By Larisa Goldin, MBA, LMP 

Among factors that impact overall health, sleep is right at the top.  It's probably more critical than diet or exercise.  Long-term sleep deprivation is a tremendous stressor to our bodies that weakens the immune system, opening the door to both physiological and neurological disorders. While most of us would not intentionally deprive ourselves of sleep over a long stretch of time, we do so unknowingly when we sleep in a bed that does not provide proper support for our bodies.

Having the right mattress is important since a mattress can be either too firm or too soft for us.  You know when a mattress is either too firm or too soft if you wake up in the mornings with muscle soreness and not feeling well-rested.  Sometimes you start off with the wrong mattress but, just as commonly, your mattress ‘goes bad' over time - a spring mattress might go soft as springs lose resistance or a futon might become hard and lumpy due to compression over the years.  A mattress that is too firm does not offer enough support for your body's natural curves.  One that is too soft exaggerates the curves of your spine as parts of your body sink in to the mattress.  In either case, your muscles, whose job it is to maintain healthy posture and protect the spine, are working hard throughout the night instead of resting.  This is why you wake up sore.

Not only does a bad mattress cause muscle soreness but it also hurts the quality of your sleep.  Instead of sleeping soundly through a 5 to 7 hour stretch, you tend to wake up frequently to change sleeping positions since you are not comfortable.  You may not wake up fully, but the constant turning still pulls you out of the deepest sleep to a state close to waking.  The end result is a much poorer quality of sleep and rest.

When you go shopping for your new mattress, don't worry about the fancy brand names and all the industry jargon about coils and pillow tops.  No matter how fancy or expensive a mattress is, if it is too firm or too soft for you, you don't want it.  Get on the mattresses and try them out for yourself.  Most experts recommend you lie on a mattress for a few minutes so your body can adjust to it before you decide how the mattress really feels.  One way you can test if you need something softer is if you can slide your hand easily under the small of your back when you lay supine. Ideally the mattress should come to meet your body.  On the other hand, if you are heavy-set and experience chronic lower back pain, then you will probably want a firmer mattress.

When you shop for mattresses, your body will know what is right for you. Most importantly, if you suspect you have a ‘bad' mattress for your needs, don't take it lightly; schedule an appointment with yourself to go buy a new one as soon as you can.