Reader's Corner

For Patients

Fall In Love With Your Bed
Source: Health & Nutrition

A good night's sleep is one of life’s most satisfying pleasures. Yet to judge by the complaints around the water cooler, few of us experience it. More often, we wake up bleary-eyed and so tired that crawling out from under the covers takes as much effort as climbing out of quicksand.

So what kind of mattress should you look for? Here are a few tips:

Find one which gently supports your body at all points and keeps the curve in your spine in the same position it’s in when you’re in a good standing posture.
Make sure it’s firm, but not too firm, because really firm is actually not good. The mattress can’t adjust and preserve your spine’s alignment as you shift your position through the night. It won’t have the yield to cup your body at points like the neck and the lumbar curve. On the other hand, it can’t be too soft or your spine will sag.

Pillow Talk

Without the right pillow, even the most comfortable mattress won’t deliver deep slumber. It should be soft enough to conform to the contours of your head and neck, yet thick enough to support them in a neutral position with no upward or downward tilt.

One quick test is to lie flat and slide your hand, palm down, between the small of your back and the mattress surface. If you can fit your entire hand and there’s still a gap, the mattress is too hard. If, when lying flat, the base of your spine is lower than your heels, the mattress is too soft.

Be aware, though, that no one surface is right for everyone. If it works for you, it works.

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