Are more expensive mattresses really better?

Apart from the World Cup, what has attracted the attention of many netizens recently is probably mattresses!

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What special features does a million-dollar mattress have? Are more expensive mattresses really better? Is it necessary to buy such an expensive mattress?

Does the mattress affect sleep?

The answer is yes! Mattresses have an impact on sleep!

A sleep quality survey in the United States in 1986 showed that 7% of sleep disorders are related to the use of mattresses. Among them, unsatisfactory mattress support conditions, especially insufficient spinal support, are important causes of low back pain. A literature study published in the American Journal of Massage and Physiological Therapy in 2002 found that a medium-hard mattress can improve shoulder and back pain, back stiffness, and improve sleep quality by 60%.

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Mattresses are crucial to improving sleep quality. A mattress that is too soft will cause the body to fall down while sleeping, causing the spine to bend and unable to relax; a mattress that is too hard will cause pressure on the heavier parts of the body, causing more tossing and turning during sleep and unable to get enough rest. In addition, a mattress that is too hard lacks proper elasticity and cannot match the normal curve of the spine. Long-term use will affect the body's correct posture and hinder the health of the spine.

Are more expensive mattresses better?

Sleep is a major event in life. We spend one-third of our life in bed, so people's requirements for the comfort and functionality of mattresses are getting higher and higher. Now there are even mattresses on the market that cost hundreds of thousands of yuan each, and some mattresses claim to have infrared technology, which is good for health.

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But the more expensive the mattress, the better!

Professor Lv Haoran of the Department of Spine Surgery at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University said that there is no data (either domestic or foreign) that the more expensive the mattress, the more helpful it is for sleep; at the same time, mattresses that claim to have negative ion and infrared functions are mostly gimmicks by manufacturers in order to achieve commercial premiums. Mattress craftsmanship is a low-end manufacturing, the cost is not very high, and the technology is not much different. Usually, a mattress of one or two thousand yuan can fully meet the requirements of daily use.

What conditions make a good mattress?

First, check whether you can turn over freely when sleeping on the mattress. Normally, we turn over every 2 to 3 hours when sleeping at night. If you feel that the mattress makes you feel a little painful or uncomfortable when turning over or lying down to sleep, it means that the mattress is not suitable for you.

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Second, see if it is easy to get out of bed. If the bed of the elderly or pregnant women is too soft, it will be difficult to get out of bed, and they may even fall.

The last and most important thing is the mental state after waking up. If you feel tired or even have backache after waking up, then the mattress may not be suitable for you; if you feel rejuvenated and energetic after waking up, then the mattress is more suitable for you.

How to choose a mattress that suits you?

When choosing a mattress, you should first consider three key factors: support, durability and comfort.

**Support. **The key to a good mattress is correct support. Correct support means that the mattress can conform to the body curve and provide different support forces according to the gravity of different parts in a horizontal state to achieve a balanced support effect. A good mattress should be designed in accordance with the weight distribution of various parts of the human body and the normal curve of the spine. The head accounts for 8% of the total body weight, the chest accounts for 33%, and the waist accounts for 44%.

**Durability. **This mainly depends on the material used for the mattress surface, the protective structure inside the mattress, the four sides and the base. Many mattresses on the market now claim to have a 10-year, 30-year or even 50-year quality guarantee. In fact, judging from the firmness and wear of the mattress, a 10-15-year service life is almost the limit.

**Comfort. **A mattress that is too hard or too soft is not good. A mattress that is too hard will cause part of the body to hang in the air, causing muscle tension and easily leading to muscle damage; a mattress that is too soft will cause the body to move down the line, putting the spine in an abnormal state and easily causing spinal deformation.

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The correct method is to lie flat on the mattress, and stretch your hands towards the three obvious bends of the neck, waist, and between the buttocks and thighs to see if there are any gaps; then turn over to one side and use the same method to test if there are any gaps. If your palms are close to the gaps, it proves that the mattress fits the natural curves of the neck, back, waist, buttocks and legs. This way you will sleep more comfortably.

In addition to the three factors of support, durability and comfort when choosing a mattress, you also need to consider your age and sleeping position.

Choose a mattress according to age. The elasticity of muscles and ligaments of the elderly decreases, so you can choose a mattress with a slightly higher hardness. A mattress that is too soft cannot support the spine and makes it difficult to get up. For infants and young children, it is recommended to choose a firm and elastic medium-soft mattress. At the same time, ensure that the surface is evenly soft and hard, without itching, and the zipper is located on the side of the mattress. Pay attention to its safety performance to avoid chewing.

Choose a mattress according to your sleeping position. For those who often sleep on their side, it is recommended to choose a partitioned mattress. This mattress forms different degrees of sinking according to different stress areas such as the head, neck, shoulders, waist, and coccyx. People who often sleep on their backs or stomachs should choose a slightly harder mattress. Because when lying on your back or stomach, your neck and waist need the support of a hard mattress to achieve a comfortable state.

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Finally, some tips for using mattresses:

1. Remove the protective film of the new mattress before use.

2. Don't jump on the mattress.

3. Rotate the mattress front to back regularly (recommended every six months).

4. Do not stretch the sheets too tight to avoid blocking the ventilation holes of the mattress, which will prevent air from circulating in the mattress and breed bacteria.

END

Source: Science Popularization China, Life Times

Jiangsu CDC, Shenzhen Wuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital

Compiled by: Liu Xuejie

Editor: Guru