A good night's sleep can set you up for a great day, just as a night of tossing and turning or waking up sore and achy can make the day ahead seem almost unbearable. While there are many factors that play significant roles in one's sleep habits and patterns, the cause may be right under your nose, and the rest of your body, when you go to sleep each night. Your mattress may be holding you back from getting a peaceful, rejuvenating night's sleep.



There are people out there who could fall asleep on a block of concrete and awake rested and recharged. These people are freaks. If you're one of these people, and I just offended you, I'm sorry, but seriously, that's just not normal. For the rest of us, choosing the right mattress for our body type and sleep habits can play a HUGE role in how we wake up each morning. There are many types of mattresses on the market, figuring out which is right for you is the challenge.

The most common type of mattress on the market is the standard innerspring mattress. As the name implies, this mattress is comprised of steel coils, or springs in the interior of the mattress. These springs can vary in number from 300 to 700, with the higher coil count equating to a firmer, more supportive mattress. The more inexpensive innerspring mattresses are usually in the lower range as far as coil count goes, and don't provide the support most of us need. These beds can be deceiving. A soft, ultra-giving mattress feels great when you lay down, but doesn't provide the support your back, hips and shoulders need, often resulting in more tossing and turning, and thus achy joints and muscles in the morning. If you like the softer feel, but still want the support, look for an innerspring mattress with a pillow top. This extra, sewn-on layer of cushioning should do the trick.

If you've tried multiple innerspring mattresses and still aren't getting a restful night's sleep on a consistent basis, it may be time to consider a foam or latex mattress. These mattresses are often more expensive than their innerspring counterparts, but are unrivaled when it comes to the support they can provide. Memory foam and latex adapts to the contours of your body, providing custom support at every turn. These mattresses are ideal for those who wake up achy and sore on a consistent basis and for chronic arthritis sufferers.