What Does the Next level of Sleep Look Like?

Adjustable beds were once found only in hospitals, but now you can have all the comfort and health benefits of one in your own home. Most models thankfully, look more decorative than those you would see in a hospital so that you can relax in style.

Some of the medical conditions an adjustable bed can help with include sleep apnea, acid reflux, lower back pain, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and Restless Legs Syndrome. Of course, there’s more than just medical advantages to consider. A completely healthy person can still sleep better on an adjustable base because of the bed’s ability to customize how they sleep.

With just the push of a button, you can silently set up your adjustable bed for customized comfort, and some will even fit inside your existing bed frame for a more stylish appearance!

What is an Adjustable Bed?

An adjustable bed, sometimes known as an electric bed, is a bed base topped with a series of panels. These panels tilt upward with the press of a button, elevating the head or foot of the mattress.
Because of its electronic components and high-quality metal structure, an adjustable base is one of the more expensive types of bed support. However, many people find the cost worthwhile to be able to get a better night’s rest.

Benefits of an Adjustable Bed

An adjustable bed is commonly used to treat a variety of chronic conditions. However, improved health isn’t the only benefit an adjustable bed offers. When you sleep on an adjustable base, you can choose a variety of comfortable positions—as well as lying flat.

Stop Snoring

It’s well-known that snoring can keep a partner awake at night. And if your snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, you may feel sleepy during the day from a poor night’s rest.

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea often happens when your tongue and other soft tissues fall to the back of your throat, blocking your windpipe. This happens most frequently with back sleepers. When you sleep on your side or stomach, your throat’s soft tissues are more likely to stay out of the way.

You may also snore because of congestion or asthma. Keeping your head lifted while you sleep can also ease these symptoms.

Sleeping on an adjustable bed can reduce snoring by elevating your head. By raising the head, you can drain your sinuses and keep your airway clear.

Reduce Back Pain

Most of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives—up to 80 percent of us, according to the American Chiropractic Association. If your back pain feels at its worst when you stand up straight, an adjustable bed can provide some needed relief. To alleviate lower back pain, you should raise your head and feet to take the pressure off your spine.

If you find yourself waking up with back pain, you might need to take a closer look at your mattress. An old mattress that’s lost support is a common cause of morning back pain. So, if you are thinking about buying a new one, you might want to try a medium-firm mattress since a Sleep Health Study in 2015 found that it was the best firmness for maintaining spine alignment.

Keep Your Stomach Settled

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) occurs when the contents of your stomach come rushing back up your esophagus. When your stomach acid touches the lining of your throat, it causes heartburn, which is a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest. Chronic acid reflux, also known as GERD, is known to affect about 20 percent of the population. An adjustable bed can raise your upper body and let gravity do most of the work in settling your stomach.

Better Blood Circulation and Reduced Swelling

Do you have varicose veins causing you pain or swollen legs and feet? An adjustable bed can improve blood flow and reduce leg swelling by elevating your legs. When you lift a leg so that it’s higher than your heart, gravity will prevent too much blood from pooling in your lower leg, improving blood flow to the rest of your body.

Your leg may also swell up because of edema, which is when excess fluid is trapped in your body tissue. Edema is common among pregnant women, although it can also be caused by a serious medical condition such as kidney disease or congestive heart failure. Raising your leg with an adjustable base can relieve the swelling.

An adjustable bed can also improve your blood flow, easing the symptoms and conditions associated with poor circulation. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or even Restless Legs Syndrome, an adjustable bed can help you get a good night’s sleep.

Soothe Arthritis Symptoms

It’s not uncommon to wake up with stiff and sore joints if you have osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. An adjustable bed can help you relieve pressure and support inflamed joints.

You might also find it challenging to move your body because of your arthritis, making it harder to get up in the morning. An adjustable bed can help you sit up, so it’s easier to pivot your body and get out of bed.

Relax Before Bed

Instead of just lying on a flat mattress, you can raise the head of the bed so that it mimics a recliner chair. You can watch TV, use your laptop, read or just relax in the comfort of your bed.

Split bases also allow couples to adjust their personal settings on one side, without disturbing their partner.

Fall Asleep Faster

Many of us have had a bad night where we just couldn’t get comfortable. Perhaps your normal sleeping position just didn’t feel right. Maybe your pillow wasn’t at a good angle. An adjustable frame gives you the freedom to experiment and find the perfect position for falling asleep.

Sleepers often love the zero-gravity position, which elevates your legs above your heart and slightly raises your head. By resting in the zero-gravity position, you reduce strain on your legs and lower back. Often, this lack of pressure leaves you feeling more refreshed in the morning.
Finding the Right Mattress for an Adjustable Bed Base

Sometimes when you pick out an adjustable base, you’re only halfway done with your shopping. You might want to consider whether you need a new mattress since not every mattress works well with an adjustable base. The best mattress for an adjustable bed adapts with the base’s movements and remains comfortable no matter how you position it.

The first point for consideration is the type of mattress you have. Memory foam or latex mattresses are an excellent choice, as well as hybrid ones since their pocketed coils allow them to move with the bed frame without reducing the mattress’s comfort.

A traditional mattress with innerspring coils, however, is often not the right mattress for an adjustable bed frame. The coil setup usually cannot flex with the base’s panels and trying to angle it can damage it.

After you’ve picked out the right mattress material, you need to ask yourself if it’s the right firmness for you. A firm mattress can be just as flexible as a softer one, but it might not be the most comfortable choice for you.

A mattress for a side sleeper should have a soft to medium feel, while a mattress for a back or stomach sleeper should have a medium-firm to firm feel. If you’re a combination sleeper who switches between two or all three styles, look for a medium feel mattress.

The final point to consider is your mattress’s thickness. It is usually preferable to keep the thickness under 14” as it may be too thick to adjust with the electric frame.

Mattresses under 10” are not recommended, mainly for quality reasons. Thinner mattresses like this tend to wear out more quickly because they have less material to withstand wear and tear. A too-thin mattress also provides insufficient support, so you’re more likely to find yourself waking up with a sore back or neck pain.

In summary

An adjustable bed can offer many health benefits. Whether you’re a snorer or a chronic pain sufferer, an adjustable base can provide you with the better sleep you need to have a good day.

Of course, the right mattress is also an essential part of getting a good night’s sleep. You can’t reap the full benefits of adjustable beds if you’re sleeping on a worn-out and unsupportive mattress. Elevate your sleep and feel the difference!

Wishing you sweet dreams – and improved health!

Until next time…

Shelagh
Royal Palm Interiors – Uvita  – 2743-8323
royalpalminteriors.com
Like us on facebook.com/RoyalPalmInteriors