What are the Benefits of a Firm Mattress?

What are the benefits of a Firm Mattress?

Remember the waterbed craze of the 70s and 80s? Sit ‘n Sleep does. It’s hard to believe that many people actually preferred to be sloshing around on a rocking, roiling wave of water for a third of their lives.

But as with all fads those days have passed, and the tide has turned back in favor of a good old-fashioned firm mattress. These days, people seem to be more concerned about their health and less concerned about having the latest in trendy bedroom furniture – especially if that furniture leads to back problems and night after night of restless sleep. So it’s not surprising that more and more Americans are opting for a firmer sleeping surface to carry them comfortably through the night.

It used to be that if you wanted a firm mattress, your only choice was an innerspring coil mattress sitting on top of a sturdy box springs. Depending on the mattress, this often required sacrificing comfort in order to get firm support. But with today’s advanced sleep technologies, there are many different types, makes and models of firm mattresses that offer both firmness and comfort. These include memory foam, memory foam, latex and hybrid mattresses.

Firm is Good for You!

People who have migrated to a firm mattress can usually offer a long list of reasons for doing so. But chiropractors, doctors and other medical professionals also tout the benefits of spending seven or eight hours a night resting on a firm mattress. These include:

• Superior comfort.

  You can never have too much support, but you can always have too little support. This is especially true for older people and those with back, neck or joint problems.

• Proper alignment of the spine.

  Proper posture matters, even during sleep. If your backbone is all out of whack for eight hours, it can be hard to function normally the next day. A firm mattress does a better job of keeping nicely aligned so you can get through the day without a lot of stress or strain.

• Deeper rest.

  The human body can’t fully rest on a soft or sagging mattress, because it’s always trying to compensate for the unorthodox positions. And it’s not just the spine that requires excellent posture. Even your limbs, neck and other body parts need a comfy, cozy retreat for a great night’s sleep.

• Proper weight distribution.

  Not enough support means that your body will eventually sag in one direction, which is a leading cause of misalignment in joints and muscles.

• Ongoing health benefits.

  There’s an axiom in the sleep industry that “proper rest = proper health.” During sleep, your body does a hundred different things to repair and rejuvenate. Cells are restored. Human growth hormone gets activated. Insulin levels are reduced. Without a firm mattress to give deep rest, you’re missing out on these important health benefits every night.

Getting the Right Firmness for You

Believe it or not, a mattress that is too firm can also cause sleep and health problems. The mattress needs to support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported in proper alignment. If your mattress is too firm, it will push on those key pressure points and actually take you out of alignment. Conversely, if the mattress is too soft, those pressure points won’t be properly supported, so your whole body flops back. So it’s important to get the right level of firmness for your body.

According to sleep experts, a mattress with less cushioning is more likely to support a neutral-spine position during sleep. When you sleep on a firm mattress with minimal cushioning, your bones bear most of the pressure. This frees up your muscles and allows the arteries and veins to relax. This, in turn, improves circulation, which also helps you sleep better. The right mattress also prevents your lower back from collapsing when you lay on it. This stops your airway from becoming constricted, allowing the lungs to inhale more oxygen – another important factor in getting a good night’s sleep.

For the best night’s sleep, choose a level of firmness based on the following factors:

• Age
• Body weight
• History of back, neck or joint pain
• Preferred sleep position

For example, if you tend to sleep on your side, a surface that provides a lot of pressure relief while conforming to your shape may be the best option. If you sleep on your stomach, a firm top surface will provide the best support and prevent that “smothering” feeling that can occur when you sink down into the mattress. If you tend to sleep on your back, look for a mattress that provides firm support but has a little “give” so your spine stays in proper alignment.

Sit ‘N Sleep: The Mattress Experts

These are just some of the reasons to consider a firm mattress. Your particular body type might need a softer mattress, but that’s for you to decide. It may take a while to determine what type of mattress you need, but when it comes to buying your mattress, there’s only one smart choice – Sit ‘N Sleep.

Check out our contact page for more info, or call our customer service team at (800) 908-0354. We look forward to serving you, whether you decide on a firm or soft mattress. And remember, our VIP customers save $100 on any purchase of $999 or more!