Romance is in the air.
February – a time for romance, the first thoughts of spring, snowdrops and red roses. As St Valentines Day falls on a Sunday this year perhaps you are contemplating staying in bed longer.

The average person spends approximately one third of their life sleeping and sleeps for between 7 to 8 hours each night, so it is important that the mattress you sleep on is comfortable. Choosing one is difficult so don’t rush into buying. However, if you have decided that now is the time to invest in a new mattress you may find the following tips useful.

Is Firm best...Research* recently published in the Lancet, found that 313 patients who had chronic, non-specific back pain who slept on a medium firm mattress, had better outcomes for their back pain than those who used a firm mattress.

Buying a new mattress...Check your current mattress for age, condition, support – have lumps and bumps started to develop?
Do your homework – obtain lots of literature have a good idea of what is right for you.
Buy a complete bed set not just the mattress.
Always test the mattress out, try several different ones, take your time and don’t be pressurized to buy.
Remember that your body should be able to relax, with your spine in its natural curve. Otherwise your muscles work all night and you can wake up feeling stiff and sore.

The ideal pillow...**The ideal pillow should be soft and not too high, should support the curvature of the neck and should be allergy-tested and washable.

Our chiropractors are always happy to discuss which mattress may be suitable for your individual needs.

Useful links
http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/sleep-facts-and-statistics/
http://www.mattress-info-uk.co.uk/mattress_hints_and_tips.asp

*Dr Francisco Kovacs of the Kovacs Foundation, Paseo Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
** Perrson and Moritz 1998 and 2006