How To Get Better Sleep When Your Pregnant

Posted on February 16, 2012 by JohnA.

The human body changes gradually over time, causing us to have to adjust our normal routine to fit us best. Sometimes there are changes that can make us have to change things up a little quicker than the natural process of getting older. My wife and I are expecting our second child in a few months, and it has become very clear that this change has a tremendous effect on the way a woman sleeps. I am several years older this time around, and I have really noticed all the changes she is going through.

The problems are pretty easily attributed to the tremendous increase in belly size. No longer can my wife sleep in her normal position on her belly. It also turns out that back sleeping isn’t the best option either. Sleeping on your back can cause backaches, hemorrhoids, low blood pressure and decreased circulation to your heart and your baby. The solution is known as “SOS” (sleep on side). And sleeping on your left side will increase the amount of blood and nutrients that reach the placenta and your baby. It is also recommended to use pillows to relieve pressure and back pain.

One tremendous advantage that my wife has is her terrific husband! Well, at least the fact that he works at Mattress Source and bought her a Tempur-Pedic Rhapsody Bed a couple years ago. So she has had no back pains or uncomfortable pressure while sleeping. Just for reference, the Sealy Posturepedic pillow top we had for the first one worked great too! I hope that anyone reading this post will be blessed with a happy and smooth pregnancy. If you are in need of a better nights sleep, we are always here to help.

Poor sleep leads to high blood pressure

Posted on January 5, 2012 by JohnA.

We here at Mattress Source have previously discussed how better sleep can lead to a healthier lifestyle. Being more well rested has tremendous affect on your mental status. A recent study by the American Heart Association has found that poor quality sleep can also lead to high blood pressure in older men.

They found that over the course of the study a large number of the men began suffering from hypertension, or high blood pressure. The only significant similarity between the ones who did develop problems was a lack of deep sleep. Not a lack of total sleep, but the amount of deep sleep.

There are a different reasons a person would not get sufficient deep sleep. It could be that they have sleep apnea or some other type of sleeping disorder. Things like smoking and too much caffeine can also disrupt the sleep cycle. Or it could be something that is very easy to fix, an uncomfortable mattress. Being able to get into a comfortable sleeping position can send you into a deep sleep sooner and for a longer time. If you would like to find the perfect fit for your individual tastes, let Mattress Source help. You can get a head start by visiting our website and looking around. Contact us for a great deal on a new mattress from Sealy, Simmons, Tempur-Pedic or Stearns & Foster.

A New Year of Great Sleep

Posted on December 27, 2011 by JohnA.

Every new year we make resolutions to do things like eat healthier, exercise more and lose weight to improve our overall health. Those are all fantastic ways to get healthier! They are also difficult resolutions that often get tossed aside by St. Patrick’s day. How about making a resolution that’s a lot easier to stick with, and great for your overall well being too? If the wonderful holiday season has left you feeling stressed and all tired out, a new sleep schedule may be just the thing for you. 39% of American’s report sleeping less than the recommended 7-8 hours a night. There have been countless studies that found how your mind preforms at lower levels when sleep deprived. And everybody is aware of how much better you feel after a good nights rest. Whatever the reason you don’t get the right amount of sleep, set a goal to allow the time to get the rest your body deserves each night. For many people that will only mean getting rid of one evening television program. Or it could be closing the laptop an hour or two sooner. Time to stop updating your Facebook and reading blogs at 1AM! Unless it’s this blog, of course. So why not make an easy to keep resolution to help improve your health. Getting more sleep sounds like a dream come true to many people. One way to make it an even easier transition is to let Mattress Source help you find a new mattress set that let’s you drift into sleep and stay there comfortably all night. Get a head start on the process with our Mattress Selector Tool, or find the most convenient showroom with our Store Locator. Remember that Mattress Source is your source for great sleep!

Wrap up in comfort

Posted on December 15, 2011 by JohnA.

Avoid at all costs!

Most of the post written here are created to inform readers about the benefits of sleep, and how to get more of it. It’s important to be an educated shopper when you look for a new mattress. This time let’s be a little more direct and tell you where to buy and why.

The malls and department stores are full of people looking for the perfect Christmas gift for their loved ones. This year, give the gift of a great night’s sleep. While a new mattress won’t fit under your average tree, it is the gift that keeps on giving. The best part of all is that Mattress Source has an awesome sale running right now! So instead of pajamas with feet, or a car key locator, give the practical gift of sleep.

Stop in to your local store this weekend and avoid the insane crowd at the mall. Our trained sales staff will help you pick the right mattress. And our professional delivery staff will bring it to your home all the way up to Christmas Eve.

What does sleep do?

Posted on December 7, 2011 by JohnA.

Have you ever wondered why we have to sleep? It is said that sharks don’t sleep, they actually kind of sleep swim. The average person sleeps 8 hours a night. But why do we have to totally shut down for such long periods of time? There is plenty of discussion on just how much sleep you actually need, but no one would claim you need none. So what benefit does all this shut eye provide us?

The easy answer is that it makes us feel better. Sleeping can give your body time to relax and recover from daily aches and pains. Recently, Neuroscientist Chiara Cirelli at the University of Wisconsin-Madison did studies that found sleep has a significant affect on our ability to learn. She found that the synapses in our brains grow and use up more energy when we learn new things. The power plant for your brain, your body, just can’t keep up with all of the energy requirements. So sleeping lets the synapses cool down and get ready for the next days learning activities.

In a previous post we discussed how a lack of sleep can have serious effects on critical thinking and reaction time. This supports the theory that the brain is requiring more energy than it gets the longer you stay awake. This is a just another reason to get the kids in bed early for school. Teenagers would be exempt from this though, because they already know everything and don’t need to learn any more. But for the rest of us that want to heal our aches and pains and get ready to learn something new every day, a comfortable new mattress may be just the thing.

After a Good Night’s Sleep Brain Cells Are Ready to Learn (livescience.com)

How to shop for a new mattress

Posted on November 29, 2011 by JohnA.

I spent about 7 years working the floor of a Mattress Source showroom. I learned a lot about mattresses, and the people who buy them. Every type of person shops for a mattress throughout the year. There is no definitive answer as to whether a Sealy, Simmons or Tempur-Pedic is the best mattress. I can provide some tips on just how you should go through the process of shopping for a new mattress.

First of all, make sure that you trust the place you visit. It’s not a great idea to go down a dark alley to a damp storage unit with mattresses on the ground. It is best to use a retailer that is well established and will continue to be around long after your purchase. It is much easier to contact your retailer should you have a problem in the future. You should also shop for a brand you know of. While many times a generic version can be nearly as good as the real thing, mattresses, like furniture, are designed to last for many years. A cheap imitation will use inferior materials and cut corners during construction. There is a very good reason that Sealy has been around since 1881.

Once you settle on a store that carries the brands your interested in, you need to go in and spend some time looking around. It may be alright to buy a TV online, a good picture is the same for everyone. But, no online review can tell you what your level of comfort is. I have had hundreds of customers come in asking for the firmest thing in the store, and walk out two hours later awaiting delivery of their new Plush Pillow Top. A well trained salesperson will be able to help guide you through the decision process to the right mattress for you. Spend a moment on every mattress and find the few that suit you best, then spend 10-15 minutes on the finalists to pick a winner. Sometimes you may make the wrong decision, but a good retailer will offer a Comfort Guarantee to act as your safety net.

You should also plan your trip to the mattress store. Try to allow yourself plenty of time to make the decision and finalize the purchase. Sometimes the store can get a little busy, and if I try and rush you out of the door I may make a mistake that causes us to have to redeliver the correct mattress. It is also important to bring in both people that will be using the mattress. I learned at a young age the meaning of the saying “if momma ain’t happy, nobody is.” Dress appropriately to be laying around in public. For this trip out of the house, sweatpants are much better than a mini-skirt. A really serious shopper may even show up in pajamas with a pillow in hand.

Mattress Source offers a great online tool to help find a mattress that suits your tastes, but it’s still better to get in there and make your own choice. A great nights sleep should be a priority to everyone. While most of us cannot “spare no expense” when making any purchase, a quality mattress is a worthwhile investment. Take your time and use resources like The Better Business Bureau and Yelp to find out what other people think about a place before you buy. Give us a call or send an email if there any specific questions you would like answered. Remember, Mattress Source is your source for great sleep!

Adjustable bed benefits

Posted on November 15, 2011 by JohnA.

Adjustable beds have been around for decades in the health care industry. In recent years they have become more and more popular for use at home as well. The ability to adjust the position of your head and feet is appealing to many different types of people. Whether your reasons are medically related or strictly for comfort, an adjustable bed may be worth the money to you.

There are numerous health reasons a person may choose an adjustable bed. One widespread ailment that can be aided is acid reflux disease. Acid reflux disease is, put simply, when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Elevating the head while sleeping can help prevent flare ups while you sleep. Several spinal disorders such as stenosis and spondylolisthesis can also benefit from elevating the head and or feet while sleeping. And it has been found that the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, can find relief when the pressure is removed from the joints by sleep in a reclined postion on the back.

Being able to adjust your bed isn’t only for people with a medical need to do so. The comfort of fine tuning your position to suite you is becoming popular with all types of consumers. Many people enjoy the ability to sit up in bed while they read or watch tv. You can even do this without disrupting the other side with a split base and mattresses. Others find that putting your feet up after a long day at work can make it easier to relax. And many adjustable beds, such as the Advanced Ergo from Tempur-Pedic, have the ability to give a vibrating massage. And there is no better way to enjoy breakfast in bed without making a mess of the comforter.

With as much time as we spend in bed, it makes sense to be as comfortable as possible. With more function and reliability than ever, the adjustable bed has become a luxury many people choose to have. Mattress Source has models that work with a large number of mattresses at every comfort level. You can even keep your same headboard and footboard with the wall hugging designs that are available.

Saluting Our Troops

Posted on November 10, 2011 by JohnA.

Veterans day is a time to say thank you to all Military Veterans. It’s history goes back to World War 1. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany. President Woodrow Wilson commemorated it as Armistice Day the following year. It was changed to Veterans day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 to honor all American veterans.

As the son of a United States Marine, I was raised with an appreciation for the members of the armed services. It takes an abundance of courage to face an your enemy in the field of combat. While not every veteran has fought in battle, they show the willingness to do it by enlisting. There have been many times that I have seen a uniformed service member thanked by random strangers on a regular day. On November 11, we can unite as a nation to show our combined thanks for the effort of all the people who are currently or have ever served.

Mattress Source is proud to have several US veterans on our team. They have served during times of peace and war, and are worthy of our appreciation for all they do. We would like to thank: Garners Ferry Store Manager Craig Abraham from the US Navy, Charleston Regional Manager Michael Anderson from the US Air Force, South Boulevard Store Manager Milton Arcelay from the US Army, Pineville Store Manager Phil Coger from the US Navy, Arden Store Manager Adam Jackson from the US Army, Charleston area Sales Associate Jack Lachman from the US Air Force and Charlotte area Sales Associate Dave Strosnider from the US Air Force. These men display many of the traits that make America great.

Please take the time to say thanks to the veterans in your life on November 11, and every time you can. Without their efforts our world would be a very different place. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces. If you would like to help out financially you can donate to the USO through the link below. If you would like to thank one of the veterans in our company you can find their stores here.

Donate to the USO

Fall Back… To Another Hour of Sleep

Posted on November 4, 2011 by JohnA.

So it’s time to fall back an hour on the clocks. This means an extra hour to do whatever you like on Sunday morning. To some this will be more time to sit and watch the news with a cup of coffee. Others will use it squeeze in a couple extra miles on the treadmill. But, to most of us, this is a day to get an extra hour of sleep. So how does that extra time in the bed affect us.

The grueling hours of a long work week take their toll on everyone. To the people that have trouble getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night, it’s a chance to catch up. The trouble is, it doesn’t really work. Studies have found that staying awake for 24 hours can lead to the same level of impairment as being legally intoxicated. This is because the bodies natural circadian rhythm is pushing it to sleep. Your mind can’t focus on critical thinking, because to it, sleep is the most critical thing. That’s bad, but not many people stay up for 24 hours, right? Ask a doctor, fireman, trucker on EMT how long they stay awake sometimes.

For the average person, staying awake that long isn’t the problem, it’s getting too little sleep for too long. Parents of infants, people with multiple jobs, social butterflies or someone with an uncomfortable mattress may all get less than 6 hours of sleep a night. Daniel Cohen, a neurologist at Harvard Medical School, was lead researcher on a study that found that found that after weeks of too little sleep, the brains performance declines significantly the more hours you are awake. So for those parents of the infant that can’t sleep through the night, that Friday night date can be a dangerous drive home without enough regular sleep.

One night of extended sleep is not enough to combat the long term affects prolong sleep loss. You need to reestablish the natural sleep cycle rhythm to achieve beneficial results. While it may not be possible to always find the amount of time needed for adequate sleep, we should make the most of the time we do have. Choosing a comfortable sleep system is essential to maintaining a safe and healthy lifestyle. So while that extra hour of sleep on Sunday may not change the way you feel next week, you can still enjoy it staying snuggled up in a comfy mattress from Mattress Source.

Is a soft or firm mattress better?

Posted on October 31, 2011 by MattSource

For decades the common belief was that a firm mattress was the only way to go for a good nights sleep. But, if you spend any amount of time looking at new mattresses, you will find that most of them have several inches of padding to soften them up. So is it better to have a softer or firmer mattress?

Generally, a firm mattress will offer a stronger feeling level of support. If the mattress is constructed from a durable support structure, it will prevent your body from sagging down where it is heavier. Heavier people will also require a stronger layer of support to get an equal level of comfort. A high number of low gauge coils is a good sign of strong support. Also, the lack of significant padding reduces the wear and tear a mattress shows over time.

The rise of the softer mattress has been in response to people wanting to be more comfortable in bed. The days of placing a featherbed on top of your mattress are in the past. There are many different choices of plush and pillow top mattresses to fit any comfort level. The extra padding in these models is there to releive pressure ponits and allow the mattress to support the areas where you have natural curves, such as your lower back. In fact, the Mayo Clinic recommends sleeping on your back with a pillow in the curve of your spine if you have lower back pain.

So the answer to the question ” Is a soft or firm mattress better?” is one that only you can answer. Each individual is going have there own preference for comfort. While it is important to have strength of support, you need to be comfortable as well. Most mattresses produced today will have layers of quality materials like memory foam or latex to relieve pressure points on the body. Sealy, Simmons, Stearns & Foster and American Sleep all offer innerspring mattresses from firm to ultra plush. Tempur-Pedic has revolutionised the mattress industry with beds that have comfort and support with no coils at all. Answer the question yourself by visiting your local Mattress Source store and doing your own research.

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