The Right Mattress Is Just What The Doctor Ordered

So you just went to the doctor for your aching back and his advice to you was simple. Trash your old mattress and get a new one. Now you have to make a selection. What kind of mattress does your doctor sleep on?

Well doctors have several pieces of advice when choosing the right mattress. You'll hear from orthopedists and chiropractors that you should sleep on a firm mattress. But firm is a pretty subjective term. What someone else calls firm may feel to you like sleeping on a bed of stone. Why bother?

A recent survey showed a majority of orthopedists recommend a medium-firm mattress over a firm one. Their reasoning is that if your mattress is too hard, it will cause uncomfortable pressure points at the knee, hip and shoulder. Pressure can cause the joints to deteriorate and can aggravate arthritis.

If you want to reduce the firmness of your current mattress, try placing a layer of padding on top. Doctors typically recommend that the padding by 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick. The type of padding doesn't matter. You can use memory foam, latex foam, or materials such as cotton, down or wool in layers. Just be sure that whatever you choose to use as a pad that the sheets will fit snugly over the whole sleep set.

Also high on the list of doctor recommendations is making sure the support system is good. The core is where the support for you back is located, be it an inner spring, air, foam or water. You will lose the proper spinal alignment of you spine once this begins to wear out. Poor support can let your back sway out of alignment, resulting in things like herniated or bulging disks. These problems are the reason for a large percentage of back surgeries. That's a chance you don't need to take. Always make sure the support system of the mattress in good shape.

You'll also find that your dermatologist will give his two cents about you mattress. They recommend using materials that will keep the skin dry to regulate body temperature. Natural materials like wool and cotton are quick to pull perspiration from the skin. The result is you are kept cooler. And your temperature remains more constant. No more throwing off the covers only to chase them down a short while later.

After you select the proper mattress, you need to take care of it. That means using a moisture proof cover or mattress pad. And don't forget to rotate the mattress often. You get a more even wear and prevent the mattress from sagging. You want to rotate the mattress from top to bottom clockwise for the most even wear. Also rotate the frame to stop breakdown from stress.

Take your doctor's advice when choosing a mattress. Have plenty of support but also enough padding. Selecting materials that breathe will allow you to sleep cool. And rote everything to get the most out of your investment.

Sleep News From MedicineNet

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