How to Find the Best Bed For You
Your bed is much more than just a place to sleep. It’s a refuge from a hectic day and your sanctuary for restful rejuvenation. And with a third of your life spent asleep on it, you want to be sure you’re getting the best possible comfort.
The perfect mattress can also help alleviate certain medical conditions that cause pain or discomfort during sleep. For example, if you have joint pain, backaches or allergies, there are mattress materials to help ease these conditions. These include pressure-relieving materials to ease joints and muscles, cooling and breathable covers to reduce nighttime sweating and allergy-relieving foam layers.
Mattress Firmness
Mattresses come in many different firmness levels, ranging from soft to extra-firm. The best firmness for you depends on your preferences, including whether you’re a back, stomach or side sleeper. Firmness also influences how well a mattress supports your spine and prevents sagging over time.
To determine how firm a mattress is, look at the thickness of the padding and quilting and the amount and type of foam or fiber used as an insulator and transitional layer. The quilting, which comes after the cover, is typically made of breathable fabrics that allow heat to escape.
The pad or insulator/transitional layer is often made of foam, wool or cotton. It’s a light layer that provides a soft surface texture and helps the top layer of the mattress to breathe and move air more effectively.
If you have a back or stomach pain, a memory foam mattress may be the best option for you. It’s designed to support the curve of your spine, helping you stay aligned while sleeping and preventing sagging over time. Memory foam mattresses are also ideal for relieving joint and muscle pain, as they adapt to your movements during sleep.
A box spring is a metal frame with extra heavy duty springs and is often paired with innerspring mattresses to extend the life of the mattress’s core. It is also a good choice for older beds that need extra support.
Grid-top foundation bed bases feature a grid-like structure that’s comprised of metal or wood slats spaced apart to provide a solid base for the mattress and improve airflow so your mattress stays cool and dry. They are the most affordable of all the types of foundations available and work well for almost any kind of mattress.
For heavier people, a firmer mattress is often the best option. It’s important for larger people to use as much of a mattress’s surface area as possible, so a firmer bed is more likely to keep them comfortably supported. It’s also a good idea for them to consider mattresses with reinforced edges, which can help prevent sagging over time. Effective treatments for BED are available, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Other treatment options include nutritional education, body image resilience training, and stress reduction strategies. BED is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, including yo-yo dieting, low self-esteem and body image issues, and co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety.