AARP Hearing Center
Can’t sleep? The right mattress could help. Simply find the condition below that’s spoiling your slumber. Then you can either choose a mattress that may help manage it, or modify the mattress you already have.
If you are tossing and turning at night, it might be time to buy a new mattress.
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Allergies and asthma: Place mattress and box spring in zippered, dustproof cover to protect you from allergens such as dust mites. Consider an organic mattress to cut down on chemical irritants.
Bedbug bites: Prevention is best. Follow our covering advice for allergies, and never accept a used mattress. For infestation, call a professional, who can kill pests using extreme cold or heat. He or she can advise if you need to toss the mattress.
Cough: See “allergies.”
Depression: Depression is more common in those who get less sleep. See “tossing and turning.”
Edema: Raise your legs to relieve swelling in lower extremities. Test-drive an adjustable mattress.
Four-legged friends: Researchers found that dog owners sleep well with Fido in the room, but not as well with him in the bed. Your mutt deserves his own mattress. Dog beds now come in memory-foam, natural-fiber and orthopedic versions.
Gastroesophageal reflux: Elevate your head. Consider an adjustable bed.
Herniated disc: Depending on the type of herniated disc, find relief sleeping on your stomach or on your side in the fetal position.
Intimacy issues: Reserve your mattress time for sex and slumber. Among 1,000 committed partners surveyed on which type of mattress makes for the best sex, innerspring was king.
Jimmy legs: If you’re a Seinfeld fan, you know. To the rest of you, it’s Restless Leg Syndrome. If your spouse’s shakes keep you awake, test-drive a memory-foam mattress, which won’t transfer motion. To help your partner rest, invite him or her for an after-dinner stroll, massage their legs at bedtime or run them a hot bath.
Kidney problems: Kidneys are regulated by the sleep-wake cycle. See “unexplained grogginess.”
Lower back pain: You don’t want to end up in “the sunken place.” But an ultra-firm mattress can put pressure on the shoulders, back of the head and sacrum (connecting the back bones and the hip bones). Consider a pillow-top mattress for a balance of support and cushioning.
