Which Mattress Is Right For You?
By Trevor Chetcuti on 26 Sep 2014
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Sleeping is one of the most important requirements for a healthy life.
It is a time when our nervous system can concentrate or repair, detoxification and rejuvenation. So why do many of us take sleeping for granted?
How Much Sleep Does The Average Adult Need?
It’s been suggested that the average adult requires 8 hours of sleep a night.
The truth is that we all have varying sleep requirements. The healthier you are, the earlier you get to bed, the better you breathe overnight, the fitter you are, the amount of activity you do, the stress in your life; all these things can influence how much sleep you require.
If we take 8 hours as a standard figure, we should be spending a third of our life sleeping. So why is it that many of us spend more time looking for a quality TV than we do our mattress?
There are many different types of mattresses out there with a range of gimmicks. Some are adjustable, some are spring, others latex, some have pillow tops, others don’t and then on top of that there are all the varying associations that endorse different mattresses as well. It’s all just so confusing!
The Two Most Important Factors When Choosing A Mattress
When we take away all the layers, there are really only thing two things that are important in a mattress. We should be supported lying straight and we should be comfortable.
Mattresses that are soft tend to allow us to sink in, bowing at the waist. This increases muscle activity overnight, often leading to sore and fatigued muscles.
“Why is it that many of us spend more time looking for a quality TV than we do our mattress?”
A mattress that is too hard can cut off circulation as it compresses the skin and underlying tissue, causing our chest to sink in. This also leads to muscular fatigue and soreness.
Many companies have tried to combine both of these worlds with the development of what is now known as the pillow top. Most pillow top mattresses are quite firm with their support, but provide a relatively thick layer of cushioning that allows for comfort and circulation.
The Pillow Top Mattress
While great in theory, these mattresses are often expensive and the pillow top compresses over time. In fact many companies consider a 3 to 4cm compression normal or expected.
The compression many pillow top mattresses undergo often means they have far shorter life spans than traditional mattresses. We see many people showing signs of support issues after just 4 or 5 years with some pillow top mattresses.
“The truth is that we all have varying sleep requirements.”
It seems an easy way to get the best of both worlds is by using a non-pillow top mattress with good support and a good overlay.
There are many good overlays out there, including some that offer a great level of added support by being contoured. The great thing about overlays is that you can find a mattress that provides the right level of support and then adjust the comfort by fine-tuning the right overlay for you.
If the overlay wears out in a few years, it can simply be replaced.
Personally, I love the Body Huggar from Therapeutic Pillow Australia, but it really is simply personal preference.
Fatigue is a major problem in society and a good night sleep can make every day seem a bit happier and brighter.
