Choose a health mattress to suit your needs

Long-term poor quality sleep leads to a number of problems that negatively affect your physical and mental health. Sleep problems can stem from illness, but also from a poor quality mattress. Therefore, get one that matches your health limitations. There are mattresses for allergy sufferers, for people who are bedridden for a long time or for those who suffer from joint and muscle pain. How to choose the right health mattress?

How do you know when it’s time to get a new mattress?

Many people sleep in bed on a mattress until they simply fall apart. But sleeping on such a mattress doesn’t give you the rest your body needs. When is it time to replace your mattress?

• After about 7 years – even though the mattress seems fine to you, it usually becomes unhygienic after 7 years of use. Dust and dirt settle in it, but it also traps sweat, which you sweat up to 1.5 litres of every night. Such a mattress is a breeding ground for micro-organisms and moulds that can cause illness and allergies.
• If it has visible damage – if you notice that the mattress is tearing, has dimples on it or won’t return to its original shape when you get up, replace it with a new one.
• When it has damage that you feel – are the springs pushing you? Can you feel the dents? More clues for mattress replacement.
• If you don’t sleep well – if you toss and turn frequently at night, wake up tired in the morning, and have back and neck pain, it’s time to get a new mattress.

A mattress that “lies down”

If you want the most comfortable mattress, have it custom-made. You may pay extra for it, but you will have a product that will meet your requirements to the maximum. What can you dictate when making a mattress?

• The length of the mattress – the mattress should be about 25 cm longer than your height. If you are long, get a mattress with an extended length of 210/220 cm.
• The height of the mattress – in general, higher mattresses are the best to sleep on. Have a mattress made with a height of 20 centimetres or more.
• Manufacturing material – choose between synthetic or natural materials. Foams, springs and natural materials can be combined to give you a mattress that meets your requirements for a comfortable night’s sleep.
• Mattress firmness – the ideal firmness is based on age, health problems and sleep position. You can choose between 4 levels of firmness. Firmness requirements may change with age. If your mattress is well-preserved and less than 7 years old, adjust the firmness with a topper. This is a thin mattress topper that can make the main mattress softer or harder. A topper also extends the life of the mattress.

Choose a mattress depending on your health limitations

Have you decided to do something for your health and get a health mattress? Then you should get your head around the terms.

There is no health like health

All mattresses that have health benefits are referred to as health mattresses. For example, there are anti-allergy mattresses made of special materials that do not irritate people with allergic diseases. There are also anti-substance abuse mattresses that protect the body of long-term patients from bedsores. Orthopedic mattresses help from back, joint and cervical spine pain. These are all medical mattresses.

However, if you are looking for a mattress that is a medical device, it must be certified as such. Certificates declaring a mattress to be a medical device are awarded based on extensive testing, depending on the health limitations for which it is intended. Mattresses that are medical devices are subject to a reduced VAT rate, which has been applicable since 1 January 2011. 1. 2022 for medical devices 15%. These are medical devices that fall under customs nomenclature codes 01-96. They are intended for the exclusive personal use of the sick or disabled for treatment or for alleviating the consequences.

Orthopaedic mattress helps relieve support system pain

You should opt for an orthopaedic mattress when you have back pain, cervical spine pain, hip pain or general spinal problems. They are most often made of foams, especially lazy or memory foam, which distributes pressure well and relieves the joints. But they are also available in combination with a coconut board, for example. Orthopaedic mattresses keep your spine in the correct position throughout your sleeping period.

The product can help from pain, but it can also be a preventive measure against the occurrence of these inconveniences.

Mattress with zones

Orthopaedic mattresses with zones are called anatomical mattresses. These products have 3 to 7 differently firm zones along their length. The zones vary in firmness so that they can provide optimal support for each part of the body. This is because the human body does not exert uniform pressure on the mattress when lying down. A mattress with zones can therefore keep the spine in an optimal position.

When choosing the most suitable anatomical mattress, be guided by the number of zones. The more the mattress has, the better it will follow the shape of your body. Zoning is beneficial not only for optimal spinal support, but also for extending the life of the mattress. Where the highest pressure is applied, the mattress is more resilient, so it doesn’t sag quickly.

Thanks to zoning, the mattress perfectly distributes the load of the sleeper. You sleep in a natural and healthy position. An orthopaedic mattress will get along best with a slatted mattress. It is flexible and will help distribute the pressure exerted on the mattress.

Anatomical pillows

If you suffer from cervical spine pain, you should reach for a medical pillow. The pillow is usually made of memory foam that adapts to your current position. Such a pillow is also called an ergonomic or orthopaedic pillow. It makes sure that your cervical spine does not suffer. Health pillows for the cervical spine come in different shapes. The most common is the wave shape, but also the X shape.

What are and for whom are anti-inflammatory mattresses suitable?

Anti-fatigue mattresses or anti-bedsore mattresses are designed for those who are bedridden for long periods of time. Most often you will find this medical mattress used by seniors, but they can be used by others as well. Who, for example?

• Patients recovering from an injury or surgery,
• people who have to lie down more often because of orthopaedic problems,
• people with health problems that limit their mobility.

What is a decubitus?

Decubitus is a technical term that refers to a bedsore. Since pressure ulcers are difficult to treat, it is best to prevent them. Anti-disfigurement mattresses serve as a prevention against pressure sores, but they also help in healing them.

A bedsore is a skin reaction to local pressure. Most often it appears on such places of the body where there is a small layer of fatty or muscular tissue. Typically, it is:

• heels,
• the back of the head,
• the sides of the knees,
• shoulders, etc.

Due to prolonged exposure to pressure, the tissues cease to circulate and begin to die. Infection is usually added as a complication.

How do mattresses help against bedsores?

Anti-disability mattresses stimulate blood circulation in both the skin and deep tissues. This prevents the development of pressure sores. However, the use of other medical devices and the alternation of the patient’s lying position are of course necessary.

Mattresses against bedsores can be:

• Active – these are movable air mattresses that have several chambers. These chambers alternately inflate and deflate, reducing the pressure exerted on different parts of the body and eliminating the occurrence of bedsores.
• Passive – at first glance they look like a classic mattress and you can use them as such. They are suitable for the beds of people who are permanently bedridden. They can also be used by people who want a good night’s sleep. The mattress has anatomical zones and a top layer that is perforated transversely and longitudinally. Optimal weight distribution, air circulation, moisture wicking and sufficient thermoregulation occur.

The anti-cubicle mattresses can lie on a positioning or static grid. Since the mattress is mainly used by people lying down for long periods of time, reclining slatted grates are ideal. They are available with the option of manual or electricpositioning, with electric positioning being more comfortable.

A mattress that is suitable for allergy sufferers

If you suffer from allergies, look for a mattress made of suitable materials and with an anti-allergy treatment. In addition, the care of the mattress is also important. You should clean it regularly. Vacuum it whenever you change the sheets, and vacuum it from all sides. Remember to ventilate it and also turn it regularly.

What are allergy mattresses made of?

For allergy sufferers, anti-allergy mattresses are available on the market to prevent allergic reactions. They are made of highly hygienic materials that do not harbour bacteria and mites. These are the most common causes of allergic reactions. People suffer from allergies because of:

• breathing difficulties,
• rhinitis,
• with red eyes,
• skin problems.

Breathable foams and natural materials, such as cold foam or coconut board, are used to make mattresses for allergy sufferers. Ideally, the foams should have a special treatment that prevents the growth of micro-organisms, moulds and mites.

The hygiene of the mattress is enhanced by covers with antibacterial treatment:

• LYOCELL – a natural material based on wood cellulose. It absorbs and wicks moisture well. It is breathable and naturally antibacterial.
• Bamboo fibre – made from bamboo, it is non-creasing and repels microorganisms.
• Silver protect – it is a coating fabric with silver ionization, which gives the material an antimicrobial effect. It prevents the formation of harmful germs and bacteria.
• Greentex – natural treatment of the substance with probiotics, which rid it of mites and bacteria.

Allergy mattresses must lie on a slatted or slatted grid that allows sufficient air circulation. Avoid a slab mattress as this does not provide sufficient ventilation. The mattress then traps moisture, which causes mould to form.

Sleep on a mattress that will relieve your health problems.