Factors to Determine while choosing a Mattress
To stay happy and healthy, it is essential to get a good seven-hour sleep. For a night of good sleep, it is essential to have a surface on your back, i.e., a mattress that can help you relax and supports you while you doze off.
Buying a mattress without doing any research can sometimes result in a wrong selection and may lead to sleepless nights and achy mornings. Mattresses are like a huge investment and can cost anything from a few hundred dollars to thousands, so you must make sure that you choose a mattress that is worth that investment.
The right kind of mattress provides support to keep your body in a neutral position, the one in which your spine is aligned properly, and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported to ensure that no pressure points/pain is generated.
If the mattress is too firm for you, then it will exert pressure on your joints while if it is too soft, then those pressure points won't be supported adequately, and you won’t be able to maintain proper spinal alignment. Whatever the case may be, both the scenarios may lead to an achy morning.
So, to avoid these scenarios, we are here to explain to you about the various factors that need to be considered to determine whether the mattress is right for you or not.
Innerspring Mattresses:
These mattresses are the most widely used mattresses. They support your body with the coil springs, and in most mattresses today, each coil is individually enclosed. The enclosed coil system prevents the coils from popping out of the mattress. On top of these coils are a wide variety of materials added for comfort, from pillow to latex to memory foam. It's all a matter of preference. There are plenty of innerspring mattresses in the market to choose from. They vary in terms of their firmness, the fluffiness of the pillow top, and in price to fit nearly everyone’s preference and pocketbook.
For people who suffer from overweight, spring mattresses may offer firmer support, making them easier to get in and out off. Firmer versions are suitable for people with back pain. However, spring-based mattresses can be comfortable for almost anyone.
Memory Foam Mattresses:
Memory foam mattresses are growing popularly these days. These mattresses contain layers of different densities of foam that respond to your body weight and temperature. These mattresses are known for their comfort as they contour to the shape of your body.
Memory foam mattresses reduce pressure points and relieve joint pains by molding as per the shape of the body throughout the night as the shifting of the body weight takes place. It also absorbs movement, so if you sleep with a partner, you're likely not to get disturbed by his/her tossing and turning.
These mattresses are sensitive to temperature change. They become soft and start to mold with your body heat; they can make you feel extremely hot during the night though these mattresses are known to emit an unpleasant chemical smell sometimes.
If you face issues getting all comfortable in bed, have some chronic fatigue or pain related to muscle, then this mattress works well for you, assuming that there is no body heat issue.
Latex Mattresses:
Latex mattresses are made from either naturally obtained latex or synthetic rubber and are known for providing a very firm, bouncy support that is uniform throughout the bed.
Frankly, I think one of the best mattress materials is latex. People like it for being firm and supportive, but also for providing comfort similar to memory foam. Unlike the memory foam mattresses, latex mattresses provide more support.
A latex mattress and a latex mattress topper, both offer exceptional comfort and support to people suffering from back pain.
Air Mattresses:
Don't go by the name of these mattresses as they are nothing like those blow-up mattresses; instead, they look like a standard innerspring mattress. These mattresses use air-filled chambers instead of coils and are covered by a foam layer on top.
Air beds are used by the patients suffering from an injury in the spinal cord, basically for those who need to lay in their bed for long. These beds are self-adjusting, so they do not create any pressure points or any skin break down in patients who can't move.
Couples whose individual preference varies dramatically in terms of comfort and firmness levels do well with an air mattress as they can alter the firmness level of each side of the bed as per your individual preference.
To provide extra support and cushioning to these mattresses, mattress toppers for these mattresses are also available in the market.
Less sophisticated air mattresses fail to provide the firmness that an individual requires. Sometimes, one side of the mattresses pops up when you sit on another end. For this reason, you want multiple chambers, so that doesn't occur.
These beds are useful to couples with different mattress requirements.
Mattress Care:
A mattress must never be used just after its delivery., it must be left out in the air for at least four hours. This removes the smell of damp or cold that may be stored in it. Ideally, a mattress must be aired weekly by removing the bed linen and exposing its surface in air.
Other than that, it is important to flip your mattress after a specified time interval. This will ensure that no lumps are formed and no part of the mattress gets altered by your weight, causing uneven sleeping.
Researchers say that you should replace your mattresses every 8 to 10 years though. This is not only meant for hygiene reasons but also because it will soften over time, reducing the support it gives you. If you feel sore when you wake up or you find you sleep better in other beds, it’s time to say bye to your old mattress and welcome a new one.
Mattress Topper:
It is an additional layer that is placed on the top of a mattress to provide additional cushioning and support. It is an extra layer of cushioning that goes over your mattress before you put your bed sheets on. They provide added comfort and support while also making your bed feel more luxurious and cozier. There are a variety of materials to pick from like memory foam, cotton and polyester-blend topper, latex topper, goose feathers, cotton and wool, and others.
Choosing a mattress is not an easy choice. Don’t just listen to your family member or your friend and buy the one that they own. Everyone has their body requirements. Just take your time, do your research work, try some mattresses in a showroom, and then go for the mattress that you feel is best for you.