Healthy sleep

Healthy sleep is, of course, first and foremost an experience which is unique to each person which cannot be achieved by a single solution. Indeed each person has different requirements for rest. A key question to be answered is the ’firmness’ of a mattress over which opinions are already divided.

The misconception is still however widespread that as firm a mattress as possible is particularly necessary for healthy sleep. However nowadays somnologists are of the view that a mattress which is too hard is not suited to the anatomy of the human body when in the lying position. A lying surface which is ‘hard as nails’ is less suited to sleeping on one's side where the position of the stomach or back is mostly affected. In particular the cervical spine and the back can potentially be severely strained which can lead to tension, impaired circulation and – in extreme vases – to crushing of nerves.

Also mattresses which are too soft are often discouraged because this does not offer the spine any or enough support and therefore it sags.

On the contrary, a modern mattress should therefore make sleeping on one’s side possible allowing the mattress to yield to pressure particularly at the shoulder and pelvis to the extent that the spine is aligned. Circulation is then safeguarded in this position and tension is kept at bay. The body of the person resting requires stronger support in some areas and in others less. Requirements for mattresses such as these can be fulfilled by means of a mattress with several different areas which offers the tailored support in each different area. In this respect a high quality slatted frame is conducive to both ventilation as well as the precise cushioning of the weight of the sleeping person.

A further aspect to healthy sleep is hygiene. In this way mattress covers should be washable if required. For this the usual temperature resistance is not the only thing that matters because the cover must be able to be removed easily and put in the domestic washing machine. To this end it should be completely divisible by means of a zip which goes right round the cover which significantly simplifies the handling.