What Mattress Type Suits You
Mattresses, like pillows, are an extremely important part of your nightly sleeping experience. Sleeping takes up about one-third of your entire existence, so you owe it to yourself to make the right decision, getting the best possible night’s sleep. It makes all the difference in the world to how the next day will go; fully recharged and ready for anything, or the opposite. Here is a range of mattresses with some insights into what each one might offer you.
Memory Foam
Memory foam mattresses work by combining different layers of foam, each layer being a specific density. The mattress absorbs your body shape, thus reducing the gap between your body’s particular curves and the mattress’s surface. This can help reduce pressure points and ease with back pain. It will also minimize the extent to which a sleeping partner will disturb you through unconscious sleeping movement. Some sleepers don’t like the extra heat that a foam mattress can generate, due to its absorbing of your body heat into its fabric. For sleepers who don’t tend to suffer from having a high body temperature, this isn’t an issue.
Innerspring (Coil)
Innerspring mattresses are extremely popular and for good reason. They work primarily through coil springs, each one of which is specially enclosed. On top of these protected coils, there is a range of different materials such as foam, latex, etc. and as you move so the coils adjust themselves to meet your body’s unique requirements. You don’t get significantly more comfort if your mattress has a very high number of springs; however, if you don’t have enough it could lead to a less comfortable night’s sleep. Innerspring mattresses can be particularly helpful for overweight sleepers, due to the firmer support such mattresses tend to provide.
Latex
Latex mattresses have many of the same properties as foam mattresses but provide a little more push back; more support for those who need it. Such ‘bounce’ is consistent throughout the mattress, unlike with an innerspring mattress. There are also latex toppers for those sleepers who want a bit more support but not so much as to affect their overall sleeping experience.
Hybrid
As the name suggests, you get the benefits of two styles – memory foam and latex foam, in just one mattress. The lower section of the hybrid mattress will usually contain coiled springs, while the upper section will have up to 3 layers of memory foam. You can even get models that have some form of open-cell foam structure, copper infusion, or gel infusion, thus giving you that coolness you might want, as well as relief for your various pressure points. Do your homework because every model is slightly different.
Organic
If eco-concerns are at or near the top of your agenda, the materials used in an organic mattress might be especially pleasing to you. Typically, organic mattresses use organic wool, natural latex, organic cotton, and recycled steel support coils to provide give you a sleeping experience that may also satisfy your conscience. GREENGUARD GOLD certified mattresses are generally regarded as being very safe due to all the requirements they have to meet.
Waterbeds
Water beds were originally invented to aid sleepers who complained about getting bedsores. They can create quite a soothing experience and can be adjusted to respond to your body weight by setting either to ‘restricted’ or ‘free-flowing’ water. There are even certain models that allow for different water setting on each side of the bed, perfect for a sleeping couple. It can be a little arduous to set it all up and is a quite heavy structure. However, if this isn’t an issue for you then it could really suit your particular needs.
Custom Foam
It is possible, for those who want a foam mattress, to get a bespoke one made to suit your body’s specific requirements. You can choose from a range of different forms, ie. composite foam, solid foam, or memory foam. You may also select from around half a dozen different thicknesses. As a rule, the thinner foam will provide a softer sleeping experience, while thicker foam a firmer one. This may allow you to achieve just the compromise you need, in order to enjoy the benefits of a foam mattress designed by you, for you.
Overall, there are plenty of different mattresses from which to choose, and you only need to get it right once in order for you to benefit from solid nights of sleep for many years to come. If in doubt, seek specialist advice from an orthopedic doctor and a mattress specialist. Most mattresses will come with a reasonable warranty, allowing you enough time to get used to it and see if it really suits you. It could be that you will need a mattress topper to perfect thing; a fairly inexpensive and convenient solution that you can even bring with you when you stay over at someone else’s house.
Sources:
- Choose the Right Mattress for a Better Sleep – AARP
- Decide Which Mattress to Take to Bed – Better Sleep Council