Adjustable Beds - Not Just For the Elderly!
Dec 19, 2005
Author: Neil Teasdale

In an ever increasing market for the ultimate Sleep System, most
people still believe that the Adjustable Bed which was
originally used in Hospitals and Homes for the Elderly are still
that. A bed that can help the elderly in and out of bed!
Although they are extremely helpful in these situations, they
can also be very important for anybody in today's lifestyle.

Now any sincere knowledgeable mattress salesman won't push the
watching TV or reading in bed, it's not something that we should
recommend. But with today's lifestyles, this has become a normal
way of life for some people. Sitting in bed watching TV, working
to make the big deadline is OK, if that's your choice. But
propping up two pillows every 3 minutes is probably not doing
any good to your back or any other part of your body for that
matter. If this sounds like you, maybe your next mattress
purchase should have an adjustable base as well.

There are many "side affects" from poor sleep and sleep habits
that might also be a clue for you to check out the benefits of
the adjustable bed. Some of the health issues are back problems,
neck and shoulder pain, arthritis, circulatory problems, gastric
reflux at night, snoring, breathing problems. Not only does an
adjustable bed provide serious convenience with regards to
helping people in and out of bed but there are many health
benefits that can be taken advantage of for anyone.

Tossing and turning at night on their mattress is the most
common reason that people don't sleep well at night. The main
reason people toss and turn at night is pressure points;
traditional coil and spring mattresses put pressure on different
areas of your body causing restricted circulation to those
areas, when your body becomes uncomfortable you turn to a new
position. Another reason for tossing and turning is improper
spinal alignment. All traditional mattresses are flat but our
bodies are curved, the traditional mattress fails to offer the
lumbar region enough support often allowing your lower back and
hips to sink below the rest of your body. This causes pressure
and discomfort in that area which causes your body to turn to a
new position.

Adjustable sleep systems offer you several great benefits.
Obviously, the adjustable base is only that, an adjustable base.
To get all the benefits out of your adjustable base you need the
proper mattress to work with it. Together they can create a
totally pressure free environment while you sleep. Many studies
have been done with the space program; the best known is the
creation of memory foam. But there is more that was learned from
the way astronauts sleep in space. Well our astronauts sleep in
a totally pressure free environment experience all the time,
floating in space. In studying the way astronauts sleep in space
we have discovered a few interesting things. First off, their
heads stay slightly elevated allowing for easier breathing.
Secondly and probably more importantly, we see that their knees
naturally bend and elevate slightly above the heart. This
position takes pressure off the spine and allows for increased
blood flow to the heart. Only an adjustable bed can mimic this
extremely comfortable and healthy position. Keeping your body in
our natural sleep position reduces the pressure on your skeletal
frame more than 85% ensuring you will get the deepest most
restful sleep possible.

What to Look For

An adjustable sleep system consists of two parts, the base and
the mattress.

The Base: There are really two types of adjustable beds, the
commercial model used in Hospitals and regular consumer models.
The commercial product is very heavy duty and usually has rails
on the sides to help someone pull themselves up. These models
are extremely expensive and are not very esthetically pleasing
for home use, unless your health requires it.

- Concentrate on the frame construction; you want the heavy duty
construction with the look of an elegant piece of furniture.
Preferably, a regular box spring appearance giving you the
ability to dress it how you like it. - Look for quality motors
at the "head and foot." Make sure they are UL Listed and CSA
approved. Preferably a Freefall Design so the head and foot
sections lower by gravity only, this will ensure the motor gets
extended life. Also ensure that it's equipped with insulated
rubber wheels for smooth, quiet operation. - A Polarized
"Modular" electrical system is the way to go as it ensures you
won't have any stray wires and with the plug-in feature makes
service a snap. - Look for at least a 50 degree incline at "both
head and foot", 60 degrees is optimal. - Make sure the legs have
threaded glides allowing you to adjust the height of the bed to
your liking. - Now depending on your preference, make sure
there's the availability of a massager. I don't know about you
but I like the massager, it provides that little bit extra
pampering you need at the end of some days. Some brands you have
no choice, either you get it and pay for it or you can't get it.
Having a choice is always nice. - Same goes for the remote, it's
nice to have the choice between wired or wireless.

The Mattress: Your mattress is the single most important
component of any bed, adjustable or not, even if your foundation
was the corner of 4th and Main. The proper mattress should
provide the proper support, pressure relief and spinal alignment
even in this situation.

- Many companies only offer coil and spring mattresses with
their adjustable bases. This is not exactly the best case
scenario. The coil and spring mattresses are not very pliable
and don't really work well with an adjustable base and often
need replacing every five years. - There are other very
luxurious choices "at a fraction of the price" that you would
benefit from with use of your adjustable base. All are designed
to offer you pressure relief, proper spinal alignment and a more
breathable sleep surface. Air Mattress Beds work well with the
adjustable base when they are equipped with horizontal chambers,
the chambers follow the contour of the bed nicely. Although this
works well, it's still not the optimal choice. - Try looking at
a Memory Foam or Latex mattress, these mattresses are made from
highly specialized foams and are more durable and pliable than
coils and springs, as a result they will work in unison with the
adjustable base to provide you with the ultimate adjustable
sleep experience. Not to mention your mattress will most
probably last for its intended life and these foam mattresses
can go for twenty years. - The final tip is to stay away from
the deal that promises, "Mattress Included" rarely does this
mean your getting any quality in the mattress they're giving
you. Just "FOAM" doesn't mean Memory or Latex foam; check it out
to make sure.

So depending on your lifestyle or if your health dictates (I
hope this isn't the case) check out all the health and
convenience benefits of a quality adjustable bed, but don't
forget the "quality" mattress!!

Why Sleep On Coils and Springs When You Can Sleep On Air?

Air Mattress Beds are dedicated to bringing the public
an affordable alternative for Top Quality Sleep Systems.

Find out more click:
http://cloud9airmattressbeds.com/adjustable_beds.html

About the author:
Neil Teasdale is the Owner of Cloud 9 Air Mattress Beds.
Dedicated to helping others understand the immediate and long
term life and health benefits of proper sleep habits.