Tips on How to Choose the RIGHT Mattress!

Buying a mattress is probably the most important personal home item that you will purchase. So it's important to take the time to ensure you purchase the right mattress. A good nights sleep is worth a million bucks. We all know that we're supposed to get at least seven hours of sleep each day, but what happens if we aren't getting enough sleep? Below are 8 health concerns linked to sleep deprivation. 1. Lack of sleep increases your risk of a stroke. 2. Too little sleep can lead to obesity. 3. Poor sleep can increase your risk for Diabetes. 4. The less we sleep, the less we remember. A lack of sleep can cause brain deterioration. 5. Long term sleep deprivation can contribute to osteoporosis. 6. A lack of sleep or just poor sleep can increase your risk for cancer. 7. Too little sleep can cause the body to produce more chemicals and hormones which can lead to heart disease. 8. TIME magazine reported that short sleepers (6.5 to 7.5 hrs a night) seem to die younger. Here are a few tips to buying a new mattress: Decide Where To Shop Never buy a mattress online, or over the phone, unless you have already tried the identical mattress in the store. Department stores have frequent sales and lots of brands, but can be crowded, cluttered and without adequate sales help. Specialty stores offer plenty of help and are less crowded but normally are unwilling to bargain. Bedding stores or furniture stores normally have plenty of selection and the salespeople are usually very attentive and willing to bargain. To save money, make sure you start with the least expensive and work your way up in cost. As a hint, stores like to keep their priciest models up front. Choose A Size Most sleepers move and shift positions throughout the night, so make sure that you have enough room to move freely. Standard mattress dimensions are: King (76" x 80"), Queen (60" x 80"), Full or Double (53" x 75"). Choose The Right Firmness If a mattress is too firm, it won't support the body evenly and may cause discomfort at the heaviest points. If a mattress is too soft, the sleeper could sink into the surface and have a hard time moving which could cause tingling, numbness or aches. The best mattress supports the spine at all points and allows it to maintain its natural curve. It's been said that by the age of 40, the skin starts to lose it's elasticity, and becomes more sensitive to pressure points, so a softer, more cushiony surface is recommended. The best approach for testing firmness is to lie down on the mattress for a minimum of 15 minutes in store. 5 minutes for each side and back (add 5 more minutes for stomach if that's your preferred sleeping position). Make sure you look for Softness and Support. Softness will keep your body comfortable and relaxed at all angles and contact points. The mattress should be solid enough to support your body shape and sleeping pattern. Wait For A Sale Or Bargain Mattresses usually have a set price, so keep an eye out for deals. Don't be fooled though, a lot of retailers claim large discounts on mattress sets, but the final price is still more than what you would pay at other retailers. So make sure you do your homework and shop around. Have a few options and if the price is good, BUY. Warranties And Sleep Guarantees Mattresses come with warranties and some companies have online submissions. This makes it quite easy to take pictures and measurements and upload them to their site after calling them to discuss your mattress problems. Sometimes you may purchase a mattress at a store believing it to be the perfect fit, but after a few nights of trying it out at home you realize that it doesn't suit you as well as you had hoped. Companies usually offer a Sleep Guarantee so that if you are not satisfied with your mattress after 30, 40 or 60 nights from time of delivery (depending on company) they will help you find a better solution. Leave The Tag On After purchasing your mattress, you may be tempted to remove the tags that specifically say to not remove, but please keep them on! If, down the road you find that your mattress is not holding up and you are still under warranty, the company will not be able to give you the warranty you were promised if that tag has been removed. Many mattress companies will not inform you of this policy, so make sure you take all precautions and leave all tags on! Split Box And Low Profile When purchasing the right mattress, you want to take into account the height of your bed. The foundation of a low profile mattress is shorter in height so that the bed sits lower to the floor. Also, there is the option of a split box foundation which consists of 2 smaller pieces versus one large foundation. This will come in handy if you are trying to bring in a king size mattress through a small doorway or hallway.