A sleep specialist offers tips for mattress buying
For the thousands of people whose houses and belongings were damaged by floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey, mattresses are just one more necessary expense.
In Harris County, about 122,000 homes were damaged during the storm, causing $97.72 million in property damage, according to estimates.
Some people used innovative methods to protect their belongings from flood damage, but for others the losses were unavoidable.
Since mattresses can cost thousands of dollars, it is important to consider priorities, such as health and finances, before making an investment, experts say.
Dr. Richard Castriotta, the medical director for Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center Sleep Disorders Center, offered tips on what to consider when buying a new mattress.
Hard vs. soft
Even people without a sleep disorder can be affected by their sleeping environment, including their mattress, Castriotta said. He generally recommends a firm mattress over a soft one but said that results vary depending on a person’s preferences and physical condition.
In a hot and humid climate, the mattress you choose can impact your body temperature, which impacts the quality of sleep.
“That would be the one thing that I caution against; the kind of foam-type mattresses that actually contribute to overheating problems during the night, and the body temperature rises instead of going down,” Castriotta said. “Physiologically, in order for our body to sleep comfortably, our core body temperature has to go down during the night.”
If you have allergies
Mattresses can contain materials that are problematic for people with allergies. Some contain chemicals that release gases into the air during a process called off-gassing. To prevent allergy problems, Castriotta suggested avoiding mattresses made with organic or chemical components, which may trigger a reaction.
Before purchasing a mattress, it is important to know how to test it out, Castriotta said. Testing your mattress in various sleeping positions is key, he said.
“You want to test it when you’re lying on your side, with a pillow that will be able to support your head,” Castriotta said. “You want to also test it out both prone and supine — the two lateral positions.”
The stress of buying a mattress can be lessened by researching stores and brands. The Better Sleep Council, as well as websites like Reviews. com and ConsumerReports.org, offers information and ratings for a variety of mattresses and brands.
The Better Sleep Council suggests establishing your budget before you go shopping and to take your time testing out every mattress you consider.
“It can take up to 15 minutes to relax enough to feel the true support of a mattress, so don’t rush it,” the Better Sleep Council’s website says. “The more time you take in a store, the less likely you’ll have buyer’s remorse later on.”