Not being able to sleep can be frustrating. Especially when you don’t know the cause. Getting quality sleep every night is vital to living and functioning at your best.

Sleep is a reliable tool for:

  • reducing stress

  • improving memory

  • enhancing productivity

  • hormone balancing

Poor sleep can be a recipe for disaster, and many things can result in insomnia. However, one thing people may not consider plays a role in poor sleep quality is their mattress.

If you turn and toss all night, wake up feeling fatigued, have body aches, among other issues, an excellent place to start for a solution is your mattress.

3 Ways to Tell if Your Mattress Is the Cause of Poor Sleep

1. Difficulty Falling Asleep

Have you ever experienced being exhausted and wanting to sleep but not being able? Instead, you lie there and stare at the ceiling waiting for sleep to claim you?

Hours after going to bed, you realize you will not be sleeping any time soon.

You may try different remedies to lull your body into rest, but you just can’t seem to fall asleep or stay that way.

You could be experiencing sleep onset latency because you have a very soft or plush mattress. A medium or firm mattress may change things.

2. Body Pain

Do you experience lower back pain each morning? Back pain can severely impact your day and your mood.

The pain you’re feeling may occasionally be due to a few different things, such as physically strenuous work. But dealing with back pain regularly can, and should, raise the alarm.

A lousy bed may deny your body comfort. If your mattress is sagging or deformed, it may not be suitable enough for your body's needs.

The age of the bed could also contribute to body pains. Try to understand what your body appreciates. Is it a soft mattress or a firm mattress?

You can also consider using a pocketed coil mattress, as they are made up of several metal coils that create uniformity from the top to bottom.

If you frequently wake up with back pain, a pocketed coil mattress may give you the all-night support you’re looking for.

3. Joint Soreness

Joints determine your total body functionality. Any minor malfunction on the joint can permanently affect your shape and mobility.

Generally, the joints can be affected by many underlying conditions and vigorous physical activities that may lead to severe injuries. However, poor sleep can contribute to joint pain.

In general, many people find firm mattresses uncomfortable on the joints. A soft mattress works better for sore joints, but this is not a blanket rule.

Everyone’s body is different, so finding a mattress solution that works best for you may take some time.

Mattress Choices That Can Help You Sleep Better

1. Hybrid Mattresses

One type of mattress to consider for improving sleep quality is a hybrid mattress. This kind of mattress combines innerspring and memory foam.

The comfort layer is made from memory foam, while the support core is made from pocketed coils.

This combination can provide a cooling effect, bounce, pain relief, and pressure relief altogether. They can also work well with adjustable bases, which allow you to adjust your sleeping position effortlessly.

Pros of Hybrid Mattresses

  • comes with soft foam under the shoulders to relieve back and neck pressure

  • suitable for all sleeping positions, including side, back, and stomach

  • provides firmness without the pain

  • offers excellent value for the money

Cons of Hybrid Mattresses

  • memory foam layer can trap heat and make for a hotter sleep so be conscious to avoid the cheaper memory foam

2. Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattresses

The second best mattress type for good sleep is Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattresses.

This mattress type usually includes a layer of traditional memory foam topped with a thin cooling gel layer that provides superior breathability and cooling effect.

Pros of Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattresses

  • cools down quickly, especially during the hot summer months

  • great for those who prefer the sinking feeling of memory foam

  • offers great support for back and side sleepers, especially when combined with other supportive materials like latex or high-density memory foam

Cons of Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattresses

  • Some people don't find that the top layer adds much to the cooling effect compared to just a memory foam on its own

  • It can feel too warm or not as cool as other options for those who sleep hot and tend to overheat more than average

3. Pocketed Coil Mattresses

Pocketed Coil mattresses provide sleepers with the best of both worlds. The coils can give even support throughout the entire body, regardless of your sleeping position.

The pocketed coil also helps with air circulation. If you tend to sleep hot during the summer months, you won't wake up sweating as much as you would on other materials that don't breathe nearly as well.

Pros for Pocketed Coil Mattresses

  • offers superior comfort for many sleepers (especially those who prefer firm mattresses)

  • steel coils resist sagging and prolong the life of your bedding

Cons for Pocketed Coil Mattresses

  • pocketed coil mattresses can be difficult to move and handle because of their weight

  • they can also be noisy compared to other types of mattresses

4. Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses are uniquely designed to conform to the sleeper's body.

Unlike traditional mattresses with springs, memory foam is made from polyurethane foam that is responsive to heat and pressure.

This type of mattress bounces back into shape when you get up, leaving virtually no impression of where you slept.

Pros of Memory Foam Mattresses

  • memory foam responds to body heat, so it molds itself around your body when you lie down

  • distributes weight evenly and reduces pressure points that can lead to tossing and turning in bed

Cons of Memory Foam Mattresses

  • the adaptability of these mattresses may make them feel too soft for backside sleepers, but you can add more support with a power base

Finding a Solution to Your Sleep Problem

While there are many contributing factors to poor sleep, there's no denying that some of them are caused by your mattress.

You might be sleeping on too plush of a mattress that is too soft, causing you to be sore the next day. Your mattresses might lack the support your back needs, causing you to wake up with pain in your neck and shoulders.

Or, it could just be that your bedding is worn out and needs replacing. The best way to fix most of these issues is to change your bed type. Another option is trying out our XSensor to see which mattress would be perfect for your sleeping habits.

You can choose from various mattress types, including pocketed coil, hybrid, or memory foam mattresses.

Each one has its pros and cons, but if you're looking for the best solution to your poor sleep quality, then it's time to find out what type of mattresses are best suited to your needs.

A good night's rest is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Make your health a priority, and start searching for your best night’s rest today!

 

Sources:

Arthritis.org — Sleep and Pain

U.S. National Center for Biotechnical Information — Relationships Between Sleep Quality and Pain-Related Factors for People with Chronic Low Back Pain: Tests of Reciprocal and Time of Day Effects