It still amazes me to see that in almost every walk of life, consumers are looking for the latest and greatest on the market. Except when shopping for a mattress, it still seems that people are drawn to the ‘same old same old’ one mattress fits all coils and springs. Ouch! But that’s not the big kicker; the big deal comes when you actually price these mattresses. To get a top quality coils and springs mattress you have to pay between 1500US -3000US to get the comfort levels you want and then you are still really buying an expensive foundation with a memory foam pillow top, which is what is providing the comfort you feel. So, let’s say you spend 2000US, you now own a 100lb wooden box filled with coils and springs and what sold you was the 200US pillow top.

So why not just take the time to really see what options are out there? You will find so many other choices that take advantage of our newest technology, are not only half the price but provide a much healthier environment for you to sleep. All the new types of mattresses and beds are specifically designed sleep systems that provide the right support to minimize pressure to acceptable levels for different body types and sleeping postures, maintaining back and spine alignment. The coils and springs mattresses can only say this when they come with the memory foam pillow top. The coils and springs can’t really “fill in the gaps” to support the parts of your body that do not sink into the coils, such as your lower back.

Coils and springs mattresses’ biggest claim to fame is that the coils work independently so when you move, your partner doesn’t. Great, but how much does that matter if you’re not comfortable and you wake up tired and stiff? And in all honesty, I don’t know anyone who actually “bowls” in bed.

So what are the options out there? There are four different types of new technology sleep systems that really are a great bang for the buck and are very affordable and provide many health and convenient benefits compared to coils and springs.

1 Air Mattress Beds – Air Mattress Beds cradle and cushion your body, providing more even weight distribution without the poking and prodding possible from a standard coil spring mattress. Easy to use handheld controls and a state of the art ultra-quiet air inflation system allow each sleeper to quickly adjust the firmness of their side of the air bed to the perfect comfort level, with just the touch of a button. Imagine, now couples can individually adjust each side of the air bed to the exact firmness and comfort level each partner prefers. Tip Look for horizontal baffling and contoured foam edges for quality construction.

2 Adjustable Beds – Now any sincere 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. So if that’s the case then you really should think about doing it right! With the touch of a button, adjustable beds move into hundreds of relaxing positions. All without creating pressure, stress or strain on your body. Touch a button again and experience a new concept in comfort, while your own personal massage system helps to relieve tired, sore muscles, and reduce everyday tension and fatigue. Encourage restful sleep through relaxation. Tip Concentrate on the frame construction, don’t fall for the “mattress included” it’s rarely of any quality.

3 Latex Beds – Latex mattresses provide the most comfortable sleep surface in the world. Already immensely popular in Europe, Latex Mattresses are beginning to boom here in the United States. More and more Americans are learning about the tremendous advantages of Latex Mattresses everyday. The Talalay Process produces the highest quality, most resilient and consistent latex foam in the industry. Its consistent cell structure and exact density result in the most even firmness and feel possible. You can also buy Natural latex products. Tip Look for US made foam with layered construction, as this gives you quality foam and creates a variety of comfort levels to choose from.

4 Memory Foam Beds – Well I think the word is out on this one, I’m sure you’ve heard all the NASA explanations of why this is used in the Space Shuttle and seen the “handprint” pictures. But, in case you haven’t, Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattresses utilize amazing, space age and NASA developed Visco Elastic Memory Foam. Visco Elastic Memory Foam is temperature sensitive. It actually reacts to the heat produced by your body, conforming to your body in a way no other material can. Where your body is making the most contact with the memory foam, the foam reacts and becomes softer. Where your body is making less contact, the foam stays cooler and remains more firm. The result is pressure being evenly distributed throughout the sleeper’s body, leading to fewer pressure points and a more restorative sleep. Tip Again, look out for problem European foam; US made Sensus with layered construction for the same quality and comfort level benefits.

All of these new age sleep systems can be purchased for a fraction of what a coils and springs mattress goes for and depending on the mattress, you can adjust the foam layers to personalize your comfort level as you please. And don’t forget about the many major sleep benefits from all the sleep system technology. You just can’t miss, if you have to purchase a mattress or sleep system, you owe it to yourself to check these out, not only for your health but for your pocketbook too, ouch again!

Tune in to my next articles where I’ll break down what to look for in each of the new age sleep systems.

When most people think of snoring, they think of it as an almost humorous nuisance. But snoring can have very serious effects on the quality of your life and your health.

Snoring has several causes. A cold or other infection can make breathing difficult and cause the sound of snoring as the sleeping person struggles to draw air through blocked nasal passages and throat.

Sometimes snoring is the result of a medical condition, such as swollen tonsils and adenoids lymphoid tissues located at the back of the throat.

Snoring can also be caused by a misshapen wall separating the nasal cavity, called a deviated nasal septum, or a growth in the cavity, called a nasal polyp, both of which cause nasal blockages.

Snoring can also occur when flabby throat muscles are drawn into the airway, particularly when muscular control is overly relaxed by alcohol, drugs, or deep sleep.

The larger the tissues in your soft palate, the more likely you are to snore while sleeping. Alcohol or sedatives taken shortly before sleep also promote snoring. These drugs cause greater relaxation of the tissues in your throat and mouth.

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but people who have sleep apnea typically do snore loudly and frequently. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder, and its hallmark is loud, frequent snoring linked to intermittent brief pauses in breathing while sleeping.

Even if you dont experience these breathing pauses, snoring can still be a problem for you as well as for your bed partner. The increased breathing effort associated with snoring can impair your sleep quality and lead to many of the same health consequences as sleep apnea.

Treating chronic congestion and refraining from alcohol or sedatives before sleeping can also stop snoring. In some adults, snoring can be relieved by dental appliances that reposition the soft tissues in the mouth.

Although numerous over-the-counter nasal strips and sprays claim to relieve snoring, no scientific evidence supports those claims.

Tips for a sound nights sleep relax before bed and try not to worry about whether or not you will be able to sleep, avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol before bedtime as caffeine can keep you awake and alcohol can cause you to wake up during the night try a hot milky drink instead.

Try not to nap in the afternoon or early evening, try to take some exercise in the late afternoon or early evening , but make sure you are finished at least three hours before bedtime.

Try to avoid disrupting your regular sleeping pattern this will help your body clock to know when its time to sleep

Try wearing an eyemask or earplugs to help block out noise and light which can may be affecting your sleep.

One of the most well-known sleep disorders, sleep apnea is a fairly common condition. Marked by interruptions in breathing during sleep, sleep apnea causes the person suffering from this condition to wake up, or partially wake, several times during the night. Because of the frequency of these interruptions in breathing, a person with sleep apnea will have trouble getting a restful nights sleep, causing them to feel the effects of sleep deprivation during their waking hours.

Two types of sleep apnea have been diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea OSA and central sleep apnea. OSA is caused by the soft palate becoming so relaxed that it actually blocks off the breathing passageway, while central sleep apnea is caused by the brain relaxing to the point that it does not remind the body to breathe. While both types can cause interruptions to breathing on their own, most people with sleep apnea actually have mixed apnea, which is a combination of both forms.

Sleep apnea is sometimes difficult to diagnose, simply because it only strikes while the person is asleep and wont notice that it is happening. Because most people with sleep apnea awake only partially not fully so they do not actually notice that they have had their sleep cycle interrupted. Thus, if someone wants to determine if they have sleep apnea, they will have to look for the symptoms.

The most common symptom of sleep apnea is excessive sleepiness upon waking. Because the sleep cycle is being interrupted, the person is not refreshed during the night and will wake up feeling lethargic, fatigued, or even feel like they need to go back to bed for another round of sleep. Also, people with sleep apnea almost always snore; often very loudly. However, a person does not necessarily have to show these symptoms to have sleep apnea. In fact, a bed partner may be the only person to notice the interruptions in breathing during the night.

Additionally, people with sleep apnea are often overweight to obese, so treatment usually involves helping people to lose weight. Treatment can also include eliminating alcohol or other substances that help people relax, quitting smoking, using special pillows or other appliances that help keep the airways open, or even special apparatus that uses air pressure to keep the airways open. This last form of treatment, continuous pressure airway pressure CPAP, uses a breathing mask to pressurize the airways and inflate them, almost like a balloon. Though this form of treatment is more than a little disconcerting at first, they quickly get used to the mask and find that they feel much more alert in the morning.

Sleep apnea is very difficult for a person to self-diagnose but, once the problem is found, there are treatments available. But for people who are overweight and have large necks, smoke, use sedatives or muscle relaxers, or just drink too much alcohol, lifestyle changes would be the best place to start either keeping sleep apnea away or treating it before it becomes a major health concern. After all, not breathing is a problem whenever it happens. So by treating sleep apnea now, sufferers can keep performing the one act they need to perform every day and every night.

A good nights sleep has many important health benefits which I will write about in this article. I am the kind of person who is just unable to perform to my best if I have only had a small number of hours of sleep, I also have a step-daughter who is extremely moody during the next day, if she has not had slept for around seven hours during the night.

I would have to say that I would even class sleep as a hobby of mine, you may think that this is a bit strange but it is true. I feel very safe and comfortable when I am in bed and some people suggest that it is possibly like the way young infants feel when they are in their mothers womb.

When I am in the type of mood that means I find it hard to get to sleep, for example when I have a lot on my mind, I imagine that I have driven off to some long off place in the distance, parked up the car and then have gone to sleep in the back of the car with around four pillows and three quilts. I suppose this is a way of me dreaming of running away from my troubles to an area where no-one can hurt me and again making myself extremely warm and comfortable. This again might be a bit weird in some peoples eyes but it helps me to get to sleep. It certainly beats counting sheep.

Sleep itself has many benefits. People who often find themselves in a depressed state, which is what I have been in the past, can find that a good nights sleep can have a very positive affect on their overall state of mind. This could be because it helps people to think in a clearer and more positive way. The sleep helps bring more life and energy into people helping them to start fighting their problems and challenges.

Sleep can also help people who are often stressed. This is very much for the same reasons as above. What people may of course say is that they actually find it hard to sleep when they are stressed or depressed. This is very understandable and the example above where I have described how I manage to get myself to sleep in this situation, may hopefully be of use to people. Other methods would be to think of other ways of trying to switch off the mind from over worrying about things, as an example people can read part or all of a good book before attempting to fall asleep.

From a personal point of view, I have found that even though it is important to sleep for quite a long time around seven or eight hours per night, that it is also important not to over stay in bed in the morning. I am not sure exactly why this is but I always have a sense of feeling heavier. This leaves me in a negative and lethargic mood all day. This could be just me of course. I basically in general go to bed at around ten at night and wake up at around seven in the morning.

What I enjoy most of all is what happens in my house at around eight o’clock most evenings. This is when my son goes upstairs to bed. He always has around an hour of playing with his toys before he decides he is ready to go to sleep and he likes me to listen to him whilst he is playing. This is fine by me as it allows me to lie in my bed and relax. I do not always fall asleep but it is extremely enjoyable to hear him play while at the same time I am in a way re-charging my batteries.

In conclusion, I would advise people to enjoy the benefits of sleep. Sleep in some peoples eyes is a hassle and they would rather be watching the television or socialising with their friends. As previously stated I treat sleep as a hobby and look forward to going to bed. For people who are prone to depression or who are often stressing about this or that, a good nights sleep could be exactly what you need.

We’ve all heard about dressing for success, but most of us are stressing for success instead. Whether we are determined to climb the corporate ladder, be the best mommy, daddy, wife or husband on the planet, or grow our home-based business into a worldwide enterprise, we are all somehow stressing over something.

In fact, according to the experts, most of us are overworked and overstressed, while underpaid, undernourished, and under-rested. But, they note there is hope, as long as we are willing to take control by giving up some control

1. Make Time For Healthy And Relaxed Meals Eating on the run only leads to making damaging dietary choices. Let’s face it; it’s a lot easier to chow down on a doughnut or a burger and fries in the car that it is to savor a salad on the go. But, according to the experts, our eating habits are literally killing us. Take time to savor and enjoy your food and allow yourself enough time to make the right healthy choices. Consider making a healthy breakfast for yourself the night before, something quick and easy that you can eat while rushing at the door. And, brown bagging your lunch, even dinner if you’re working late, is also highly recommended.

2. Move Around, Not Only Up In The Business World While you’re busy moving up in your profession or career, make sure you take time out to move around and give your body the moderate exercise it needs. From walking instead of taking the elevator to go pick up your afternoon java jolt, to actually finagling into your day a fitness routine, spend less time thinking about what to do, and just do something.

3. Sweet Dreams Burning the midnight oil can deplete you of both energy and enthusiasm, so make sure you get enough but not too much sleep. According to experts the best way to accomplish this is by sticking to routine and reserving the bedroom strictly or mostly for sleeping. And if you still suffer from insomnia you may want to consult a doctor.

4. Actively Put An End To Stress Come to the realization that there are just some things that can wait, some you have no control over, and some things that putting off won’t affect. Make the decision to stop pushing your limits, and making some time for the most important obligation of all, you and your family. Even if it’s 10 minutes, make sure to set aside some time to do something meaningful and enjoyable to you.

If youre one of the still surprisingly many that just cant get the sleep thing right, keep reading! How many times a week do you wake up where you cant figure out if youre getting up or going to bed and rolling over is the only option. Or you wake up with a headache, numb leg or that stiff neck that goes right to the shoulder blade and you cant look left or right, whats that about? After struggling through a tough day, no way do you have anything left for family play time in the evening.

Theres a time proven, simple method to regain back and enjoy your full days, but most of us definitely take it for granted, SLEEP! But its just sleeping; Ill sleep when I sleep. If we all could shift this mindset to, I need and enjoy my sleep, That would be a huge step in the right direction. As we age, depending on how gracefully, we develop certain health issues, maybe not serious but nagging enough to stop you from playing catch with JR. or piggybacking your Little Princess. Many times we look to doctors and cures for nagging problems that just might be related to your particular sleep habits.

So, what does the Sleep in America poll tell us about the connection between sleep, health and aging? “We reaffirm what we know from the epidemiology of aging that there is a very strong correlation between common medical conditions and a predisposition to sleep disturbances,” says Daniel Foley, an epidemiologist at the National Institute on Aging. “A person may have several medical conditions that they’re seeing their doctor about and they may be getting treatment, but they don’t feel they’re getting better. What may go unrecognized is a tremendous amount of sleep disturbance and daytime sleepiness. What may go overlooked is a major sleep disorder that may be complicating treatment of the other conditions.

“The poll results show we need to educate the public and healthcare professionals about the connection between sleep, health and aging.”

Granted not all health issues can be prevented, but we have to do what whats in our power to do if you really are health conscious and maintaining health can prevent many of those nagging old problems. Whats the use of working out in the morning, jogging at lunch, eating right all day then crashing at 300am on that busted imitation La-Z-Boy using your cat as a pillow? Oh! Theres that headache, numb leg, still neck cycle again!!

There are some very simple things you can do to make your sleep more beneficial for you. Youve probably seen these many times in many forms but this time, its time to start! Youre going to pin this article up and make an effort to change your poor sleep habits.

Sleep is as important as food and air. Quantity and quality are very important. Most adults need between 7.5 to 8.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you press the snooze button on the alarm in the morning you are not getting enough sleep. This could be due to not enough time in bed, external disturbances, or a sleep disorder.

Keep regular hours. Try to go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day. Getting up at the same time is most important. Getting bright light, like the sun, when you get up will also help. Try to go to bed only when you are sleepy. Bright light in the morning at a regular time should help you feel sleepy at the same time every night.

Stay away from stimulants like caffeine. This will help you get deep sleep which is most refreshing. If you take any caffeine, take it in the morning. Avoid all stimulants in the evening, including chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and caffeinated teas. They will delay sleep and increase arousals during the night.

Use the bed for sleeping and sex. Avoid watching TV or using laptop computers. Know that reading in bed can be a problem if the material is very stimulating and you read with a bright light. If it helps to read before bed make sure you use a very small wattage bulb to read. A 15 watt bulb should be enough.

Avoid bright light around the house before bed. Using dimmer switches in living rooms and bathrooms before bed can be helpful. Dimmer switches can be set to maximum brightness for morning routines.

Don’t stress if you feel you are not getting enough sleep. It will just make matters worse. Know you will sleep eventually, no pressure.

Avoid exercise near bedtime. No exercise at least 3 hours before bed.

Don’t go to bed hungry. Have a light snack, avoid a heavy meal before bed.

Bedtime routines are helpful for good sleep. Keep routines on your normal schedule. A cup of herbal tea an hour before bed can begin a routine.

Avoid looking at the clock if you wake up in the middle of the night. It can cause anxiety. This is very difficult for most of us, so turn the clock away so you would have to turn it to see the time. You may decide not to make the effort and go right back to sleep.

If you can’t get to sleep for over 30 minutes get out of bed and do something boring in dim light till you are sleepy.

Keep your bedroom at comfortable temperature. Not too warm and not too cold. Cooler is better than warmer.

If you have problems with noise in your environment you can use a white noise generator. An old fan will work or you can listen to soft music on a timer.

Know that the “night cap” has a price. Alcohol may help you to get to sleep but it will cause you to wake up throughout the night. You may not notice it. It is worse if you have sleep apnea because the alcohol makes the apnea worse. Sometimes people snore only if they have had some alcohol or may snore worse if they already snore.

If you have a sleeping partner, ask them if they notice any snoring, leg movements andor pauses in breathing. You may have a sleep disorder or you may just need to increase your awareness about your own sleep need. If you have any concerns see your doctor.

The proper mattress and pillow can make the biggest difference in preventing those nagging problems. Educate yourself on the new advancements in mattress technology and sleep systems that are designed to provide the right support to minimize pressure to acceptable levels for different body types and sleeping postures, maintaining back and spine alignment. Shift the mindset from the one mattress fits all, coils and springs to the luxury and convenience of air mattress beds, adjustable beds, latex beds and memory foam beds. Not only do these sleep systems provide the necessary support and comfort, they give you the option to rearrange the layers for a myriad of comfort levels to ensure you get exactly what you want in a mattress and not, just living with it.

OK, PRINT!

Now get started and work out while you sleep. Make the necessary changes that will help you feel refreshed and have the energy to get through a busy day and the stamina to spend quality time with the family at night. Give yourself and your family the chance for you to age gracefully.

Catch my next article that will cover the advancements in mattress technology.