It’s National Bed Month this March. A time to consider the importance that a good nights sleep can have on your overall health and well being. However, despite spending more than half of our lives in bed, a study in 2015* revealed that 57% of us neglect to seek advice when purchasing a new mattress and it could be having a detrimental impact on our sleep and overall health.
The research by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA), carried out in partnership with leading bed manufacturer, Sealy, found more than half of us do not seek professional advice when choosing a mattress. A massive 40% spend less than half an hour selecting this vital household item – shorter than the average power nap.
In doing so, we’re putting our health at risk – an unsuitable mattress can contribute to back and neck pain, impacting on the quality of sleep we receive.
Despite these health implications of having a good night’s rest, of the small percentage of people who do actually seek advice when buying a new mattress, the majority simply look online (16%) instead of speaking with a professional from the industry. Only 1% would consult with their neighbours, 4% discuss with friends and just 9% seek guidance from a qualified chiropractor.
Rishi Loatey from the BCA said: “People don’t realise just how important a suitable bed and mattress is for their back. We all come in different weights, shapes and sizes so, given we spend a third of our lives in bed, it makes sense to find the best possible bed to give the optimum level of support and comfort.
“We recommend you spend as much time as possible choosing a new bed or mattress – and try it out before you buy it! Chiropractors generally recommend that you should sleep on your back or side and when lying on your side, your spine should be parallel to the mattress and not be sagging or bowing.”
How do I know if my mattress needs replacing?
Are you and your partner getting comfortable nights sleep?
If the answer is no, your bed may be the problem.
Can you feel the springs through the mattress?
If the answer is yes, it is definitely time to buy a new one.
Is the bed more that 10 years old?
If the answer is yes, consider purchasing a new one – beds wear out and may sag or lose support with time.
Advice on safeguarding back health when choosing a new bed or mattress can be found on the BCA website .
* Research conducted in January 2015 on a sample of 2,127 UK adults.
