Guidance and advice

The importance of a good nights sleep!

There is little doubt that the pressures of modern day life can take their toll on our bodies. Stress, lack of movement and insufficient relaxation time constantly drain our psychological and physiological energy supplies. Thankfully, we can all enjoy the ultimate opportunity to recharge through relaxing, restful sleep.

During the night, brain and body switch to repair mode, relieving the stresses of the day, topping up immune systems, boosting energy levels, restoring our skin and soothing tired eyes. Therefor, the better the sleep, the better equipped we are to deal with each new day.

On average, we need 8 hours uniterrupted sleep each night but during the night each one of us will move up to seventy times and make around a dozen full body turns. And because we are asleep the whole responsibility for supporting our spine lies with our bed, not our muscles. That is why we each need a bed that will support us perfectly throughout the night.

During sleep the natural S-shape of the spinal column needs to be maintained as best possible. Inadequate support (either too soft or too hard) makes the spinal column sag, which increases the pressure on the intervertebral discs. In addition this leads to a generally uncomfortable feeling (pressure on the skin and bones), which results in the sleeper making many more movements in order to get into a more comfortable sleeping position.

Making the right choice

It's not just rest that a poor choice of bed will deprive you of. If you're one of the 60% of adults who suffer occasional back pain, a bad bed just makes things worse (and if you think the best thing for a bad back is the hardest possible bed, you're way off). So when you're choosing your new bed, don't hold back - take off your coat and shoes and take it for a test drive with the following advice.

• Try lying on your front, on your back, on both sides and with your arms and legs in different positions - and for minutes at a time, not just a few seconds.
• Lie flat and slide your hand under the small of your back. It should be able to move while still touching the small of your back and the bed without sliding too easily or needing too much effort.
• If you share your bed with a partner, they should join you.
• Check that the height of the bed makes it easy to get into and out of it, see that it's long enough and make sure it's wide enough.
• And if it's not a better bed - move on.

Further informaton

Now you can see why buying a bed seems more of an important investment than an everyday purchase, so it's vital you buy the right bed to suit you and your home. We've compliled a list of the most frequently asked questions to enlighten your decision when choosing the right bed.

Just bought a new bed? Why not also read our guide, Ten Simple steps for looking after your new bed.

For the boffins. Ever wondered why beds, mattresses and the like are the way they are? The Appliance Of Science!

Whether you're looking for information on choosing a mattress, buying a bed, or want tips for a better night's sleep, the Sleep Council website has loads of information like useful tips for a good night's sleep and helpful info on how to choose the right bed. You can also request free info leaflets for more details.