A bed is like life, the harder the better? Regarding mattresses, it turns out that many people sleep wrong

Is it better to have a softer or harder mattress?

Soft mattresses are not acceptable now

Hard mattresses are becoming popular

"Being a little harder is good for your waist."

"Your back pain is caused by sleeping on a soft mattress."

"A bed is like life, the harder the better."

A mattress that is too hard is actually bad for your waist, and the harder the mattress, the worse it is.

Our spine has a normal physiological curvature, which is S-shaped when viewed from the side.

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When lying on a mattress that is too hard, the force points are on the back and buttocks, and there is a lack of support for the waist. The waist is suspended in the air. In order to maintain the normal curvature of the body, the muscles will always be in a tense state.

Think about it, we sleep to relax, but once we lie down our bodies become so tense that we can’t get the desired relaxation effect.

Once you fall asleep, your body muscles will relax. Without muscle support, the bed is hard, and your spine is forced to bend and twist to adapt to the bed.

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This is not a good thing. If the spine is twisted for a long time, the surrounding muscles and ligaments will be affected, causing persistent fatigue and gradually leading to strain.

This is also why sleeping on a hard bed can easily cause back pain the next day. How can your body not feel sore after a night of fatigue?

Maybe there is no problem with your waist, but sleeping on a hard bed has caused the problem.

If your bed is uncomfortable to lie on, it's best to change it. There's no need to go head to head with it.

Although a mattress that is too hard is not good, it does not mean that a soft mattress is fine. I believe everyone agrees that sleeping on a mattress that is too soft will still cause back pain.

A bed that is too soft does not have sufficient support and will cause you to sink when you sleep on it. It will also cause the spine to be unable to maintain its natural curvature, making you more tired the more you sleep, and may even cause strain.

So the question is, how hard is the mattress better for the waist?

Many studies have shown that when choosing a bed, you should choose one that is moderately soft and hard. Just look at two criteria:

1. Check the gap between your body and the mattress after you lie down.

After lying flat, look at the gap between the neck, waist, legs and the mattress; after lying on your side, look at the gap between the waist, hips and the mattress.

The ideal situation is that the body and the mattress fit perfectly. If the gap is very obvious, it means that the bed is a bit too hard.

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2. Check if the mattress has enough support

A mattress that sinks into you as soon as you lie down is definitely not a good choice. It is best to press it with your hands. If you can feel obvious resistance and the mattress sinks slightly, then it is of suitable hardness.

Theoretically speaking, patients with lumbar disc herniation and hunchback are indeed suitable to sleep on a slightly harder mattress.

Lumbar disc herniation: The intervertebral disc is under long-term pressure. A harder mattress can relax the lumbar muscles, relieve the pressure on the intervertebral disc, and reduce the patient's pain.

Hunchback: Hunchback is a bad posture caused by thoracic kyphosis. The patient's spinal curve has problems. Sleeping on a harder mattress can help the patient stretch the spine and assist in treatment.

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However, in general, in this case, it is enough to make the mattress slightly harder than usual. A mattress as hard as a wooden board will only be counterproductive. At the same time, sleeping on a hard mattress is only an auxiliary and cannot replace treatment. It is still necessary to actively carry out relevant physical and drug treatments.

We also need to remind everyone that lumbar diseases are very complicated. If you don’t know what disease you have, it is not recommended to blindly choose a mattress that is too hard.

It is best to go to the hospital for relevant examinations first and let the doctor give you advice.

In short, the so-called hard mattress does not mean the harder the better. You need to consider your personal physical condition and sleeping habits. Generally, a mattress with moderate hardness and sufficient support is enough.

On this point, the body's intuition is very accurate. If you feel uncomfortable, you are uncomfortable. If you feel annoyed when you lie down, how can it be good for your body?

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Experts collaborating on this article

References

[1] Zhou Mouwang, Yue Shouwei, He Chengqi, et al. “Rehabilitation treatment of lumbar disc herniation” Chinese expert consensus[J]. Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2017, 32(02): 129-135.

[2] Chen Chengfeng. Sleeping on a hard bed does not protect your waist. It is recommended to add a suitable mattress [J]. Everyone's Health, 2022, (10): 52-53.

[3] Wang Chuhuai, Zhuo Dahong, Xiong Youzheng, He Weilan, Xu Yizhou. Effects of mattresses of different hardness and softness on sleep quality[J]. Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2009, 24(10):930-933+860.

Content Production

Editor: Zhang Fuyao

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty