Choosing the right mattress

Choosing the right mattress is one of the biggest decisions a person or couple can make when it comes to the creature comforts of home. The right mattress should not only be comfortable, but be good for a person’s health. While comfort is important, so is support, most notably for your back.

The right mattress will make it easy for you to hit the hay at night while also ensuring you won’t awake feeling as if your back is tied in knots each morning. To ensure you get a good night’s sleep, consider the following tips.

• Try it out, and take your time. Mattresses come in many varieties, and some might not be suitable for all people. For those with a history of back pain, it’s best to look for a mattress with a reputation of providing strong support to sleepers. A mattress that falls short in the support department will lead to poor sleeping posture, which can strain muscles and result in a misaligned spine. Both of these are catalysts for lower back pain.

Since every person is different, there is not a mattress out there that works for everyone who has experienced back pain in the past. That only highlights the importance of taking your time when shopping and trying out the variety of mattresses on the market. Even those without a history of back troubles should not be timid when trying out a mattress. Give it a genuine try, lying down long enough to see how your back responds and how much support it provides.

•Be sure the support extends across the whole mattress. Particularly for couples, the support a mattress provides should span the width of the mattress, and not just the middle. A good way to determine how much support the edges of the mattress provides is to roll from the center of the bed to the sides a few times. A mattress that provides poor support on its edges will be noticeable, while you won’t detect any differences in one that provides universal support.

•Go with a trustworthy name. Name brands might be more expensive, but they also have a proven track record. That’s especially important when it comes to purchasing a mattress, as no one wants to sacrifice a good night’s rest for the sake of saving a few dollars. A mattress is a long-term investment, so saving a dollar or two should not be the top priority. Also consider the store from where you’re buying the mattress. The right store will be flexible with delivery options, offer a good warranty, and might even take out your old mattress when delivering the new one. Lesser-known stores might not offer such services, particularly longer warrantees.

•Purchase the mattress and box spring as a set. According to the Better Sleep Council, mixing and matching a mattress and box spring could potentially decrease the life expectancy of your new mattress. Because a mattress is such a big and important investment, purchase both the mattress and box spring together as a set.

•Rotate and reposition your mattress according to manufacturer guidelines. To ensure that a mattress wears evenly, be sure to rotate and reposition the mattress as suggested. If you never flip or rotate your mattress, one side or spot will wear down fast, while the rest will do so more steadily. This will eventually cause you to replace your mattress earlier than you should, or if you don’t, could result in a bad night’s sleep or other problems, such as back pain, down the road.

To learn more about choosing a mattress and increasing your quality of sleep, visit the Better Sleep Council Web site at www.bettersleep.org.