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Posted by Honest Expert on January 01, 2001 at 22:41:18:In Reply to: Re: Honest Info About Mattresses... posted by John F on January 01, 2001 at 05:18:47:
John F,
I possess about 15 books on sleep disorders, curing insomnia and the like. It probably comes to about 4000 pages, all told. Of those 4000 pages, there are perhaps 10 that talk about mattresses! I am stunned that there is so little information. After all, we all have slept on an uncomfortable mattress and slept poorly. It seems, therefore, that the surface we sleep on every night would get more attention.
First, the short course. There are four basic types of mattresses: Innerspring, Water, Air and Foam. Innersprings are steel springs that are covered with various layers of padding to soften their feel. Water and Air are obvious. Foams come in a variety of types ranging from natural Latex (rubber) to various synthetics. All of them work well, but none of them work well for EVERYONE!
The University of California At Berkeley found through their research that the single most important factor is comfort: The more comfortable a mattress feels to you, the more likely you are to get a good night's sleep. Seems simple, huh? Except the University will usually do these studies on college students -- who are available for multiple nights -- which may be the most sleep deprived group of people in the world! So such a finding must be taken with a grain of salt.
Next, think about the firmness you want from your mattress. Most of us have been told -- at one time or another -- that we have to have a "firm" mattress. But firm does not mean "hard." The floor is plenty hard; why bother with a mattress? What you really want is SUPPORT, not "firm."
You should get whatever mattress feels GOOD to you, as long as it continues to give good support.
The newer "memory foam" mattresses -- especially the ones that soften at body temperature -- can give a remarkably soft touch on the body, while giving great support. The first impression, especially when you initially sit on them, may be too soft; but once you lay back for a couple of minutes you will realize that they are supporting you quite well. Part of their secret is in the fact that they make about 30% more body contact, so they can distribute your weight better into the mattress.
Innerspring mattreses have a nice ability to "push back" into the contours of the body, but are limited by the depth of padding they have. Most people want more padding to soften the feel of the steel springs, but that does not allow for as much contouring by the springs. Less padding tends to have a harsher feel.
Air and Water are really only right for about 5% of the population, each. The property that makes them right for some people is the way they contour: When you push down in one area, it pushes back up in another to fill the body's contours. Unfortuantely, the amount that your heavier portions push down is "just right" for only a small percentage of how how much you need other areas to be pushed up. Without the right body proportions, these beds don't really fit right.
If you are sleeping on a mattress that is more than 10 years old, the odds are that the springs no longer have the strength to hold your body in proper alignment. They may LOOK fine, but that doesn't mean that the have the proper strength any longer. Also, it is likely that the padding is mashed sufficiently that it is not being as gentle on the body as it could be.
The unfortuante reality is, the older we get, the less we can tolerate a mattress in poor condition. The body rebels by causing more tossing and turning ... which is not condusive to getting good rest form your sleep. Typically, once you get to 40 - 45, you can no longer get away with sleeping on "just anything." If you can, it is probably a sign that you are not actually sleeping very well and have built up enough sleep debt that the surface doesn't matter!
A Futon is essentially a quite firm mattress that is often filled with padding, but no springs. They are also used as a seating surface -- where the weight is much more concentrated -- so you can imagine the firmness they often have. If you are not used to them, I would recommend steering clear. For those who are used to them, they can be great, but at your age, I wouldn't recommend that dramatic a change.
My best advice? Don't worry about the "inconvenience" of the mattress you get for the office. If it is a nuisance to move, or looks funny in the room, those are awful reasons not to get the best night's sleep you can. Make adjustments in the layout of the room or make adjustments in the priorities. The benefits of good sleep should be the priority. Whatever you need to do to accomplish it should come first. Cosmetics should come second.
Lastly, don't scrimp. Be a shrewd consumer, but don't be penny wise and pound foolish. Find the bed you love ... THEN find the best price you can get. IGNORE the price as much as you can; get a bed you LOVE! There is nothing you personally use that you will use more than your bed! (Of ALL the things you own, only your refridgerator is probably used more. A mattress is NOT the place to save!)
Good luck!
- Re: Honest Info About Mattresses... John F 03:44 1/02/01 (0)
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