Your bed may be the most important piece of furniture in your home. After all, we spend roughly a third of our lives sleeping, recharging our bodies and minds for a new day. But when that sleep is interrupted by back pain, it’s time to start learning how to find the right mattress.
Decide if it’s time to get rid of your mattress.
How do you know when it’s time to get rid of your mattress? Good mattresses typically have a lifespan of 10 years, but if you’re experiencing back pain, you may want to consider replacing it sooner.
Choose the proper firmness.
Mattress experts say many customers mistakenly think a firmer bed is a better one for dealing with existing back pain or preventing it. Those suffering from degenerative disc disease often find that the firmer mattress alleviates pain, but if that’s not your particular challenge, you won’t need the firmest mattress in the store.
Too-firm mattresses can lead to pain at pressure points like the hips. A mattress that’s too soft, on the other hand, may make it difficult for you to move, and also will not give enough support. It’s important to know the difference between a firm feel and firm support; you want a bed that’s supportive enough but still comfortable for you to settle in each night.
What type of mattress is best?
Generally speaking, traditional spring mattresses provide the most support, but foam and fabric-topped mattresses come in a range of firmness as well. Be aware that your weight may be a deciding factor in the type of mattress you buy. The very lightweight aren’t heavy enough to compress a pillow top mattress, but those who are larger can and may find that they like the extra cushion between their bodies and the mattress’ coils. Consider an adjustable bed so you can control where you receive support and how much.
It’s recommended that when shopping for a new mattress, you lay on it in the store for at least 15 minutes. Shop at a store that specializes in mattresses and choose one that has a 30-day money back guarantee so you can really feel what eight hours of sleep feels like. There’s no exact formula for finding the perfect mattress, so the best thing to do is listen to your body and sleep on what’s most comfortable.
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