of your life sleeping, you probably don’t bother to take time to prepare your bed and bedroom adequately to ensure you have a great sleeping experience. This is especially the case when it comes to mattresses.
Sure, like most people, you probably know that a mattress is important when it comes to comfort and having a good night’s sleep. It’s easy to blame a tight budget as the reason for sleeping on a not-so-great mattress.
However, keeping in mind that just a little better-quality sleep can help you live longer, remember more things and lose weight, it’s clear that you can’t afford not to have good sleep. Using a worn-out mattress can lead to back and neck pain. Here are even more little-known ways the mattress you use affects the quality of your sleep and, by extension, your health.
Decreased stress levels
Studies have found that sleeping on a new, medium-firm mattress leads to considerably lower stress levels related to racing thoughts, worrying, irritability, nervousness, trembling, headaches and more, compared to sleeping on regular mattresses. This is likely a result of an improvement in the quality of sleep and a decrease in cases of neck and back pain.
Decreased allergic reactions
There is a multitude of dust mites inhabiting your old mattress. You shed dead skin cells onto and into your bed. They are a source of food for these microscopic creatures. According to WebMD, tens of millions of Americans are allergic to dust mites. These mites can cause serious problems for people who suffer from asthma, according to a report by CNN.
Frequently cleaning your bedding with hot water goes a long way in getting rid of the dust mites. Allergy-proof slipcovers are also effective in preventing the dust mites from migrating from your mattress to your pillow and sheets. Experts recommend cleaning your mattress with a vacuum cleaner in case dust mites become a serious problem.
What type of mattress should you go for?
It is important to realize that there is no universal standard for what constitutes a firm or soft mattress. A 200-pound person, for example, may feel that a mattress is soft, whereas a 100-pound person may feel that the mattress is firm. While terms such as ‘ultra-plush’ may sound inviting when choosing between tuft and needle vs casper vs leesa, for example, they are nonetheless subjective.
There is no evidence supporting the assertion that a soft or a firm mattress improves the quality of your sleep. In the end, what matters most is comfort. It is therefore a good idea to spend a few minutes actually lying on the mattress to determine whether it fits your idea of comfort.
If you find that the quality of your sleep is not what it used you to be, all other factors held constant, it may be time to invest in a new mattress. If you take the quality of your sleep seriously, you should also take the quality of your mattress seriously.
Bio:
Sujain Thomas has worked as a sales manager in the home furniture industry for 13 years and has written numerous articles and blog posts on topics related to bedroom furniture, including choosing between tuft and needle vs casper vs leesa.
