Re: Mattress

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Re: Mattress

Posted by Honest Expert / but only mattresses on June 27, 2001 at 16:56:44:
In Reply to: Mattress posted by Robert on June 26, 2001 at 22:34:11:
Hi Robert,
It has been determined through testing that 32mmhg pressure on the skin causes compression of the capillaries and results in restricted bloodflow to the skin. This is the primary cause of bedsores, among other problems.
When this occurs in a normally mobile person, the body tells itself to change positions so that the pressure can be relieved and bloodflow resumed. The result is tossing and turning.
Unfortunately, the body does not like to move during the deeper stages of sleep where the greatest rest is acheived; to move, the body must come out of the deeper stages. The more a person moves, the less restful will be their sleep.
ALL mattress types and constructions have the ability to create sufficient pressure to break the 32mmhg threshold causing disruption of quality of sleep, but SOME constructions are superior at minimizing that impact for different body types and sizes.
Mattresses are built with two opposing factors in mind: Support and comfort. Unfortunately, these two factors are frequently at odds with each other in product design: Materials that are supportive tend to be less comfortable and materials that are more comfortable tend to be less supportive. The trick is to find the balance that is appropriate for various body shapes, weights and sizes. This is why there are so many different types of mattresses in the world.
If a person does not have a mattress that is appropriately comfortable AND supportive, they WILL sleep poorer.
If a person is able to "sleep on anything," it is more likely the case that they have built up a substantial sleep debt, rather than evidence that the mattress is not a factor. Once their sleep debt is reduced, the differences in mattress constructions will become more significant.
A mattress need not be reallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy uncomfortable to cause pooorer sleep; it only needs to be a poor choice of comfort AND/OR support (which may mean that it has gotten old!).
I'm sorry Robert, but the surface you spend all those hours on CAN have a significant effect on how well a person sleeps, just like the person who spends a long time on their feet knows that choice of shoes has a significant impact on fatigue.
Mattress choice can affect both quantity and quality of sleep.
Honest Expert

Follow Ups:

Re: Mattress Ruby 04:14 6/30/01 (0)

Re: Mattress Robert 20:22 6/27/01 (2)

Re: Mattress Honest Expert 20:45 6/27/01 (1)

Re: Mattress Robert 23:32 6/27/01 (0)

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Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.