Sleeping and bed selection

Getting a good night's sleep is something that many people take for granted, however there is a significant percentage of the population who have trouble sleeping. This inability to sleep comfortably, and for a prolonged period of unbroken time, can have numerous causes.

These causes can range from the physical to the psychological, but in the majority of cases there is a solution.

For those whose sleep is disrupted by thought patterns, be they nightmares or worry, the most probable solution is a psychological or sleep preparation one. Take a look at this how to prepare for sleep page for some ideas.

However for those who wake up out of discomfort or a need to alter their sleeping position the solution may be to change the type of mattress upon which they sleep.

This second scenario can have an easy resolution, but it is dependant upon finding the best and most comfortable bed for the individual in question.

Bed selection

By referring to the other mattress pages in this section you can quickly find out about the different characteristics that mattresses made from springs, memory foam, Latex foam etc have. All can be of an orthopedic mattress quality, but the way in which they support the sleeping body differs quite significantly.

The first thing that you need to check with your bed is that it is not damaged or worn.

If there are any lumps, deflections, hard spots or sagging in your mattress, then your inability to get a relaxed night's sleep could be explained by this. It therefore goes without saying that you need a new mattress immediately.

If your mattress is fine, but you still wake up frequently during the night and do not feel refreshed and invigorated in the morning, then it may suggest that the mattress type that you are sleeping on is not suited to your body.

When you suspect that this may be the case, if you have a hard or a very firm mattress you may want to think about getting either a soft mattress, or a contouring mattress made from visco elastic memory foam or Latex foam. (See the guides on these mattress types for further details of how "they sleep", i.e. memory foam, Latex foam mattress.)

If you currently have a soft and spongy mattress or a contouring style orthopedic mattress, then switching to a much firmer mattress may be a practical solution. A high spring count mattress like a firm pocket sprung mattress may be a good option (see mattresses made form springs).

Although there are various thoughts and recommendations, ultimately different people like different mattress types. Many would argue that the memory foam mattresses offer the best support for the spine, particularly for side sleepers, but despite this many who sleep on their side like a firm or even hard mattresses. It is simply a matter of personal choice.

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