Our mattresses are the thrones of our sleep. We spend an average of 8 hours on them every single day, and that is one third of our lives. Moreover, the quality of sleep is directly the quality of all the other time we spend at work, at school or in social life. Simply put, choosing the right mattress is one of the greatest investments you can do on your health.

Realizing the importance of sleep, mattress brands have come up with too many choices, enough to confuse the average person. Few of us are sure what to choose out of pocket springs, box springs, plush pillow tops, latex, memory foams, hybrid systems, visco gels and much more… Here are some tips about choosing the right product and the importance of mattress choice.

Best mattress means less tension on the spine and discs

The most suitable mattress for health is the one that provides a position with the least pressure on the spine and discs. The ideal posture for our spine during the day should also be maintained during sleep.

In general, mattresses that are too soft or too hard will not let you maintain a normal posture and they’ll put strain on the spine and discs. The ligaments that hold the lumbar vertebrae together will be overstretched, the discs between the vertebrae will be overloaded and the nerves between the vertebrae will be negatively affected. As a result, we will have to start the next day with back and lower back pain. In the long run, these overloads on the vertebrae can cause irreversible damage and eventually lead to conditions that may require surgical interventions.

The right mattress for spinal health is one that preserves natural spinal curvatures (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral curvature) and does not lead to an increase or decrease in the angles along them. When the right mattress is chosen, excessive loads will not be placed on the spine, ligaments, discs and nerves, and as a result, pain caused by these formations will not occur.

So, how to choose the right mattress?

There is no definite rule about choosing the right mattress. There are many options available on the market, from the size of the mattress to its hardness, from the type of fabric to the type of inner material. It cannot be said that every orthopedic mattress is suitable for everyone. It is also not clear how long a mattress, that makes you feel great in the first months, will maintain its quality and properties. Here are some basic rules to choose the right mattress for spine health:

• Bed length must be at least 20 cm longer than the person’s height.
• Width must be at least 90 cm for a single bed, 160 cm for a double bed.
• Medium hardness mattresses should be preferred.
• Warranty and service quality should be taken into consideration.
• The mattresses should be placed on a flat surface.
• Mattress producer’s usage instructions shall be followed.
• Mattress seller must be informed about the body weight of the user.

 

Ideal mattresses for different sleeping positions

Most of us adopt a single sleeping position. If you are one of them, here are some tips about ideal mattresses for 3 main sleeping styles.

1- Side sleeping position
55% of the world population are side sleepers. In this position gravitational pressure will concentrate on a narrower bed surface, so a soft plush to medium hard bed will be ideal. These options will wrap around your shoulders and hips to some extent and you will feel less tension on your spine.

2- Back sleeping position
Back sleepers know what the natural spinal s-curve-friendly sleeping is. Sleeping on your back makes much more part of your body touch the mattress, therefore distributes the pressure more evenly on the bed and on your skeletal system. If you’re a back sleeper, firm options must be the first to consider, as they will support your lower back and neck better than any other mattress type.

3- Stomach sleeping position
Although only 7% of the world population are stomach sleepers, this still means more than half a billion people. This sleeping position puts too much pressure on the respiratory system and does not support the s-curve of the spine. Therefore, top firm mattresses shall be the first choice for stomach sleeping.