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The Better Sleep Council (BSC) is the US mattress industry’s promotional organization so, unsurprisingly, it is keen to promote the sale of new mattresses, beds and bedroom furniture.

All the same, the BSC has some useful advice for those in the market for a new bed - and in educating the public about the importance of sleep to good health and quality of life.

The BSC says that, like your favorite old chair or worn pair of shoes, your bed can still feel comfortable long after its mattress has lost its ability to provide your body with the proper comfort and support it needs. Here is a bedroom checklist to consider when deciding whether it’s time to buy a new bed:

Your mattress is five to seven years old

You wake up with stiffness, numbness, aches and pains

You had a better night’s sleep somewhere other than your own bed (such as a hotel or friend’s guest room)

Your bed’s mattress shows signs of overuse (it sags, has lumps, etc.)

The right bed for a great night’s sleep is the one that meets personal needs for comfort and support, but before you start shopping for a new bed, you need to know some bedding basics:

Innerspring - The most widely purchased type of bedding uses the support of tempered steel coils in a variety of configurations. Varying types and layers of upholstery provide insulation and cushioning between your body and the spring unit, resulting in a range of comfort choices.

Foam - Solid foam mattresses offer a wide choice of sleeping sensations or “feels.” They can be made of a solid core or of several layers of different types of foam laminated together. Advanced technology in polyurethane foams, refinements to traditional latex and the new visco-elastic (“memory”) foams have added to the choice of comfort, support and performance.

Airbeds - Airbeds are now designed to look like the familiar mattress/base combination, with an air-filled core providing the support instead of an innerspring unit or foam core. These designs also offer a range of “feels” and typically are adjustable to suit individual sleeper’s needs.

Other Sleep Options - There are many popular mattress alternatives to address individuals’ comfort, support and space needs, including futons, adjustable beds and waterbeds. Futons are a popular alternative for those who need a sofa by day and a mattress by night. Electrically-adjustable beds enable sleepers to adjust the head and foot of the bed to the most comfortable position. And most waterbeds are now designed to look like the familiar mattress/bed base, with a water-filled core providing support, coupled with layers of upholstery for insulation andcomfort.

Regardless of the type of bed and sleep system you decide to purchase, always evaluate a bed and mattress for comfort, support, durability and space.

Comfort - Today’s top quality bed and mattress ensembles are built for superior comfort. Luxurious new cushioning materials and extra-soft surface treatments create a plusher, more comfortable feel.

Support - A good bed and mattress will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as a person with good standing posture. Pay special attention to your shoulders, hips and lower back—the heaviest parts of the body.

Durability - It is the quality of the bedding materials used and how they’re put together that determines how long bed and mattress will provide comfort and support.

Space - A cramped bed can turn sleeping into a nightly wrestling match. A healthy person moves anywhere from 40-60 times a night, including dozens of full body turns. You need freedom of motion while you sleep and to help you relax while getting to sleep. Make sure that your bed gives you room to move around comfortably throughout the night.

Once you are familiar with the menu of bed options available, start the shopping process at a store that you can trust. Remember, it is important to have an educated salesperson who can guide you through the many choices in bedding to help you find the bed that best meets your personal preferences.

Once in the store, be sure to “test drive” your new bed. Use the SLEEP Test:

Lie down in your typical sleep position

Evaluate the level of comfort and support

Educate yourself about each selection

Partners should test beds together.

Remove your shoes (if you’re a woman, it’s best to go mattress-shopping in jeans or pants) and lie down on several different models in various positions, especially the one you usually sleep in. And remember, those few extra minutes of focusing on the “feel” of different bed choices can save a lot of time later. Remember the following tips:

For proper support, a bed and mattress must support the body at all points with the spine in the same shape as a person with good standing posture.

Ask the salesperson if they can show you illustrated or actual “cutaways” of the interior of the different bed support and mattress choices, so you can see what’s inside.

Check bed store services such as delivery, financing and removal of old bedding as well. Many retailers today offer mattress removal service as part of your purchase price or for a nominal fee.

Shop for the best value, not the lowest price. The best assurance for good bedding performance over many years is to buy the highest quality sleep set you can afford.

Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends.

Establish a relaxing bedtime routine, such as soaking in a hot bath and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.

Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.

Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillow.

Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment.

Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.

Exercise regularly. It is ideal to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.

Avoid alcohol, nicotine (eg cigarettes, tobacco products) and caffeine (eg coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. These can lead to poor sleep, keep you awake or disrupt sleep later in the night.

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