No caffeine or daytime laps and regular melatonin supplements are considered the keys to a better night’s sleep. Few people know that a fitting piece of furniture and, more importantly, a mattress plays a major role. Today, nearly 30% of people report post-speel pain and unrested feelings. They struggle to find a perfect mattress, knowing it’s not always expensive.
In this post, we’d like to highlight the mattress firmness question and give tips on choosing the best one.
Sleep & Recovery
The 2020 sleep, mental health, and recovery study results were published in Psychological Medicine to explain how inadequate sleep, or lack of it, increases people’s depression, anxiety, and stress. Healthy sleep, on the contrary, slows down physical and mental recovery. This proves that healthy and sound sleep helps people to deal with stress, emotional or physical, better.
Another study on the Influence of Mattress comfort and Sleep Quality says that the right choice of mattresses adds to fewer body aches, less back pain, and improved sleep quality. Older people with joint pain benefit from special mattresses relieving pressure points. This shows that the right mattress choice is critical.
What Is Mattress Firmness?
If you measure a mattress’s firmness on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 will stand for the softest version, while 10 will be the firmest one. A mattress marked as ten will have the highest resistance level, affecting the depth of sinking into the bedding.
- Scale 1-3 – soft: Such mattresses feel like a cushion, allowing a person to sink very deep into the material. This option is perfect for side sleepers and people who like having extra cushioning around them.
- Scale 4-6 – medium: These mattresses are a balance between comfort and sleep. They are the choice for 60% of people since they guarantee perfect neck and back support. Whether you are a side, back, or stomach sleeper, a medium-firmness mattress is a great purchase.
- Scale 7-10 – firm: Those who need firm support for proper resting choose firm mattresses. Sinkage level is minimal, as well as body contouring while sleeping. This option is quite popular among havier people due to even weight distribution.
There are three popular materials for mattresses: latex, memory foam, and innerspring. Yet, there are also hybrids: they are the combination of coils and foam.
How Body Type Affects Mattress Comfort
You are under 130 lbs. For people in this category, soft to medium mattresses are the perfect choice, yet soft ones are preferable. It’s because a lighter person does not sink deep and experiences no pressure around the shoulders or hips. Latex and foam bedding will contour the body and give the correct support level.
You are between 130-230 lbs. Find a mattress that gives support between comfort and support during sleep. Average body weight people enjoy medium-firm mattresses the most: their bodies neither sink nor suffer from pressure. A hybrid with coils and foam layers will do best.
You are over 230 lbs. In this case, extra support is a must-have. If a mattress doesn’t ensure it, a person starts suffering from poor spinal alignment. If you have extra weight, choose a firm mattress to maintain the right spinal alignment during all the hours of sleep. Pay attention to extra firm options with high-density foam, latex, and coils.
Matrasses and Sleping Positions
Yet, weight isn’t the only crucial factor when choosing the right mattresses. Your sleeping position matters:
- Back sleepers need medium-firm options to support the spine yet make it remain in a neutral position during sleep. Soft mattresses trigger lower back dips. Firm mattresses trigger pressure points.
- Side sleepers need softer options for the cushioning effect. They give the needed level of cushioning without resulting in pains and aches in the morning. They benefit from memory foam mattresses more than from other types.
- Stomach sleepers need firmer options since their knees and hips can sink too deep during the night. They require a very strong support for spinal alignment. This support stands for stability and healthy sleep.
Practical Steps on Choosing a Mattress
When you have made your decision to change your mattress and improve your sleeping habits, there are some practical steps you need to follow:
- Assess your sleeping position, differentiating the needs of stomach, back, and side sleepers. This is how you’ll pick an option to accommodate your sleeping posture.
- Take your body type into account, as this dictates the support level that your spine needs during sleep. When support is enough, you will not feel too firm or stuck.
- Decide on a mattress type, choosing between memory foam, innerspring, latex, or hybrid. Visiting a store and testing options is a wise move before any further steps.
- Consider firmness too. Many people decide to go with medium options as the best all-around choice. Yet, also take into account your comfort preferences.
- Check temperature regulation if you tend to sleep hot. Some of the cooling features are colling covers, gel infusions, and breathable fabrics. A latex mattress can be a nice choice as it’s more breathable than others.
- Perform the durability check by screening the quality of materials. Additionally, check the warranty: mattresses with a 10+ year warranty always have high-quality materials and good craftsmanship.
There are frequent cases of mattress return policy that gives a chance for risk-free trials. In this case, you can choose a mattress, pay for it, and have it delivered. You then can test everything in your sleep position, see if there are any pressure points, and even let your partner check it with you.
Conclusion
Choosing the right mattress is a step towards your healthy sleep. Evidently, the cost can be a stumbling block for many people. Yet, you need to treat this purchase as an investment in your health rather than another useless expense. Screen the market, look for a store with a vast mattress choice, get free consultations, test several mattresses in-store or at home, and pay for your comfort.
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