Despite spending more than half of our lives in bed, a new study has revealed a massive 57 per cent of consumers neglect to seek advice when purchasing a new mattress – and it could be having a big detrimental impact on their sleep and overall health.
According to the findings from the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) in partnership with leading bed manufacturer Sealy, a massive 40 per cent of us spend less than half an hour selecting this vital household item – shorter than the average power nap and despite the fact the average consumer keeps theirs for eight to 10 years.
In doing so, we’re putting our health at risk – potentially selecting a mattress which is wrong for our body type and individual sleeping habits. Sealy has found that a regular good night’s sleep can significantly improve our health – helping the body to repair itself and boosting the immune system. However, the BCA has warned that an unsuitable mattress can significantly contribute to back and neck pain, impacting on the quality of rest people can get.
Despite the health implications of having a good night’s rest, of the small percentage of people who do actually seek advice when buying a new mattress, the majority simply look quickly online (16%) instead of speaking with a professional from the industry. Shockingly only 1 per cent would consult with their neighbors, 4 per cent with friends and just 9 per cent seek guidance from a qualified chiropractor.
Neil Robinson, Sealy’s sleep expert said: “Our study indicates that people aren’t taking their sleep seriously, underestimating the impact of a mattress on their everyday lives and wellbeing. That’s why we’ve teamed up with the BCA to encourage people to seek professional guidance when choosing a new bed or mattress.
There may be a misconception that “a mattress is a mattress” but this really isn’t the case – different products offer different benefits catered for individual sleep requirements – from zonal support to the materials used in production. That’s why we’ve developed our innovative bed selector, to make the process clearer and easier for consumers. We hope our study, and the new application, encourage people to take more time to consider the model and features they opt for before making a commitment.”
Rishi Loatey from the BCA said: “People don’t realize just how important a suitable bed and mattress is for their back. We all come in different weights, shapes and sizes so, given we spend a third of our lives in bed, it makes sense to find the best possible bed to give the optimum level of support and comfort.
“We recommend you spend as much time as possible choosing a new bed or mattress – and try it out before you buy it! Chiropractors generally recommend that you should sleep on your back or side and when lying on your side, your spine should be parallel to the mattress and not be sagging or bowing.”
