People who are loath to purchase a new mattress generally point to the expense involved as their excuse for holding off, but they really should take a look at their priorities. Those very same people would probably never consider going out for a run without making sure that they had a decent pair of running shoes that provide them with the right type of support, or going scuba diving without their oxygen tanks properly filled. When it comes to sleeping, our mattresses are our most important piece of equipment for an activity that we spend approximately one third of our lives on. Seems like the investment might be worth it.
Having a comfortable mattress is something that almost everybody agrees is important to getting a good night’s sleep – in fact a National Sleep Foundation survey said that 92 percent of people say it’s vital. Studies show that a good night’s sleep can translate into better health, a happier mood, an improved memory, even an easier time losing weight. Here are some of the other ways that your mattress can really have an impact on your life
An interesting study that was conducted in 2009 took nearly five dozen healthy people and asked them to spend four weeks in a row sleeping on the mattresses that they had always been sleeping on and then to follow it with four weeks on brand new mattresses listed as being medium firm. Each was asked to record their level of stress each day, specifically addressing issues like anxiety, headaches, whether they had any episodes of trembling or racing thoughts, and more. The stress levels showed a marked decline following the introductions of the new beds, most likely as a result of the participants getting a better night’s sleep.
Most people are unaware of the fact that the older your mattress is, the higher the likelihood that it is home to microscopic creatures called dust mites. Having dust mites doesn’t mean that you are dirty – they are in nearly every home, chomping away on the dead skin cells that you lose every night. But nearly 20 million people in the United States are allergic to dust mites, and many don’t even realize that they are. The best way to minimize the critters is frequent washing in hot water. Buying a slip cover that is allergy proof can restrict their ability to go back and forth between mattress and sheets, and vacuuming your mattress can help.
- Recognizing that It’s Time for a New Bed
Sometimes you’re uncomfortable and you just don’t know it. If you’re finding that when you sleep in a hotel room you’re sleeping better than you do at home, chances are good it’s time for a new mattress. Poor sleep is one of the best signs that it’s time to buy a new one. If you decide to make the purchase, don’t rush into it. It takes at least twenty minutes of lying on a mattress to determine whether it’s comfortable or not – that’s why it’s important to buy a mattress that comes with a return or exchange policy.
