Mattresses and you

Although good mattresses are expensive, they are surely worth it for health and happiness, even if it means making savings elsewhere.

People often put up with wakeful nights, constant tiredness and sore backs for a long time before connecting it to the mattress

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A good test is sitting on the edge and seeing whether the whole side of the mattress collapses.

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If so, the mattress needs urgent replacement.

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Also, when looking at a new one, remember that quilted ones tend to be of lower quality.

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Tufted ones, which look like they have buttons going through them, are better as this means the filling is contained to avoid it moving around.

Good stitching around the sides indicates that the springs are contained in pockets, which will be much more effective than open spring mattresses.

But always remember to lie down on a mattress in the showroom and ask for professional advice. Choosing a new mattress is a very important decision indeed

Make sure the bed base is suitable for your mattress.

A poor base will make even the most expensive mattress uncomfortable.

Divan or upholstered ones are best for spring mattresses as the springs in both components complement each other.

Memory foam mattresses are better if you have only a wooden slatted base.

To gauge the right tension for you, lie on the mattress in the showroom, and push your hand under the small of your back.

If there is a large gap, the mattress is too soft, no gap at all, then it's too firm.

Just being able to pass your hand through suggests that the tension is spot on.

If the mattress is too hard, your body will try to compensate by frequently tossing and turning during the night, up to 60 times.

This will impair your and your partner's sleep.

A good mattress will reduce turning to 17 times a night.

A too-hard mattress makes the body do the work, rather than the bed.

The shoulder and hips cannot sink into the mattress, so they curve towards each other, resulting in a bent and stressed spine.

A too-soft mattress lets the body sink into a hammock position, causing hips and shoulders to pinch in, the spine to curve and putting pressure on joints and muscles.

Numbness and tingling can follow.

The best spring mattresses tend to be pocket-sprung, where each individual spring is kept separate to respond to pressure from your body.

Telegraph

So now you know