Sleep, occupying a third of our lives, is a lifelong assignment for everyone aiming to improve quality. Among the factors to consider for a good night’s sleep, such as lighting, bedtime, and tranquility, the mattress on your bed plays a crucial role. If you don’t choose a mattress suitable for your body, it can harm your back health. It’s a common experience for many people to wake up tired and with back pain due to poor sleeping conditions. Let’s examine what kind of mattress to wake up refreshed.
Thickness
Thickness is essential when choosing a mattress. If you use a bed that is too thin for your weight, you may experience pain or difficulty sleeping due to excessive pressure points on your body. For those who sleep alone or are underweight (under 55kg (121 pounds)), a mattress thickness of about 20.3-30cm (8-12 inches) is appropriate; for those who weigh around 104kg (229 pounds), a thicker mattress of at least 30.5cm (12 inches) is recommended. If it is difficult to find a thick mattress, you should consider purchasing one at least 16cm (6.3 inches).
Is the pressure evenly distributed on your body?
When sleeping on a mattress, your body experiences pressure in various areas. The points where pressure is concentrated are the head, back, waist, and legs, with the waist bearing the most pressure. Before purchasing a mattress, checking whether the pressure is evenly distributed across your body when you lie down is necessary. If you feel a lot of pressure on your waist, you may suffer from muscle pain when you wake up. A soft mattress may feel comfortable for a short period of lying down, but it’s important to determine if it’s still comfortable after a long sleep.
Size
The overall size is the first thing to consider when choosing a mattress. You need to measure the space where you will place the mattress accurately. You don’t want to end up in a ridiculous situation where you can’t put the bed in the desired location after you’ve purchased it. If you don’t choose the right mattress size, you may feel anxious about falling off and have difficulty sleeping. Generally, a single-size mattress is recommended for a child using it alone, a super single or double size for an adult, and a queen or king size for a couple.
Material
1. Innerspring
Choosing the suitable mattress material is crucial. Mattresses are typically made of spring materials. There are various types of springs, including Bonnell springs and pocket springs. Bonnell springs are strong and long-lasting. They are also the most commonly used in low-cost mattresses. However, Bonnell springs can produce noise and have poor responsiveness to body movements. Pocket springs offer good cushioning and stability but have a shorter lifespan and can sag in certain areas.
2. Latex
Latex mattresses have excellent antibacterial properties against bacteria such as dust mites. This material supports the human body elastically, so choosing a latex mattress that fits you can benefit your waist. Among latex mattresses are natural latex, which contains more than 85% natural rubber extracted from rubber trees, and synthetic latex, which has less. It’s also called natural latex only when it uses 100% latex material. Just because it uses raw materials doesn’t mean it’s always of good quality; it varies depending on the manufacturing process.
3. Memory Foam
Memory foam is the most recently developed material among mattress materials. It has high density and low elasticity and evenly distributes body weight. It produces less noise, and even when two people lie down together, the movement is less transmitted, so it doesn’t disturb the person next to you. Dust mites can’t inhabit the interior, making it a hygienic mattress material like latex. It’s easy to manage and cheaper than latex, which is an advantage. However, it is sensitive to temperature changes and has a shorter lifespan than latex. Even though memory foam is a state-of-the-art material, it’s best to lie down on it and make a judgment for yourself.
Posture
When choosing a mattress, visiting a store and personally trying out the display models is the best. Initially, you might feel comfortable when lying down. Still, it’s essential to accurately evaluate whether it will adequately support your lower back by considering your sleeping position on the mattress. When lying down and looking at the ceiling, the optimal alignment is for your head and waist to be level. When lying flat, it’s also considered suitable if there’s a slight sinkage of about 2-3cm (approximately 0.8-1.2 inches) in the buttock area.
Support
Consider its support in choosing a safe mattress that protects your back health. Support is another term for firmness. There’s a notion that the firmer the mattress, the less likely the back hurts. However, a bed that’s too firm can disrupt the spine’s natural curve. Memory foam and latex typically have low support, while springs have strong support. If you choose a mattress with too strong support, it puts a burden on the spine. On the other hand, a bed with weak support can’t support the spine, causing back pain.
Spinal Condition
Depending on the spine’s condition, you may choose between a firm and a soft mattress. A soft mattress is better if you have kyphosis, where the spine protrudes forward, and the back is bent. For lordosis, a firm mattress is a better choice. People with chronic back pain also find a firm mattress comfortable. On the other hand, if you change your position too often in bed, a soft mattress is more appropriate. If you’ve strained your back by lifting something heavy, choosing a firmer mattress is better.
After-sales Service
Although you will use a mattress forever once you buy it, that’s not the case. Mattresses also have a lifespan. Depending on the condition of the mattress, it lasts for about 3 years at the shortest and up to 10 years at the longest. The general replacement cycle for mattresses is about 5 years. It can sag if you put something heavy on the mattress or jump on it before then. Since households raising children might face such situations, knowing about the after-service center in advance is good. For imported companies, you need to check even more carefully.
By. Seo Yeon Park
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