news.atom

https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news.atomSONU Sleep - News2022-07-21T11:38:13-07:00SONU Sleep https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/why-do-i-get-so-hot-when-i-sleep2022-07-21T11:38:13-07:002022-07-21T11:38:14-07:007 Possible Reasons You Get Hot When You SleepBridget ReedIt needs to be cool enough to sleep soundly when you go to bed. During sleep, your body’s temperature naturally dips by a few degrees. But if it’s too hot, you’ll find it difficult to not only fall asleep but also to stay asleep.

Since summer is in full swing, it’s a good idea to discover why you get so hot when you sleep. Once you know why you get hot, you can take steps to correct the issue and avoid night sweats in the future. Read on to learn about some common causes of sleeping hot, and how the SONU Sleep System can help.

1. It’s Too Hot in Your Bedroom

Firstly, it might just be too hot in your bedroom for comfort! Lots of sleepers forget to turn down their thermostats at night.

Alternatively, maybe you like fresh air and have your windows open, but it’s hot outside. In any case, you need to take steps to make your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep until morning.

How To Fix It

Fixing your sleep environment is straightforward. Run a fan for more airflow, open your windows, or turn on your AC an hour or so before bed to get the temperature down a few degrees. You should try to get your bedroom temperature down to 65°F or even cooler if you want to enjoy deep, restful sleep more regularly.

2. Your Bedding or Pajamas Trap Heat

Next, you might get hot while you sleep because either you’re bedding materials or your pajamas trap body heat and make you warmer over time.

This is usually related to the fabric materials used for your pajamas or bedding. For example, wool pajamas can feel comfortable at first, but they aren’t ideal if you snuggle up under some covers or sheets. Wool keeps you warm: great while camping in the winter, but not comfortable when sleeping in your bedroom.

Similarly, if your bedding is made of scratchy or warm materials, you might find it tough to cool down at night, even if you open the window!

How To Fix It

Luckily, this is a very simple fix: simply pick up new pajamas or bedding materials, and you'll be good to go! Linen or fresh cotton pajamas and sheets are good choices.

3. Your Mattress Is Too Hot

Alternatively, your mattress itself might trap heat or be made with subpar materials. Certain materials, like scratchy cotton, can trap body heat and make you likely to feel excessively hot in the middle of the night.

This problem is more common with older mattresses, of course. But it can be exacerbated if you combine a bad mattress with overly thick blankets or bedding materials.

How To Fix It

Fortunately, you can fix this just as easily as you can fix the above potential cause: get a new mattress. Certain mattresses are designed with cool, eco-friendly materials that don't trap body heat but that are just as comfortable as alternative fabrics.

For example, the SONU Sleep System is made with premium, high resilience, and certified environmentally-friendly foams. This one-of-a-kind mattress even comes with custom white sheets that are designed to stay cool and comfortable all night long.

Look at alternative mattresses in your area and consider picking up a new bed if you’re regularly struggling with night sweats.

4. You’re an Athlete or Exercise Often

Athletes often have trouble with night sweats and feeling hot while they sleep. When you exercise regularly, your metabolic rate increases, and your blood vessels open up, increasing your core body temperature. That's great for burning fat and building muscle, but it also causes your body to build more muscle at night.

When this occurs, your body expends additional calories and, therefore, body heat. So you can quickly find yourself warming up under the covers as a side effect if you had an intense workout 12 hours earlier!

How To Fix It

The best way to fix exercise-related body heat is to sleep without a blanket. Try to sleep with as few pajamas as possible or a cold rag on your neck. Anything to bring your body temperature down will help you get more comfortable in minutes.

5. Your Diet Isn’t Ideal

Your diet could affect your body temperature or how many calories your body burns while you lie in bed waiting for shuteye to roll over your mind. Specifically, if you drink a lot of sugary or caffeinated beverages or eat sugary foods, your body's metabolic rate might increase, similar to when you exercise.

How To Fix It

The best way to avoid this potential issue is simply clean up your diet or, even more easily, avoid caffeine after lunch. If you're a little hungry before bed, eat a healthy snack like a few carrots or other vegetables to fill up your stomach and give your body some additional nutrients. Vegetables are ideal since they have a lot of fiber, which takes more time to burn.

6. Your Bed Is Crowded

Sleeping with a partner or pet can certainly make it too hot to sleep, especially in the warm summer months! The standard human body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit; if you sleep with your spouse or significant other, it should be no surprise that the space under the covers is warmer than the space on top!

How To Fix It

If you still want to sleep with a partner or pet but also want to lower your skin temperature for a good night’s sleep, try sleeping in your own blanket or purchasing a larger mattress with enough space for both of you.

7. Medications and Hormone Levels Heat You Up

On top of the other potential reasons you might get hot while you sleep, any medications you take – or any hormonal imbalances you might experience – can contribute to this problem as well.

For example, various medications might cause your body temperature to increase. These include antibiotics, diabetes medication, antidepressants, and more. That’s because these medications frequently affect your body’s thermoregulation and/or metabolism.

Hormonal changes, on the other hand, can cause night sweats, higher than average body temperature, and more. Many women, for instance, experiencing menopause find that they heat up at night as part of “hot flashes.” Pregnancy, PMS, or medical conditions may further lead to higher body temperatures at night.

Medications and hormones can also affect your circadian rhythm. Fluctuations in hormone patterns can lead to overheating, excessive sweating, and issues with temperature regulation outside your normal control. Many “hot sleepers” are dealing with conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hyperhidrosis, or cancer.

How To Fix It

If you suspect your body temperature increases are due to medications, contact your doctor right away. They may be able to switch you to a different medication or recommend another measure. If it’s hormonal, you should also speak to a medical professional – again, they might be able to prescribe you the perfect remedy.

Summary

Overall, you might get hot while you sleep for any number of reasons. But identifying the root cause is the first step toward solving the issue and enjoying cool, comfortable sleep for years to come.

Remember, many people feel like it’s too hot while they sleep because their mattresses are subpar or made with less than stellar materials. If that’s the case for you, consider trying the SONU Sleep System today!

Sources:

The Best Temperature for Sleep: Advice & Tips | Sleep Foundation.

Night Sweats: Causes and Treatments | Sleep Foundation

Night Sweats: Menopause & Other Causes | Cleveland Clinic

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/night-sweats-men2022-07-21T11:37:03-07:002022-07-21T11:37:04-07:00Night Sweats in Men: Common Causes & SolutionsBridget ReedThe last thing you want in the middle of a deep slumber is to wake up sticky and sweaty. Unfortunately, night sweats are common among both men and women. But even worse for guys, men typically have a higher surface body temperature than women, making them sometimes more likely to experience night sweats than their feminine counterparts.

So, what’s the cause of night sweats in men and are there ways to fix this issue? Read on for answers to both of these questions and learn how the SONU Sleep System can help with your overall sleep comfort and night sweats, as well.

What Causes Night Sweats in Men?

Men can experience night sweats for a wide range of reasons. Some of these reasons relate to their habits and activities, while others may be biological or due to ingested medications.

Low Testosterone

Many men suffer from low testosterone. Testosterone is arguably the most important hormone for men, as it affects energy level, bodily development, muscle growth, and much more. About 38% of all men aged 45 or older have low testosterone levels.

Also called male hypogonadism, low testosterone levels are never good and can lead to serious symptoms like loss of body and facial hair, weakness, low sex drive or erectile dysfunction, and more. But it can also lead to night sweats.

Stress and Anxiety

Men can experience night sweats in part due to stress or anxiety. If you toss and turn all night because your brain won’t stop racing about an important day at work or a fight with your spouse, night sweats could follow, especially if you also experience nightmares or disturbing dreams.

Infections

In addition to the above potential causes, men might experience night sweats due to infections. Whenever your immune system flares up to fight an infection, it may raise your thermoneutral zone. Even if you don't experience a full-on fever, you might find that your body temperature rises.

This is advantageous for your immune system since many viruses and bacterial species can’t survive in your body when the temp goes up. But it can make you sweat at night and make it almost impossible for you to get a good night’s rest.

Hyperhidrosis

Some men have a condition called hyperhidrosis. This excessive sweating can occur without any regular trigger like heat, stress, or something else. Many people with hyperhidrosis sweat so much that it can soak through their clothing and even lead to skin issues or bacterial infections.

Men with hyperhidrosis should speak to a healthcare professional for potential remedies and long-term treatments.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea, characterized by interrupted sleep when you can’t breathe, may also cause night sweats as a side effect. Many men experience sleep apnea because of a pre-existing condition. For example, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissue of your tongue or palette presses against your throat, preventing you from intaking oxygen while you rest.

Medications

Certain medications can interfere with your energy or hormone levels. These can, in turn, also lead to night sweats.

Other medications may improve your metabolism but may also cause your body temperature to rise. This, as well, may lead to frequent night sweats until your medication runs its course.

Frequent Exercise

Depending on your exercise routine, this may also cause your night sweats and overall high body temperature when lying underneath your bed covers. When you exercise regularly, you lower your body’s thermoneutral zone. This causes you to sweat and lower body temperatures compared to normal.

It’s essentially a response by your body to make sure your temperature never becomes too hot. Unfortunately, this can often lead to you soaking your sheets and feeling sticky and uncomfortable rather than cool and relaxed.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a hormonal condition where you have an overactive thyroid gland. In some men, this can cause excessive sweating and other symptoms, such as heart palpitations, anxiety, weight loss, and more. You need to speak to a doctor about hyperthyroidism if you suspect it, as they can provide you with long-term medication to treat the condition.

How Can Men Fix Their Night Sweats?

Although you might experience night sweats for many different reasons, you can take steps to alleviate your discomfort.

Clean Up Your Diet

Firstly, you should try to clean up your diet. Caffeine, alcohol, and certain spicy foods may affect your internal temperature, metabolism, and how much you sweat. If you find that you sweat frequently, try to avoid coffee in the second half of the day, for instance. This may slow down your heart rate while you are resting and make your body less likely to sweat while trying to sleep.

Cleaning up your diet will help you maintain a healthy weight. Night sweats are less common in men who maintain healthy weights compared to men who become overweight.

Relax Before Bed

You should also take steps to relax before bed. Meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, and other relaxing practices like reading a book can calm down your mind and body and help you settle in for the night.

Not only may this help you with your night sweats, but it can also improve your mental health and sleep quality. The other side of this tip is also important: avoid overly exciting activities, foods, or beverages before bed.

For example, starting a competitive video game with your friends a half hour before sleep is not a good idea. It’s also not wise to do intense exercise right before bed.

Get a New Mattress and Bedding

Sometimes, you might be vulnerable to night sweats just because your sleeping environment is too warm. If you have scratchy cotton sheets or an uncomfortable mattress that soaks up body heat, you'll find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.

A new mattress and bedding set could solve this. SONU’s Sleep System is a well-designed, proprietary sleeping solution intended for side sleepers. With the Sleep System, you’ll benefit from eco-friendly, clean sheets, a comfortable mattress, and even a specially designed gap for your arm that makes sleeping on your side more comfortable than ever.

If you try the other tips on this list and find that your body temperature still doesn’t decrease, consider swapping out your current mattress and bedding set for a new one.

Wear Cool Pajamas

Of course, your pajamas or the clothes you wear to bed can also affect your body temperature and how comfortable you are while you sleep. Skin-tight pajamas or thick pajamas made of materials like wool might be comfortable in the winter. But most of the year, they'll just hold you back from getting truly restorative rest.

Instead, you should wear cotton, linen, or other cool pajamas made of moisture-wicking fabrics. Alternatively, wear as few clothes as possible when you go to bed. This exposes more of your skin to the air and allows limited sweat to cool down your body properly, preventing excessive sweating.

Lower Your Bedroom Temp

Ideally, you should keep your bedroom’s temperature to 65°F both before and during sleep. Why?

When you sleep, your body naturally wants to decrease its internal temperature. This is more conducive to deep sleep and tissue restoration that occurs throughout the night. If your bedroom is too warm, your body will spend more energy sweating, you'll be less comfortable, and you'll wake up in wet sheets.

You can lower your bedroom's temperature by turning down your thermostat a few degrees before bed, opening a window, or turning on a fan.

Speak to a Doctor

Lastly, speak to a doctor if you believe your night sweats are due to low testosterone, hyperhidrosis, or other medical conditions. For example, if you have low testosterone according to your doctor, they can prescribe you a testosterone replacement and you may find that your night sweats and ancillary symptoms vanish shortly.

Summary

All in all, night sweats in men are very common. But whether you experience night sweats because of medication, your exercise routine, or low T, you can take several steps to regulate your body temperature and enjoy cool, comfortable rest all night long.

It all starts with making sure your bedroom and mattress are comfortable — and the SONU Sleep System can help.

Sources:

Causes of Night Sweats in Men | Sleep Foundation

Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study | NCBI

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/why-do-i-toss-and-turn-all-night2022-07-21T11:35:44-07:002022-07-21T11:35:45-07:00Tossing & Turning at Night? Reasons & SolutionsBridget ReedLet’s face it; getting to sleep every night can be tricky, even if you’re tired and know you must wake up early the next morning! Unfortunately, tossing and turning at night is very common. Many Americans suffer from this experience whether they have been diagnosed with insomnia or not.

But even though tossing and turning is common, there’s good news – it’s also possible to solve this problem, especially if you try several strategies together. Read on to discover why you toss and turn all night and how you can finally get some good shuteye with a few smart strategies, including buying a quality, side sleeper-friendly mattress from SONU.

Why Do You Toss and Turn While Trying To Sleep?

You might toss and turn while trying to sleep for a variety of reasons. The mind has to be in an ideal state to fall asleep, and it can easily become unbalanced.

Anxiety or Stress

Of course, anxiety or stress may make it difficult to fall asleep, but also stay asleep. For example, if you are worried about the next day of work or a big test, you could find it difficult to slumber.

Family or relationship issues, stress from your hobby, or anxiety from a chronic condition may also contribute to tossing and turning until sunrise.

Overstimulation

It’s also possible to overstimulate yourself and make it difficult, if not impossible, to fall asleep. Overstimulation includes:

In particular, using devices with illuminated screens can overstimulate the eyes and brain, especially if you indulge in these activities before bed.

Lack of Bedtime Preparation

Even in the best of circumstances, it can be tough to go to sleep if your bedroom and body aren't prepared for it. For example, if you try to fall asleep in a warm, well-lit room, don't be surprised if you toss and turn for hours before taking a quick nap ahead of the morning.

No or Poor Sleep Scheduling

Going to bed at a random time each night is bad for your schedule and bad for your brain. It’s very difficult for your body to become accustomed to going to sleep at a regular time if you don’t set a strict sleep schedule and if you keep your body guessing. Keeping the body guessing is useful for working out, but not for getting shut-eye!

Dietary Imbalances

You are what you eat, and your diet can significantly impact whether you toss and turn all night long. That’s because the food you eat can affect how well your brain makes melatonin: the important hormone responsible for making you feel sleepy when it’s time for slumber.

Medical Conditions

In addition to the above potential causes, you might toss and turn due to one or more underlying medical conditions. Many medical conditions can cause your sleep quality to degrade over time or prevent you from getting good sleep in the first place. Some of the most common medical conditions that can cause you to toss and turn include:

Side Sleeping on a Flat Mattress

Are you a side sleeper? If so, odds are you’ve already discovered the discomfort of sleeping on a standard, flat mattress. Regular mattresses are designed for stomach or back sleepers, not side sleepers. You might simply toss and turn because you can’t get comfortable!

If you try to sleep on your side on a regular mattress, your arms and shoulders can become stressed or strained over time. Then you’ll need to constantly roll over to relieve pressure on one side of your body.

How Can I Stop Tossing and Turning at Night?

Although there are lots of reasons why you might toss and turn all night long, there are also ways you can solve this problem depending on the root cause.

Go to Bed at the Same Time

Making a sleep schedule is arguably the best way to stop tossing and turning at night. The human body and brain both love habits. If you train your brain to be ready for sleep at the same time each night, you’ll find that falling and staying asleep is easier than before.

Plus, going to bed at the same time will help you wake up on time for work or other early-morning obligations. Create a sleep schedule and stick to it to see if that solves your tossing and turning.

Clean Up Your Diet

Naturally, cleaning up your diet can do wonders for improving the quality of your sleep if your diet is behind your low sleep quality in the first place. Specifically, you should include plenty of carbs, proteins, fats, and micronutrients. A balanced diet is the best way to ensure your brain and body get what they need to make hormones like melatonin. Don’t forget to eat plenty of vitamins like vitamin D, magnesium, and tryptophan!

Prepare Your Bedroom

You can make your bedroom a more comfortable place to get some shut-eye if you prepare it for sleep beforehand. Specifically, you should:

Above all else, make sure your bedroom is comfortable. For example, you need a comfortable mattress, pillows, and blankets to go to sleep easily and soundly.

Exercise During the Day

Getting plenty of exercise not only makes you feel good through the release of endorphins. It also burns energy and cortisol: a key stress hormone that can make it tough for you to go and stay asleep.

If you exercise for at least 30 minutes during the day, you may discover that falling asleep is much easier than you thought. Cardio exercise is usually best for burning excess energy and preparing yourself for sleep, but any type of exercise can help.

Get a New Mattress

A new mattress could be just the ticket to ensuring your sleep quality is better than ever, especially if you’re a side sleeper. Side sleepers often have to compromise with quality and comfort, but not with the SONU Sleep System.

The SONU Sleep System is a revolutionary new approach to comfortable sleeping for side sleepers. It features the proprietary SONU Comfort Channel, a gap between the bulk of the bed and the head. It’s a customizable space where side sleepers can place their arms for ultimate comfort and flexibility at night.

With the SONU Sleep System, you might find that you sleep soundly like never before. The SONU Sleep System, of course, is well-designed beyond this aspect; it comes designed with high-quality materials, such as certified and environmentally friendly foams, plus adjustable head and neck layers.

Avoid Screens Before Bed

Digital screens, like the screen on your smartphone, emit blue light. This can trick the brain into not releasing melatonin since blue light is associated with the rising sun and bright daylight. Therefore, you should avoid screens for about an hour before bed if you want to make sleep more easily achievable.

Try Meditation

Lastly, consider trying meditation for a few weeks to see if that helps you calm your mind and gather your scattered thoughts. Meditation can take a while to master, but over time, you may find that it provides mental health benefits both at night and during the day.

Summary

At the end of the day, you might toss and turn all night for various reasons. But whether you have multiple pre-existing conditions or you just feel a little stressed out or anxious, there’s always a way to calm your mind and body down and finally catch some winks.

If your tossing and turning is more of a long-term problem, it might be wise to look into a permanent solution like the SONU Sleep System. Check out the SONU Sleep System today for more information or to order your side sleeper mattress!

Sources:

Restless Legs Syndrome Fact Sheet | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

What Causes Restless Sleep? | Sleep Foundation

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/which-side-to-lay-on-for-nausea2022-07-21T11:34:27-07:002022-07-21T11:34:28-07:00Which Side To Lay on When You’re Feeling NauseousBridget ReedEveryone feels nauseous from time to time. Whether you’re suffering from a stomach bug or dinner just didn’t agree with your system, eventually you’ll need to hit the sack and get plenty of sleep. With luck, you’ll feel better in the morning!

Of course, you'll only feel better if you get deep, restorative sleep. Unfortunately, sometimes nausea can make it tough to get the sleep you need. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of both the causes of nausea, an exploration of which side you should lay on for nausea, and how the SONU Sleep System can help side sleepers everywhere.

What Are Some Causes of Nausea?

You might experience nausea for a wide range of reasons. Stomachs are pretty sensitive given their importance to the body overall. Common causes of nausea include:

However, all of these causes have one thing in common: they usually come with an upset stomach. Your gut might churn or feel uneasy, and you may feel the urge to vomit.

Is Sleeping on the Left Side Ideal if You Feel Nauseous?

No matter the root cause of your nausea or nauseous symptoms, you should usually try to sleep on your left side. Why?

Your stomach is located below and slightly to the left of your esophagus and diaphragm. When you sleep on your left side, gravity can help settle your stomach. Any food or stomach acid that might be rolling around will sit more deeply in your stomach and drift away from the esophagus.

For example, if you suffer from acid reflux while trying to sleep, you might find that sleeping on your left side makes this less common. That’s because any acid reflux muscle motions are less effective at pushing acid back up through the esophagus.

Furthermore, simply having gravity push down slightly on your stomach may help to calm it down or minimize your nauseous symptoms. Of course, it might still be wise to keep a bucket near your bed, just in case!

Additional Benefits to Sleeping on Your Side

Sleeping on your left side is beneficial for reasons beyond tackling nausea. For example, when you sleep on your left or right side, your airways stay open more easily. This makes you less likely to snore.

If you snore loudly or have sleep apnea symptoms, you may find that your symptoms are much more manageable or less noticeable after starting to sleep on your side.

Furthermore, sleeping on your left side can help with your heartburn by helping to treat its root cause. Many people experience heartburn because the muscles between the stomach and esophagus spasm or are too relaxed. This allows gastric acid to seep through. However, if you sleep on the left side, those muscles are tightened rather than loosened. That could make it less likely for you to experience acid reflux in the first place.

However, sleeping on the right side can be beneficial in certain cases. Some studies indicate that lying on the right side rather than the left can reduce pressure on your heart muscles. When you sleep on the right-hand side, you create a little more space in your chest cavity. That gives your heart a little extra room to expand with each beat.

Individuals with congestive heart failure might find things more comfortable if they sleep on their right sides. If you suffer from that condition and an upset stomach, you should try both sides and see which feels a little better.

What Are Other Sleeping Tips if You’re Feeling Nauseous?

If you’re feeling nauseous, you can take a few additional steps aside from sleeping on your left.

Sleep With Your Head Elevated

While sleeping on your left side is a great idea, so is sleeping with your head slightly elevated. When you elevate your head, you might find that your heartburn or acid reflux is used.

That's because your lower esophageal sphincter is slightly higher relative to your body's gastric acid. The lower esophageal sphincter is a muscle ring that controls food intake for your stomach. The lower esophageal sphincter is more vulnerable to acid reflux when you lay flat on your back or your side.

But when you elevate your head, the lower esophageal sphincter is positioned above most acid. Even if your body starts to experience acid reflux again, the acid might go back into your stomach due to gravity.

Don’t Sleep on Your Back

By the same token, you should avoid sleeping on your back at all costs. Gravity doesn’t do you any favors when you sleep on your back. So if you have a stomach bug or acid reflux, there’s little to stop anything from coming back up, resulting in a sudden urge to vomit.

This can be really uncomfortable and unfortunate if you have acid reflux regularly. Frequent acid reflux can lead to heartburn, esophageal cancer, and other chronic conditions. Side sleeping in general is much better than sleeping on your back if you are dealing with an upset stomach for this reason alone.

Furthermore, sleeping on your back puts you at risk of accidentally inhaling vomit if you do so unexpectedly. This is doubly dangerous if you currently take sleeping medication or may have difficulty awakening for any other reason.

Sleep on a Comfortable Mattress

The type of mattress you sleep on certainly has a major effect on the quality of your sleep and whether you toss and turn all night. To sleep on your side and maximize your comfort benefits, you'll want to use the SONU Sleep System.

The SONU Sleep System is a one-of-a-kind new mattress made from specialized, eco-friendly materials. More importantly, it comes with the patented Comfort Channel: a gap near the head of the bed that allows side sleepers’ arms to drop through.

With the SONU Sleep System, you don’t have to worry about your arms or shoulders panging all night or feeling uncomfortable. The Comfort Channel lets your arms and shoulders hang where they will feel comfortable all night long. Sleeping on your side – and minimizing nausea – is easier with the SONU Sleep System.

In many cases, combining sleeping on your left with extra steps can do wonders for your sleep issues or nausea. Sleeping in comfort – with cool blankets, sheets, and pillows that support your head – can do more for your overall sleep quality than you may think.

What if You Can’t Sleep on Your Left Side?

If you can’t sleep on the left-hand side, you should try to sleep on the right-hand side and see if that feels any better. While the left-hand side sleeping tip works for most people, it’s ultimately a very subjective experience.

Note that sleeping on your right-hand side may also help to tackle nausea, though it may also put you at a greater risk of acid reflux or vomiting in the middle of the night. It all depends on the root cause of your nausea.

Summary

Sleeping with nausea can be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to be. Sleeping on your left side – and listening to your body overall – is the best way to stay comfortable all night long. Of course, you’ll need a good mattress designed for side sleeping if you want to catch some quality z’s.

The SONU Sleep System is ideal for side sleepers of all ages. With the SONU, you’ll find that you can sleep more comfortably than ever and that you can get plenty of sleep even if your stomach is a little unsettled. Try the SONU Sleep System today for additional questions and clarifications.

Sources:

Five Ways to Sleep Well and Protect Your Heart | Johns Hopkins Medicine

What is the best sleeping position for digestion? | Medical News Today

Nausea | Johns Hopkins Medicine

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/learn-about-sleep-fragmentation2022-06-28T13:15:51-07:002022-06-28T13:15:53-07:00Sleep Fragmentation 101: Everything You Need To KnowBridget ReedSleep fragmentation is the state of being unable to stay asleep. It’s also known as sleep-maintenance insomnia. It is the opposite of sleep-onset insomnia, which describes having difficulty falling asleep. If you wake up one or more times per night, you are experiencing sleep fragmentation.

Sleep fragmentation reduces slow-wave sleep, which is necessary for waking up feeling refreshed the next day. The periods of sleep are also very short. However, the length of the awake periods varies from person to person. Some people may awaken for a few minutes, while others may stay awake for much longer.

If you experience sleep fragmentation, you are not alone. One-third of the general population experiences nocturnal awakenings. These awakenings are more common in women than men, increase with age, and often occur with other insomnia symptoms.

If you need help staying asleep, sleeping on a mattress designed to help you do so can help. Read on to learn all about sleep fragmentation and how SONU’s mattresses can help you get the best night of sleep yet.

What Causes Sleep Fragmentation?

Sleep fragmentation is often a symptom of a larger sleep disorder. People with sleep disorders such as snoring, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy often wake up throughout the night. Sleep disorders disrupt normal sleeping patterns, leading to someone suddenly waking up.

Lifestyle changes can also cause sleep fragmentation. For example, if you recently had a child and need to wake up several times per night to care for them, your sleep will be fragmented. If you have a cold or other seasonal illness that forces you to wake up repeatedly, this is also sleep fragmentation.

If you do not have a sleep disorder or didn’t make a lifestyle change and still experience sleep fragmentation, it’s time to visit a doctor to find out the underlying cause.

Is Sleep Fragmentation Dangerous?

Sleep fragmentation can worsen pre-existing sleep disorders, like sleep apnea. It can also cause short and long-term memory loss if it occurs regularly.

Other side effects of sleep fragmentation include slow response time, depressed mood, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

People who experience fragmented sleep often do not get the recommended hours of sleep for their age group. Not getting enough sleep can lead to impaired cognition, which puts sleepers at risk for incidents such as car accidents or workplace injuries.

Sleep fragmentation disrupts sleep cycles, which are important for mental, physical, and emotional well-being. It has been connected to neurodegenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s.

Sleep deprivation has been linked to several chronic illnesses. These illnesses include:

Not addressing your sleep fragmentation could lead to serious issues or even fatality. It’s best to seek help for it as soon as it becomes an issue.

How Is Sleep Fragmentation Treated?

To stop sleep fragmentation, sleepers can change elements of their lifestyles. Regular exercise, reducing caffeine intake, and being exposed to sunshine can help promote efficient sleep.

Practicing good sleep hygiene can also help reduce sleep fragmentation occurrences. Practices like going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time everyday train the body to understand when it should awaken and when it should be tired.

A doctor might suggest taking sleep supplements like melatonin or prescription sleep meds to help you stay asleep at night. They may also suggest light therapy, like being exposed to artificial bright light to stimulate circadian rhythm and train the body to recognize when it should be asleep and when it should be awake.

Sometimes, the best way to treat sleep fragmentation is to treat any underlying issues that could be causing it. For example, someone with sleep apnea is likely to wake up several times per night because of interrupted breathing. In this case, sleep apnea would need to be treated, which will in turn help reduce incidences of interrupted sleep.

How Do You Prevent Sleep Fragmentation?

Preventing sleep fragmentation takes measures that are commonly recommended for getting a full night’s sleep.

Avoiding naps can help prevent sleep fragmentation. Napping can reset the body’s internal clock, confusing it and making it believe you should wake up during times that you should be asleep.

Using noise and light-blocking curtains can help keep the bedroom dark and quiet, which helps keep you asleep.

Blue light devices, like phones and tablets, stimulate the brain to stay awake. Turning off the television, putting away your cell phone, and avoiding any devices with blue light reduces the number of distractions that keep you awake at night.

Ensuring that your bedroom is a place of rest is a good way to prevent sleep fragmentation. Making sure the bedroom is set to a cool temperature, playing white noise in the background, and acquiring a comfortable bed are ways to promote sleep.

Conclusion

The average adult needs at least seven hours of sleep per night. Many people are unable to get those recommended hours due to fragmented sleep.

Sleep fragmentation is often the result of another health issue. To find out what is causing you to experience sleep fragmentation, visit your family doctor or a sleep specialist.

Practicing good sleep hygiene, taking supplements, or making other lifestyle changes can help treat or prevent sleep fragmentation. Having a good mattress is also one way to help treat and prevent sleep fragmentation by helping you sleep comfortably.

A good night’s sleep is just around the corner. Visit SONU Sleep today, and discover the sleep system that will improve your sleeping habits and make you say “goodbye” to standard mattresses.

Sources:

Fragmented Sleep | Sleep Fragmentation and How It Bothers Us | sleepdex.org

Nocturnal awakenings and comorbid disorders in the American general population | PubMed (nih.gov)

Phototherapy | Light Therapy | sleepdex.org

Interrupted Sleep - Causes & Helpful Tips | Sleep Foundation

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/stop-oversleeping2022-06-28T13:15:41-07:002023-10-12T14:38:34-07:007 Easy Ways To Stop OversleepingBridget ReedIs it possible to sleep too much? According to medical experts, yes.

It’s common knowledge that not getting enough sleep can negatively affect your health. But what if you get more sleep than is recommended? As it turns out, sleeping too much can affect your health, mood, and overall disposition. Sleeping too much can even make you sick.

In a study of 24,000+ people aged 15 to 85, 2.7% were considered long sleepers. These people get more than the recommended average amount of sleep. They also tended to be female, between the ages of 15 and 25 or 65 or older. These sleepers were also considered to be at risk for certain health conditions.

For years, experts have touted eight hours of sleep per night as the recommended amount for most people. However, some people sleep more than that.

Are you an oversleeper? Do you want to stop oversleeping but don’t know how. Stay tuned to learn seven tips that can help you stop oversleeping — and how a SONU mattress can help.

What Is Oversleeping?

Oversleeping is when someone sleeps for more than nine hours within 24 hours. It is also known as long sleeping. If you oversleep and are excessively sleepy during daylight hours, you might be suffering from a condition known as hypersomnia.

Some symptoms of oversleeping include taking too many daily naps, experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, and having recurring headaches. Even waking up too many times per night can signify that someone has hypersomnia.

Other symptoms of oversleeping include:

No two people need the same amount of sleep. Someone who is physically active might require more hours of sleep than someone who is sedentary. Adults typically need less sleep than children do. The right amount of sleep each person needs depends on their bodies.

To diagnose oversleeping, sleepers may be asked to undergo sleep studies, keep sleep diaries, or fill out a survey that rates their level of sleepiness.

Why Do People Oversleep?

People oversleep for a lot of different reasons. Some may have underlying medical issues, or they may be struggling with a sleep disorder.

Medical reasons for oversleeping can include:

Not everyone who oversleeps has an underlying illness. Some people oversleep because they drink too much alcohol or are experiencing the side effects of prescription medications or recreational drugs.

Why Is Oversleeping Bad?

Oversleeping can put people at risk for developing other health conditions, like diabetes or heart disease. It is just as bad as sleep deprivation. There is also a connection between oversleeping and high mortality risk.

People who oversleep could also end up struggling to control their body weight. Some people who oversleep are at higher risk of becoming obese. Oversleepers are at risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, mood disorders, and chronic headaches.

People with a history of depression in their families are at higher risk for developing the disorder if they oversleep.

Oversleeping can be dangerous. Oversleeping or excessive sleepiness can cause drivers to be impaired, which can lead to road accidents.

It is necessary to get quality sleep each night to not only feel well-rested but also function normally the next day. Consequences of oversleeping like brain fog and fatigue make people more vulnerable to making mistakes and impairment.

What Is the Right Amount of Sleep?

The right amount of sleep varies by age group and lifestyle. Check the chart below to see where you and your loved ones fall.

Age Group Minimum Amount of Sleep
Newborn 0-3 months 14
Infant 4-11 months 12
Toddler 1-2 years 11
Preschool 3-5 10
School age 6-13 years 9
Teen 14-17 years 8
Young adult 18-25 years 7
Adult 26-64 years 7
Older adult 65 years+ 7

On average, adults need seven hours of sleep per night. So, how much sleep is too much?

Some adults require more than the average seven hours of sleep. These people are known as long sleepers, and they get about 10 hours of sleep or more per night. Being a long sleeper might actually be genetic.

However, the average person is not a long sleeper. If the average person oversleeps by nine hours or more but still feels run-down the next day, their health might be to blame.

If you are left feeling run-down due to oversleeping and think your bed might be to blame, SONU’s mattresses can help you get the right amount of sleep to wake up feeling refreshed. Head on over to SONU and check out the negative space mattress, the first bed to come with a revolutionary, patented Comfort Channel that sleepers are raving about.

How Do You Stop Oversleeping?

If you are prone to oversleeping, there are ways you can try to stop it. It all starts with practicing sleep hygiene. Keep reading to discover which sleep hygiene tactics you could use to stop yourself from oversleeping.

1. Get a Better Mattress

If you wake up each day feeling like you didn’t get enough sleep, your mattress could be the culprit. Older mattresses were not designed with the sleeper’s needs in mind – they tended to be too flat, unsupportive, and even painful to sleep on.

That’s not the case with modern mattresses like SONU’s. SONU’s mattresses help you wake up feeling refreshed. They were made with several layers of memory foam topped off with Serene foam, a new, cooling, and body cradling material. Each mattress even comes with a never-before-seen, patented Comfort Channel that allows you to fully immerse into the mattress, creating a full range of motion.

2. Adopt a Regular Sleep Schedule

Circadian rhythm describes the 24-hour cycle that people experience natural processes, including sleep. Humans naturally want to wake up when the sun comes up and go to bed when the sun goes down. Aligning oneself with circadian rhythm is a good way to develop a sleep schedule.

Figure out exactly how much sleep you need, then schedule a bedtime and wake time. Going to bed and rising at regular times each day help your body adapt to normal sleep patterns. You’ll start to feel tired around your scheduled bedtime and ready to get up at your scheduled waketime.

3. Set the Scene

Creating an ambient bedroom is important for helping you fall asleep at a regular time each night. Ensure your room temperature is set to one that helps induce sleep and remove all technology emitting blue light. Instead of doing it each night, set your alarm so that it automatically goes off at the same time each morning.

Using blackout curtains, earplugs, or soft background noise can also help a person fall asleep and stay that way. Getting in the habit of sleeping in a calming environment can help them get sleep that rejuvenates the body.

4. Don’t Hit Snooze

Speaking of your alarm, avoid the urge to hit snooze when it goes off in the morning. Get out of bed. To help yourself get used to it, create an enticing morning routine. That routine might include rewarding yourself with a cup of coffee when you get up or allowing yourself to watch a little television. You want to entice yourself to get up by having something to look forward to in the morning.

5. Workout Regularly

Working out regularly conditions your body to feel energized and feel tired at similar times each day. Including your workout as part of your morning routine can help wake you up and provide you with enough energy to start your day. Eventually, as the day goes on, your body will start to grow tired until you eventually go to bed.

6. Keep a Sleep Journal

Keeping track of your sleep habits is a good way to assess your sleep patterns and determine what changes you need to make. In your sleep journal, note when you go to bed and get up. If you woke up at any point during the night, write that in your journal too. Make notes about everything from your mood to whether you took any sleep supplements.

7. Talk to a Doctor

If oversleeping persists after trying the previous tips, make an appointment with your doctor. You could have a health condition that is causing you to oversleep. A doctor will advise which changes need to be made to stop you from oversleeping. They may even refer you for a sleep study.

If you feel like it’s impossible to control your oversleeping, try these suggestions. Avoiding stimulants like alcohol or caffeine can also help your body adapt to a normal sleep schedule.

Conclusion

There are several possible reasons that people oversleep. Doing so consistently can lead to problems with mental or physical health. Whether you have a sleep disorder or are struggling with an illness, there are ways to stop yourself from oversleeping.

You can change your oversleeping habits by making changes to your lifestyle. The best way to stop oversleeping is to practice good sleep hygiene. To kick your sleep hygiene routine off right, you might need to change your bed.

Let SONU Sleep help you say goodbye to traditional mattresses. SONU’s mattresses were made to ensure that you’re well-rested so that you wake up full of energy and ready to take on the day.

Transform your sleep. Upgrade to the SONU Sleep System.

Sources:

Is It Possible to Get Too Much Sleep? | sleep.org

The Risks of Sleeping “Too Much”. Survey of a National Representative Sample of 24671 Adults (INPES Health Barometer) | PMC

Sleep Hygiene Tips | CDC

Causes and Effects of Oversleeping | Sleep Foundation

How to Stop Oversleeping | Sleep Zone

Hypothyroidism symptoms: Can hypothyroidism cause eye problems? - Mayo Clinic

What You Should Know About the Relationship Between Oversleeping and Depression | Cleveland Clinic

Kleine-Levin Syndrome | NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/sleeping-with-a-concussion2022-06-28T13:14:16-07:002022-06-28T13:14:17-07:00Why You Should Avoid Sleeping With a ConcussionBridget ReedConcussions are mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) caused by impacts to the head. Concussions can occur when people fall, receive a blow, or are shaken. They can affect memory, coordination, balance, and concentration.

More than 2 million people in the United States are diagnosed with TBIs each year. Approximately 300,000 of these head injuries are sports-related incidents, and a majority of them are concussions. Concussions are the most frequent TBIs.

If you have ever had a concussion, you are familiar with the idea that you should not go to sleep after suffering one. But how true is that advice today? Should you avoid sleeping with a concussion, or is sleep good for this type of injury? Keep reading to find out — and learn how SONU Sleep can help you achieve comfortable, pain-free sleep while you recover.

How Do You Know If You Have a Concussion?

Symptoms of a concussion include:

A concussed person may have difficulty expressing themselves. Their responses may be delayed, and their speech may be slurred. Some concussed victims lose consciousness temporarily.

For days after the injury, a concussed person may experience disturbed sleep, abnormal taste and smell, and sensitivity to light. They may appear irritable, exhibit signs of depression and memory loss, or be sensitive to light and sound.

Children with concussions experience some of the same symptoms as adults, like irritability, sleep disturbances, and vomiting. However, they may also experience seizures, loss of balance, change in eating habits, and listlessness. Children with concussions may also appear dazed or cry excessively.

Can You Sleep With a Concussion?

It is a common misconception that a person with a concussion should not fall asleep. It was believed that allowing someone with a concussion to fall asleep could lead to them falling into a coma.

This misconception is due to lucid intervals, which occur when someone wakes up after being unconscious but is experiencing brain bleeding. Lucid intervals only occur in a small number of concussion cases.

Today, many medical professionals claim that it is safe for someone with a concussion to fall asleep. In fact, it is sometimes advised for a person with a concussion to get some rest.

However, concussed people typically experience sleep disturbances due to their injuries. These disturbances may include sleeping more or less than usual or having trouble falling asleep. A concussed person might also experience fragmented sleep, where they wake up one or more times per night.

For some people who have had a concussion, their sleep problems may persist for years. One study found that some concussed patients were getting at least one more hour of sleep per night up to 18 months post-accident. Even though these people slept an hour more, they experienced excessive daytime sleepiness.

If a sleep disorder is detected in a TBI victim 18 months after their injury, the victim will likely continue having sleep issues for two years or more. While getting enough sleep is important for the healing of the brain, experiencing excessive sleepiness can put people in danger of accidents or the inability to concentrate on their regular activities.

How Do You Sleep Safely After a Concussion?

Although it’s safe to sleep after experiencing a concussion, some experts recommend waking the victim up every few hours to see if they exhibit any unusual behavior.

However, this leads to disrupted sleep. For this reason, some doctors suggest monitoring the concussed person overnight but not waking them up.

Thirty to 40 percent of concussed people develop sleep issues post-concussion. To sleep safely after a concussion, the victim should adopt a few healthy habits to help them rest.

Some great sleep hygiene practices that promote sleep in concussed people are similar to those for anyone experiencing sleep disturbances. These practices include:

Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help some concussed people get better quality sleep. They could also try listening to calming music like smooth jazz or classical music at bedtime.

Muscle relaxation can also help a concussed person calm down before bed. To do this, they should concentrate on every muscle from those in the face down to the feet, releasing them one by one.

If the person who experienced a concussion continues having trouble falling or staying asleep, they should consult an expert, like a neurologist, to find out if there is an underlying issue.

Sometimes, the type of mattress a person sleeps on is why they aren’t able to get quality sleep. SONU Sleep’s mattresses provide cooling comfort and an immersive Comfort Channel, combined with adjustable pillows that allow sleepers to position their pillows in the best position for optimal sleep.

Conclusion

In the event of a concussion, the concussed person should see a doctor as soon as possible to get advice about sleeping and treatment.

It is no longer considered unsafe to sleep with a concussion unless otherwise noted by a doctor. Concussions are the most common head injury, but the likelihood of a concussed person experiencing bleeding on the brain is slim.

Were you surprised to learn that sleeping after a concussion is actually recommended?

SONU Sleep has the right products to help you safely drift off to dreamland. To learn more about SONU’s negative space mattress, adjustable pillows, and other accessories, check out SONU Sleep today.

Sources:

Concussions and Sleep | HIANN

Concussion - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

Is It Safe to Sleep After a Concussion? | Cleveland Clinic

How to Safely Sleep with a Concussion | Sleep Foundation

True or False: A Person With a Serious Head Injury or Concussion Should Be Kept Awake | Winchester Hospital

Facts About Concussion and Brain Injury | CDC

A Concussion Can Lead To Sleep Problems That Last For Years: Shots - Health News | NPR

Should you let someone with concussion fall asleep? | BBC

Concussions Among United States High School and Collegiate Athletes | PMC

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/neck-pain-after-sleeping2022-06-28T13:13:26-07:002022-06-28T13:13:27-07:00Neck Hurt After Sleeping? 6 Reasons & SolutionsBridget ReedDo you wake up with neck pain after sleeping? Many people suffer from chronic pain due to sleeping and are looking for pain relief. The common causes of neck pain involve discomfort in the neck muscles, vertebrae, nerves, joints, or discs.

Neck pain sufferers might suffer from stiffness in the neck, difficulty turning the head from side to side, pinched nerves, or muscle spasms. Neck pain involving the nerves can even result in weakness, numbness, or tingling in other parts of the body like the hands and arms.

Neck pain is a common issue, and there is a connection between neck pain and sleep quality. Poor quality sleep due to uncomfortable sleeping positions, the type of pillow, or other movements can lead to someone waking up with neck pain after a not-so-good night of sleep.

Today, let’s talk about six causes of neck pain after sleeping, and how SONU Sleep might help you eliminate neck pain from your bedtime routine.

Why Does My Neck Hurt After Sleeping?

1. Pillows

Sleeping on the wrong pillow or mattress can increase neck and back pain. Standard pillows sometimes do not provide enough support for the head or neck. Choosing a pillow that is too flat or too thick can force your head to lay at awkward angles, which strains the neck.

Choose pillows that cradle the head and neck, like a memory foam pillow, to help support proper sleep posture to reduce discomfort. Memory foam allows the neck's natural curve to align with the spine while sleeping, which is necessary for pain-free sleep. Feather pillows can work too but tend to need more frequent replacing.

The SONU Sleep system includes support pillows with each mattress. These pillows fit in the immersive, patented Comfort Channel. Each pillow is layered so that they are malleable while providing vertical support. Even better – they are adjustable. Adjust the pillows' height to help obtain the support you need to ease your sleeping problems.

2. Sleeping Position

Sleeping in an uncomfortable position can cause neck strain. A stiff neck after sleeping on the stomach, for example, can force the sleeper to place their head on their pillow in an awkward position. In the stomach position, the sleeper’s head is twisted to the side, which can strain the neck muscles.

To stop neck pain, switch to a side or back position. Each position comes with benefits.

Side sleeping tops the list of the most popular sleeping positions. The benefits of sleeping on the side include less snoring, support for the digestive system, and better spinal alignment — which means relief for both the lower and upper back.

The back position is the second most popular sleeping position. It can help reduce pressure on the lower back, which helps with back pain. The position also allows for an even distribution of body weight.

The SONU Sleep System was designed with side sleepers in mind. SONU Sleep created its mattresses and accessories to help eliminate sleepers’ discomfort and discomfort with brilliant, never-before-seen functionality. Say “goodbye” to the discomfort of a sore neck and “hello” to support that only SONU can deliver.

3. Injury

Some people experience neck pain due to a previous injury. Common injuries that affect the neck include whiplash from car accidents or sports injuries, like trauma to the head, neck, or spine.

Seeking medical advice from a professional immediately after an accident can help determine whether the neck has been injured, if physical therapy is needed, and what measures need to be taken to prevent further trauma. A physical therapist might recommend neck exercises that can help stop neck pain after an injury.

Exercises like neck retraction and neck rotation help prevent or stop neck pain. Doing simple stretches each day can also help keep the neck limber and prevent a stiff neck, muscle strain, or pulled neck muscles.

4. Movement

Sudden movements can cause injury to the neck muscles. Turning the head too quickly or sitting up too fast can strain the neck. A sleeper can also experience neck pain if they are prone to tossing and turning at night.

Tossing and turning can be caused by poor sleep quality. To help keep it from happening, following a sleep routine, practicing self-care, and taking other measures to prevent sleeplessness can help.

5. Posture

Having poor posture can result in neck pain. Walking or prolonged sitting in a slumped-over position can hurt the neck. So can sleeping in a position that misaligns the spine.

Doing exercises that improve posture can help a person stand up straighter and reduce their neck pain. Working hunkered over in front of a computer all day can cause neck and shoulder pain. Standing up every so often and stretching can help improve posture. Likewise, sleeping in a position that allows the spine to be in a neutral position can also help you avoid waking up with neck pain.

6. Medical Condition

Neck pain is a symptom of some medical conditions like fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis, cervical arthritis, and others. These conditions must be treated by a medical professional. Treatment might involve physical therapy, pain medication, or other forms of pain management.

Below are descriptions of a few medical conditions that may involve neck pain.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a pain disorder that affects the musculoskeletal system. As a result of overstimulation of the nerves between the brain and spinal cord, a person with this disease will often feel a debilitating amount of pain.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a degenerative spine disease. The spinal column narrows, putting pressure on the spinal cord and narrowing the canals through which spinal nerves travel. The disease can cause pain from the neck down to the legs.

Cervical Arthritis

Cervical arthritis, also known as spondylosis, is a disease that wears down the cartilage of the cervical vertebrae. It can lead to chronic neck pain and abnormal growths on the spine. As cervical arthritis progresses, nerve roots in the spine become compressed, leading to weakness in the muscles and joints.

How Do You Treat Neck Pain?

In addition to making the corrections mentioned earlier, there are other remedies for neck pain that you can do at home. If neck pain is a frequent or chronic issue, get advice from a doctor first. However, if the pain only happens occasionally, try some of these tips:

Because neck pain is sometimes a symptom of stress, relaxation techniques like meditation or a warm shower can help.

Some neck pain requires the attention of a physician. Go to a doctor if your neck pain meets any of the following criteria:

If your neck pain is accompanied by other symptoms like a headache or fever, call a doctor or go to the emergency room. Exhibiting these symptoms could mean that you have a more serious health condition, such as meningitis.

Other reasons to go to the emergency room include shortness of breath, nausea, arm pain, or sweating. If your neck pain is accompanied by any of these symptoms, you could be having a heart attack.

Conclusion

If your neck hurts after sleeping, there could be an underlying cause like a medical condition or you might simply need to sleep on better pillows. To prevent or treat minor neck pain, at-home remedies like using ice packs, heating pads, or pain medication are effective. If your pain is accompanied by a fever, swollen glands, or other worrying symptoms, it is best to call your doctor or go to the emergency room.

Making the swap to better pillows has never been easier. Each SONU Sleep mattress comes with patented support pillows that fit perfectly in its 10-inch, immersive Comfort Channel. These pillows help deliver optimal head support while leaving just enough room under them for you to comfortably place your arms and hands.

When you think of pain-less sleep, think of SONU. Check out SONU Sleep today and discover pillows and mattresses designed with your comfort in mind.

Sources:

5 Back and Neck Stretches to Do Every Day | HSS

Neck Pain While Sleeping: Causes and Prevention | sleep.org

Neck pain Information | Mount Sinai - New York

Is insufficient quantity and quality of sleep a risk factor for neck, shoulder and low back pain? A longitudinal study among adolescents | PMC

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/is-lucid-dreaming-dangerous2022-06-22T13:15:12-07:002022-06-22T13:15:37-07:003 Reasons Lucid Dreaming Can Be DangerousBridget ReedAre lucid dreams harmful?

55% of adults have experienced lucid dreaming. Twenty-three percent of those adults lucid dream once a month, at least. Researchers do not have an exact number, but many people induce lucid dreaming.

Lucid dreaming itself is not a disorder, but it is often experienced by people who have sleep disorders or mental health issues. It’s also experienced by people who are completely healthy.

Lucid dreaming has fascinated researchers and the general population for years. This sleep-wake state can be empowering and healing for many people. For others, it is a complete nightmare.

So, what is lucid dreaming, exactly? And why do people want to have lucid dreams? Keep reading to find out the answers to those questions and more.

The average adult needs about seven hours of sleep each night. Getting the right amount of sleep is what helps people get through their day. Read on to learn more about lucid dreaming and how SONU can help you enjoy a better night of sleep.

What Is Lucid Dreaming?

Lucid dreaming occurs when the sleeper is aware that they are dreaming. Usually, sleepers are not cognizant of the fact that they are dreaming, which is why lucid dreaming is so interesting. When a dreamer is in a lucid state, they can control parts of the dream.

You can find countless articles about how to induce lucid dreaming. People who induce lucid dreaming claim that it allows them to grow psychologically, overcome fears, and improve their well-being. Studies have also shown that lucid dreaming can increase a person’s self-confidence and promote mental health.

Some experts do not recommend inducing lucid dreaming because more proof is needed to determine whether it is beneficial.

What Causes Lucid Dreaming?

There is no firm answer to explain what causes lucid dreams. Lucid dreaming happens when a shift in the brain’s prefrontal cortex tells the sleeper to “wake up” while sleeping. Instead of waking up fully, they remain half asleep.

The amount of activity in a person’s brain while lucid dreaming is comparable to the activity in the brain when awake. This is why lucid sleep has been called a “hybrid” state.

Why Is Lucid Dreaming Dangerous?

1. Lucid Dreaming Disrupts Sleep

When someone is lucid dreaming, they are in a half-asleep, half-awake state. This unusual state occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is important for proper sleep quality. REM sleep is the final stage of the sleep cycle. When it is disrupted in some way, the sleeper can feel disoriented the next day.

Being in a lucid state may cause the sleeper to get a lower quality of sleep. People who lucid dream are prone to nightmares, which may cause them to jolt awake.

Inducing lucid sleep could cause fragmented sleep, which is repeated short sleep cycle interruptions. In one study, participants who experienced lucid dreaming reported that it was correlated with fragmented sleep. They stated that they experienced fragmented sleep the most when lucid dreaming.

Disrupted sleep puts sleepers at greater risk for mental health issues. Frequently inducing lucid dreaming with techniques that cause disrupted sleep puts sleepers at risk.

Below are methods that sleepers use to induce lucid dreaming:

2. Lucid Dreaming Could Cause Mental Health Issues

Lucid dreaming can cause mental health issues or worsen existing ones. Having a lucid dream is similar to dissociation, the feeling of being disconnected from the body. Dissociation can also make it difficult for a person to distinguish fantasy from reality.

Sometimes, being in a lucid dream can make it hard for anyone to tell what is real and what is not. This is especially dangerous for people prone to or at risk for psychosis. Psychosis is a mental state in which a person has lost some contact with reality.

During psychosis, people have difficulty understanding what is real and what is not. Hallucinations, delusions, incoherent speech, and disruptive behavior are signs of psychosis. If someone is having a psychotic episode, lucid dreaming can further confuse them about what is real and what isn’t.

People with psychosis have been found to exhibit the most control during lucid dreaming. This is a concern because it can increase hallucinations and deliria. Doctors are afraid these sleepers would misuse their power during lucid sleep.

People who experience psychosis are vulnerable to developing sleep issues, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.

3. Lucid Dreaming Can Cause Physical Reactions

Not everyone who experiences lucid dreams enjoys the experience. Lucid dreaming can actually scare some people because of the possible physical side effects it can cause.

If a lucid dream is nightmarish or otherwise active, it can cause a sleeper to experience night sweats, increased heart rate, and increased respiration. This can be terrifying for some sleepers and make it difficult to fall back asleep. Some people might be afraid of going back into a lucid state, so they keep themselves awake, causing a lack of much-needed sleep.

How Can I Prevent Lucid Dreaming?

If you do not want to induce lucid dreaming, you can take steps to make sure you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Exercise

Exercising doesn’t just wake you up – it can help you get better sleep. Exercise first thing in the morning to reap the benefits of an energy boost. As bedtime draws near, your energy levels will decrease, and your body will feel tired. Eventually, you will fall asleep, and you might just stay that way all night.

Play Soft Background Noise

Having a little background noise helps many people get a full night of sleep. The gentle sounds of rain falling, ocean waves, rustling leaves, or gusts of wind can drown out distracting noises outside and make the bedroom a peaceful environment. This sense of peace helps the mind and body relax, helping you to fall into a deep sleep.

Take a Sleep Supplement

Our bodies naturally release some melatonin when it’s time for us to go to bed. However, some people need additional melatonin taken in supplement form to help them catch those precious Zzzs.

If melatonin isn’t enough, a doctor can prescribe a sleep medication. If you’d rather take a more natural approach, try soothing teas like chamomile, passionflower, or magnolia bark.

Develop a Sleep Routine

A sleep routine helps you wind down at night so that you can get quality sleep. Some elements of a sleep routine might include going to bed at the same time each night, turning off electronic devices an hour before bedtime, or not consuming any caffeine or alcohol near bedtime. Even light exercise like yoga can help you calm down and prepare for sleep.

Try a SONU Mattress

SONU mattresses were made to mold to sleepers’ unique body shapes and relieve pressure to induce refreshing quality sleep. All of SONU’s mattresses come with a patented Comfort Channel that allows sleepers to fully immerse their arms and shoulders into the mattress, which allows them to have full range of motion while they sleep. The mattresses’ unique design and plush foam body cradle sleepers and help them drift off.

At SONU, getting adequate sleep is a priority. That’s why each SONU mattress consists of sink-in support, a top layer of luscious serene foam, and an immersive Comfort Channel. SONU’s mattresses can help you achieve all the sleep that your body requires.

Conclusion

People love inducing lucid dreaming because they are fascinated with the ability to alter their consciousness. The ability to control dreams can make sleepers feel powerful. Some individuals are even advised to induce lucid dreaming to help control frequent nightmares.

Lucid dreaming isn’t all roses. Researchers have noted that lucid dreamers are not psychologically better than non-lucid ones. Lucid dreaming can disrupt sleeping patterns and negatively affect mental health. It can make psychosis worse for some individuals and exhibits no benefits for anyone with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Sleep quality is important. If you are someone who experiences the sleep-wake state of lucid dreaming and want to improve your sleep, getting a better mattress could help. SONU’s mattresses are known for helping people fall asleep faster and enjoy deeper sleep.

Don’t wait. Get superior sleep with the SONU Sleep System.

Sources:

The Dangers of Lucid Dreaming | Sleep Foundation

Are Lucid Dreams Good for Us? Are We Asking the Right Question? A Call for Caution in Lucid Dream Research | NIH

Sleep fragmentation and lucid dreaming | ScienceDirect

What is Psychosis? | NIMH

The Ways to Control Dreaming | The Atlantic

Lucid Dreams: Definition, Techniques, and Benefits | Sleep Foundation

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/how-often-to-replace-your-mattress2022-06-21T13:17:19-07:002022-08-12T11:46:31-07:00Replacing Your Mattress 101: How Often & How To TellBridget ReedFiguring out when to replace a mattress isn’t always straightforward. People buy mattresses hoping they won’t need to replace them for years to come.

Unfortunately, like any other piece of furniture, mattresses do not maintain their quality forever. At a certain point, they need to be replaced. This article will help you determine when that point may happen.

How long a mattress will last depends on its quality, warranty, and condition. If your mattress no longer feels good when you sleep on it, or you experience any of the signs mentioned in this article, it’s time to kick it to the curb. Read on as we delve into everything you should know about replacing an old mattress — and how SONU has your back.

How Old Is Your Mattress?

The average mattress should be replaced every 6 to 8 years. If your mattress is older than that, it’s probably time to invest in a new one. When you should replace your mattress depends on its condition.

SONU’s mattresses come with a 5-year limited warranty. These opulent mattresses are 14 inches thick and built to last for an extended period.

What Kind of Mattress Is It?

The material a mattress is made of is another way to determine if it’s time for it to go. If a mattress is well taken care of, then the following information will apply.

Here are the recommended replacement times for each mattress material.

Is Your Mattress Starting To Sag?

If a mattress is starting to sag around the corners or middle, it’s time for a new one. Low-quality mattresses are the most likely to start sagging over time. Body impressions may be left on the mattresses permanently if it’s time for them to be replaced.

Does the Mattress Show Signs of Wear and Tear?

In addition to sagging and body indentations, other signs of wear and tear mean it’s time to say goodbye to your mattress. If the bed has become lumpy, has tears in it, or is covered in stains, it’s best to get a new one.

Are You Waking Up in Pain?

It’s time to let go of a mattress if it no longer supports you or you wake up in pain after sleeping on it. A mattress that is no longer comfortable to sleep on is not worth keeping around. Doing so for a prolonged period can cause issues with your spine, hips, and other joints.

Body pain isn’t the only way an old mattress can hurt you. You can develop allergies or asthma if you sleep on an old mattress. This is because allergens like mold and dust mites accumulate in a mattress over time.

Are You Getting Adequate Sleep?

Tossing and turning and disrupted sleep are sometimes signs that a mattress is not a good fit. If you notice that your sleep quality has declined since you acquired your mattress, then the type of mattress purchased is likely the culprit.

If you are a side sleeper looking for a mattress with you in mind, SONU has you covered. SONU’s mattresses come with a patented Comfort Channel that allows side sleepers to place their arms and shoulders in it while they rest, alleviating pain from those areas.

What Should I Look For in a New Mattress?

The task of finding a new mattress can be daunting. Especially if the mattress it’s replacing was used for a long time. While there might be a lot of things to consider when buying a new mattress, determining your must-haves should not be difficult.

Here are just a few things you should consider before buying your next mattress.

What Size Mattress Do You Need?

Whether you need a Queen or a Cali King, there’s a perfect mattress size just for you. Take into consideration how many people will be sleeping on the bed, body weight, and height.

Best for… Twin Twin XL Full Queen King Cali King
Single sleepers X X X
Couples X X X X
More than two people X X
Lightweight sleepers X X X
Heavyweight sleepers X X X
Average height or below X X X X
Above average height X X

How Firm Do You Want Your Mattress?

To determine how firm a mattress should be, refer to the mattress comfort scale. This scale rates mattress levels Extra Soft through Extra Firm on a scale of one to 10.

Softer mattresses are usually recommended for people who love to sink deeply into their mattresses. They provide a lot of pressure relief, so people with chronic pain issues may prefer them. They’re also ideal for light sleepers.

Medium and medium-firm mattresses are popular options that average sleepers choose. Medium is considered the “Goldilocks zone” because it is a suitable comfort level for all sleeping positions. There is just enough pressure relief and spine support to keep back-pain sufferers happy.

Firm mattresses are for people who prefer not to sink into their mattresses at all. They are great for people of heavier weights because they provide enough support without sinking. Although firm mattresses are too hard for some people, stomach sleepers might prefer them.

What Is Your Budget?

For many people, this is the most important consideration. Figuring out how much they can or want to spend on a new mattress can limit or increase sleepers' options.

To save money, look for mattresses during holidays. A lot of mattress manufacturers run sales during those times.

Look for companies that offer financing. Sometimes, great deals are available that help you purchase the mattress of your dreams via a low-interest payment plan.

If you want a high-quality mattress but are worried about the cost, SONU offers one of the most customer-friendly financing plans around. You pay $0 down and can make payments of $84/month with 0% APR for a period of 36 months.

How Can I Make My Mattress Last Longer?

When you purchase a mattress, you want it to last you a good while. Taking care of your mattress by following a few, important steps will help extend its life.

  1. Use a mattress protector. Mattress protectors keep the surface of a mattress in good condition. They also protect the mattress from stains and allergens.
  2. Rotate the mattress. Rotating a mattress regularly will help it maintain its shape and “bounce.” After sleeping on a particular side for a few months, give it a break by flipping the mattress over and sleeping on the other side for a while.
  3. Vacuum and spot clean the mattress. As mentioned earlier, mattresses accumulate some not-so-great things, like dust mites. To help clean those up, vacuum the mattress from time to time. If there are any stains or discolorations on the mattress, spot-clean them with a stain-lifting product and a towel.
  4. Use a mattress topper. Like mattress protectors, toppers can keep unwanted stains and wear from affecting the mattress. Toppers can also serve as extra layers of cushion that make the bed more comfortable.

What Do I Do With My Old Mattress?

Some mattress companies, like SONU, will remove your old mattress for you when delivering your new one. This is called white-glove service.

You deserve to sleep on a bed made with quality materials that help you get rejuvenating sleep. SONU’s mattresses do that and more. When you purchase a SONU, you can rest assured that you’ve invested in one of the most durable mattresses on the market today. Even chiropractors recommend SONU.

If you purchased a new mattress from a company that doesn’t offer mattress removal service, it’s best to donate the old mattress or throw it away. There are even ways to recycle mattresses these days.

Conclusion

Replacing a mattress is a task people don’t look forward to, but it doesn’t have to be a pain. You first need to figure out when and why your mattress needs to be replaced. If it is showing wear and tear or meets any of the other criteria mentioned here, it’s probably time to go shopping.

Going to bed is the highlight of many people’s day. Coming home to a nice, top-of-the-line mattress that helps you stay asleep and provides pressure relief where you need it most is a dream that SONU can help you achieve.

If you’re ready to upgrade to the mattress world’s latest innovation, try SONU Sleep. If you aren’t satisfied after 100 nights, you’ll be refunded.

Get your SONU mattress today. You’ll be glad you did.

Sources:

When Should You Replace Your Mattress? | Sleep Foundation

How often should you replace your mattress? It depends | CNET

How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress? | Best Mattress Brand

How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress? | Sleep Junkie

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/mattress-thickness-guide2022-06-20T13:30:00-07:002023-10-12T14:37:21-07:00A Mattress Thickness Guide: Find What You NeedBridget ReedHow thick should a mattress be? Standard mattresses are between six and nine inches. Any mattress thicker than that is usually considered a luxury item.

They don’t make mattresses like they used to – and that’s a good thing! Old-fashioned, poorly constructed mattresses filled with coils that poke through the encasings are (hopefully) a thing of the past. Today, mattresses are manufactured thoughtfully, prioritizing the customers’ comfort.

For many people, a thick mattress represents high quality and comfort. The thicker, the better. Of course, this is not the case for everyone. Mattress thickness is a crucial factor that determines comfort.

To determine how thick of a mattress you need, you should consider at least three things: body distribution, mattress firmness, and pain issues. The position you sleep in is also a determinant.

This guide will discuss what thick mattresses are made of, the parameters for choosing mattress thickness, and why SONU’s mattress is the best option available.

What Are Thick Mattresses Made Of?

Before getting into what thick mattresses are made of, take a look at this handy mattress thickness chart:

Thickness Level Inches
Very thick 15 - 20 inches
Thick 13 - 14 inches
Standard 10 - 12 inches
Low 5 - 8 inches
Mattress topper 1 - 4 inches

The difference between each level is significant, which is why choosing the correct amount of thickness needed is important. Here’s what the thickest mattresses are typically made of.

Thick mattresses 13 inches or more are typically made of several transition and comfort layers. These layers are sometimes made of memory foam and latex. Some mattresses are hybrids that use a support layer made of intricate coil systems encased in another material.

SONU Sleep’s mattresses contain layers of memory foam that are topped off with Serene foam, a new material on the market. These mattresses feel unlike any other, delivering a cool, lavish sleep experience.

SONU’s original, negative space mattresses are 14 inches thick. Unlike average mattresses, SONU’s come with a patented Comfort Channel and a set of support pillows. If you’re ready to sleep like royalty, try the SONU Sleep System.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Thick Mattresses?

Thick mattresses do not suit every sleeper. They will either improve your sleep or leave you unsatisfied.

No one wants to be unsatisfied with their mattress choice. Below are the pros and cons of thick mattresses.

Pros

Cons

In general, the thicker a mattress is, the longer it will last. So if you want a mattress you don’t need to replace for quite a while, a thick mattress is a good choice.

The thickness of your mattress will affect your sleep quality. Whether it improves or degrades it depends on your situation. Either way, once your sleep quality changes, your health will change like a domino effect.

Choosing the right amount of mattress thickness can change your life for the better.

What Size Mattress Do You Need?

SONU carries Twin XL, Queen, King, Cali King, and Split King mattresses. Just how much mattress a person needs varies by height and weight. Smaller people may feel comfortable sleeping on a Twin XL or Queen bed, while taller, heavier people need a King bed or above to accommodate them.

The dimensions of each mattress type are as follows:

Mattress Size Dimensions
Twin XL 38” W x 80” L x 14” D
Queen 60” W x 80” L x 14” D
King 76” W x 80” L x 14” D
Cali King 72” W x 84” L x 14” D
Split King 76” W x 80” L x 14” D

Weight and body type can help determine the dimensions that someone’s mattress needs to be. For example:

How Firm Do You Want Your Mattress?

The mattress firmness scale includes the following levels: extra-soft, soft, medium, medium-firm, firm, and extra firm. The scale rates mattresses from levels 1 to 10. The firmer the mattress, the less “give” it has.

Here are brief descriptions of each firmness level.

Extra Soft

This is the softest mattress level you can buy. It rates between levels one and two. The plushest mattress available, the extra soft mattress allows the body to sink into it. The comfort layer of extra soft mattresses tends to be very thick so that it can conform to the body and provide pressure relief.

Soft

Soft mattresses rate between the levels of three and four. They also contain thick comfort layers to provide pressure relief. Many back sleepers prefer soft mattresses because they do not overextend the lower back.

Soft mattresses of about 12 inches are ideal for lightweight sleepers.

Medium

Rated at levels five and six, medium mattresses are popular for most sleeping positions. They may have plush cushioning but have support cores that help improve spine alignment. They’re ideal for the average sleeper or side sleepers who prefer plush sleeping surfaces.

Medium-Firm

Medium-firm mattresses rate between six and seven. The average sleeper would be comfortable on a medium-firm mattress between 10 and 12 inches thick. Again, side sleepers tend to gravitate toward medium-firm mattresses because they have a soft sleeping surface but a strong support core.

If you’re looking for a plush, medium-firm mattress, try SONU’s Sleep System. All of SONU’s mattresses are 14 inches thick and consist of 26 layers of the most luxurious memory foam and Serene foam you’ll ever sleep on.

Firm

Firm mattresses rate between seven and eight. They’re ideal for back sleepers and sleepers who are 230 pounds or more, especially if they are 12 to 14 inches thick. The thickness and firmness of the firm mattress provide extra support and prevent sagging.

Extra Firm

Extra firm mattresses rate between nine and 10. They are recommended for back sleepers who prefer very rigid mattresses. For many people, this mattress level is too hard. However, like firm mattresses, extra firm mattresses are less likely to sag.

Do You Have Any Pain Issues?

If you are suffering from a pain issue, the severity of your issues and your mobility should be factored into your mattress depth decision.

If you experience chronic pain, a mattress that is too thick might not have the right amount of pressure relief you need.

A thicker mattress will make beds taller, especially if you use a box spring. If the height of the bed is already high, a thinner mattress might be in order.

Height is a factor if you have mobility issues – if it would be too difficult to get out of a tall bed, consider a mattress with fewer inches. If you have arthritis, joint pain, or back pain, your bed should be no higher than 25 inches to allow better mobility.

If back pain is a problem, mattresses between 10 and 12 inches are the best choice because they do not sink in as much while providing support for the spine.

What Position Do You Sleep In?

Your sleeping position can also help identify how thick your mattress needs to be. This is because certain positions require more cushioning or support than others. The thickness should be considered when shopping for position-specific mattresses.

Here are the recommended thickness measurements according to popular sleeping positions:

SONU’s mattresses were made with side sleepers in mind. Each 14 inch mattress has a unique, 10 inch deep Comfort Channel for sleepers to let their shoulders and arms sink into while they sleep. This takes the pressure off those parts of the body, preventing soreness common when sleeping in the side position.

Conclusion

Mattress thickness is important. To find the right mattress height, body composition, pain, mattress firmness requirements, you should consider your sleeping position.

The thicker the mattress, the more luxurious it is considered to be. When it comes to mattress depth and luxury, SONU does not disappoint.

The SONU Sleep System is made up of several layers of sumptuous foam and it is topped off with a layer of the latest cooling material on the market – serene foam. Side sleepers, people with shoulder, arm, or hip pain, and people who need heavy support will all enjoy the SONU Sleep experience.

Leave thin, non-supportive mattresses behind and purchase a SONU mattress today. You won’t regret it.

FAQ

Can a mattress be too thick?

This depends on your preferences. However, if you have mobility issues, getting off of a thick mattress might be a bit of a challenge.

Are SONU’s mattresses really 14 inches in depth?

Yes! All of SONU’s mattresses, including the Twin XL, include 26 layers of memory foam topped off with Serene foam.

How thick should my mattress be if I sleep with a partner?

If you sleep with a partner, you will need something that is thick and strong enough to support both of you. A medium-firm, thick mattress of 13 inches or more would be ideal.

Thick mattresses are expensive. How can I save money and increase mattress thickness?

Some people increase the thickness of their mattresses by adding mattress toppers, which typically range between 1 and 4 inches.

If you would rather upgrade your mattress, SONU offers financing that requires $0 down, and you would only have to pay $84/month for up to three years with 0% APR financing!

Sources:

Mattress Sizes: Dimensions & Chart | Sleep.org

How To Choose Your Mattress Thickness | Santa Monica College

Differences in the body pressure-related sensory changes between the floor and mattress in a static supine position for physiotherapy research: a randomized controlled pilot trial | NIH

Question About Mattress Thickness: How Thick Should My Mattress Be? | Home DIT

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/how-to-stay-cool2022-06-19T13:30:00-07:002023-10-12T14:38:58-07:00How To Stay Cool at Night: A Hot Sleeper's GuideBridget ReedTemperature is very important for getting good sleep. Exposure to hot or cold temperatures can affect rapid eye movement (REM) and slow-wave sleep.

As you begin falling asleep, your body temperature naturally cools down. This natural thermoregulation is what helps you fall and stay asleep.

Some people need more than a decrease in their natural body temperature to rest at night. No matter how hard they try, these people feel hot when they go to bed. They toss and turn and maybe even experience night sweats. Even turning on the AC or a fan doesn’t seem to cool them down.

If you are one of these hot sleepers and need help staying cool at night, you’ve come to the right place. This article will tell you how to keep cool at night so you can get a refreshing night's sleep, and how the SONU Sleep System can get you your best sleep yet.

How Does Staying Cool Help You Sleep?

Before clocks, humans would rise at dawn and go to bed as soon as it got dark, influencing circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is the 24-hour cycle that the body goes through. Humans experience various behavioral and physical changes during those 24 hours.

The circadian rhythm is controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus — the part of the brain that is influenced by factors like temperature, light and dark, and physical movement. Naturally, body temperature begins to drop as day transitions into night. Melatonin is released, and the body’s temperature continues to fall, causing people to feel drowsy and ready to sleep.

Blood flows to the extremities when people sleep through a process known as vasodilation, causing the hands and feet to feel warm. If someone’s circadian clock has been altered by a dramatic change in their day, like a workout later in the day or the consumption of caffeine after noon, they may feel hot and have trouble sleeping.

If you are someone who consistently feels hot at night, you can readjust and get your circadian rhythm back in order.

Try these tips to help you get a nice, cool night's sleep.

1. Lower the Room Temperature

This is probably the most obvious tip on this list. Before trying anything else, lower the temperature in the bedroom or home to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius). This is the optimal temperature for reducing body heat to induce sound sleep.

When you sleep, your body drops an additional 1 to 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Reducing your body temperature can help you fall asleep faster and prevent insomnia. Sleeping cool can even boost your metabolism.

Researchers found that when the body is exposed to even a mild amount of cold, the body produces more brown fat, which usually uses energy to create heat. Some participants in the research study had their brown fat increase by 42%, and their metabolic activity rose an astonishing 10%.

Sleeping cool doesn’t just help you sleep better. It can help you lose weight.

2. Keep a Fan Nearby

Operating a fan in addition to the air conditioning is one way many people stay cool at night. Fans circulate air, which helps create a breezy sleep environment. Fans are also a source of white noise, which can help people fall asleep quickly.

Luckily, there is a wide option of fans for you to choose from. Whether it’s a small, personal fan on your bedside table or a taller, oscillating one at the foot of the bed, a fan is available to suit your taste.

3. Exercise Early

If you work out regularly and sleep hot, the problem could be the time of day you exercise. Working out late in the evening and at night can raise your body temperature, making it hard to fall asleep or cool down.

Exercising earlier in the day can help you sleep better at night. Plus, you don’t run the risk of overheating before you go to bed.

Some exercises can help you cool down after a workout or just relax. Some examples of these exercises are:

What’s most important is that you avoid aerobic exercise close to bedtime.

4. Take a Bath

Taking a relaxing, warm bath before bedtime might not be the first thing to come to mind when trying to cool down, but it’s a perfect tactic.

Taking a warm bath will temporarily raise your body temperature. Once you get out of the tub, your body temperature will drop, helping you feel cooler.

A bath will also help reduce anxiety, a common sleep disturbance.

On the flip side, you could also take a cool shower before bed to help lower your temperature. This one is self-explanatory!

5. Change Your Bedding

As winter transitions into spring, it’s a good idea to trade those warm flannel sheets for some made of cotton or silk. Heat-wicking fabrics like 100% cotton help people fall asleep faster, providing just enough coverage for warm nights.

Changing bedspreads is also helpful for staying cool at night. Bedspreads made of cotton or linen are best, as they help keep sleepers from overheating. Cotton and linen are both known for their moisture-wicking ability.

All of SONU’s sleep systems come with a set of cooling cotton sheets that fit the beds’ Comfort Channels. These are completely original, offering sleepers the option of submerging their arms and shoulders into the SONU mattresses.

6. Buy a Cooling Mattress and Pillows

Your mattress matters. Some mattress material, like memory foam, is known for trapping heat against the body. Swap out your old memory foam mattress for one made of gel, latex, or another innovative material like serene foam.

If you still prefer the feeling of memory foam but need to cool down, you’re in luck. SONU’s Sleep System includes a mattress made of multiple layers of high-quality foam topped with Serene foam. Serene foam contains tons of air capsules that allow air to flow seamlessly through the mattress and deliver a cooling sleep experience.

Waterbeds are still on the market! These beds are filled with water capsules and can be heated or cooled. If you feel nostalgic and don’t mind the extra care waterbeds require, invest in one to help you sleep cool.

The benefits of cooling mattresses include:

Cooling pillows help lower your head temperature, which helps induce slow-wave sleep. You’ll want a pillow with airflow in mind, so avoid those strictly made of memory foam. Instead, opt for pillows that are gel-infused or made of ventilated foam, like serene foam.

If you can’t afford to change your mattress, invest in a mattress topper made of gel or other cooling material. And if you aren’t ready to toss your old pillows, throw your pillowcases into the freezer each day and put them on your pillows at bedtime.

7. Create a Bedtime Ritual

Many people have fast-paced lifestyles that lead to them experiencing increases in anxiety and body temperature. Take time out each evening to get ready for bed; you can decrease stress, lower body temperature, and promote a positive mindset.

If you aren’t sure how to create a bedtime ritual, here is some helpful advice.

8. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine

Drinking caffeine can temporarily raise your body temperature and elevate your heart rate. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to a hangover, which raises body temperature. Both of these stimulants can disrupt sleep patterns.

Many people need caffeine to help them stay alert during the day. However, consuming caffeine too late in the day can cause sleep issues. If you get your caffeine from coffee, it can cause the body to create heat.

The effects of caffeine can last for several hours after consumption.

Although alcohol can make you feel sleepy and help you fall asleep faster, it does not help you get better sleep. Alcohol disrupts rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and slow-wave sleep.

When REM sleep is disturbed, you may feel dizzy, unable to concentrate or cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. When drinking alcohol, blood vessels also expand and temporarily cause an increase in body heat.

9. Keep Ice Nearby

When all else fails, keeping an ice pack or a glass of ice water on your bedside stand can help you keep cool. You can apply ice packs to different parts of the body for thermoregulation.

Freezing gel packs commonly used for injuries and sleeping with them can also help.

Sips of ice water throughout the night can help decrease your body temperature. Dehydration is an issue for many people with sleep problems, so keeping the body hydrated can help you rest.

Another way to use ice is to put ice water into a water bottle or bag, then wrap it with a towel to protect your bedding from getting wet. Place the bottle or bag near your face or neck to reap the benefits.

Conclusion

If you sleep hot and need relief, try these tips to help you cool down any time of year, not just in the warmer months.

Regulating your body temperature is a key component of sleeping well. Maintaining circadian rhythm is critical for falling asleep comfortably. As you can see, making even the slightest change to your day can throw you for a loop.

A mattress like SONU’s can not only help you cool down but deliver your body some of the best sleep you’ve ever gotten. If you’re a hot sleeper eager to try the SONU Sleep System, don’t hesitate another second!

Order your SONU Sleep System today and get acquainted with the cooling comfort of serene foam. A better sleep experience is just one click away.

Sources:

Effects of thermal environment on sleep and circadian rhythm | NLM

How to Sleep When It's Too Hot Outside | Sleep Foundation

8 secrets to a good night's sleep | Harvard Health

The Best Temperature for Sleep: Advice & Tips | Sleep Foundation

Cool Temperature Alters Human Fat and Metabolism | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/headaches-from-pillows2022-06-18T13:30:00-07:002022-06-22T13:23:10-07:0015 Reasons People Can Get Headaches From PillowsBridget ReedFinding the right pillow is a huge part of getting some good sleep. For some people, no matter how many pillows they try, they always seem to wake up with headaches.

Up to 80 percent of North Americans have headaches, and 50 percent of those have one headache every month.

Headaches occur more often in younger people and tend to decline as we age. Not every headache is a cause for concern, but some headaches are symptoms of underlying health issues.

If you’re someone who wakes up with headaches after sleeping on certain pillows, this article can help. Keep reading and learn about 15 reasons people can get headaches from pillows, and how SONU is revolutionizing the world of sleep.

1. Neck & Spine Misalignment

The primary cause of waking up from headaches is the misalignment of the neck and spine. Lying on pillows that are too thin or too thick tilts the head in an awkward position, affecting alignment and often leading to headaches or neck pain.

To correct this issue, purchase pillows thick enough to allow the head to lay in a neutral position.

2. Pillow Firmness

Pillows that are too hard or too soft can cause great discomfort. If a pillow is too hard, it can apply pressure to a person’s head while sleeping, which could easily result in a headache. If a pillow is too soft, a person’s head will sink at an awkward angle, which could cause pain.

Sleeping on a medium-firm pillow that supports the head and neck would be a better option. SONU mattresses come with unique support pillows made of multiple layers of resilient foam, built to support your head and neck while sleeping to prevent discomfort. For additional support, you can purchase SONU’s deluxe top pillows, which are known for their malleability.

3. Sleep Disorder

Pillows alone are not always to blame for headaches. Experiencing morning headaches is often a symptom of common sleep issues like sleep apnea and snoring.

In one study, 29% of study participants suffering from obstructive sleep apnea reported waking up with morning headaches. In a separate study, over 23% of strong snorers reported waking up with headaches.

4. Dehydration

Dehydration can lead to headaches. Not drinking enough water doesn’t just cause your head to hurt; it can make you feel tired and listless. To prevent dehydration headaches, ensure you drink the recommended amount of water%20a%20day%20for%20men.) daily.

5. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Your legs aren’t the only things affected by RLS. Restless legs syndrome has been linked to tension headaches and migraines due to the shared brain pathways between the brain and the extremities. It could also be due to an iron deficiency.

6. Mood Disorders

There is a connection between mood disorders and pain sensitivity. Conditions like depression and anxiety can lead to a person getting less sleep, which can result in headaches. It is important to treat the mood disorder first to reduce the likelihood of insomnia and headaches.

7. Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is a stress-related condition involving the grinding and clenching of the jaws at night. This persistent grinding and clenching can lead to tension headaches or migraines.

Wearing a retainer at night is a popular way to deal with bruxism. Because it can also be triggered by stress, participating in stress-relieving activities or getting professional counseling could also help.

8. Insomnia

People with insomnia are also at risk of having morning headaches. Sleep deprivation can trigger tension headaches and migraines — the less sleep someone gets, the more common these headaches become.

9. Oversleeping

Yes, it’s possible to get a headache from sleeping too much. People who oversleep are at risk for tension headaches. Sleeping too much might also cause changes to the brain’s neurotransmitters.

10. Caffeine Withdrawal

People who suddenly quit caffeine after regularly consuming it are familiar with the caffeine withdrawal headache. This headache occurs while your body is detoxing itself from caffeine.

Suddenly quitting caffeine can lead to severe headaches or migraines. It is best to taper off the stimulant, reducing the amount you drink until you reach your goal. One way to help reduce the severity of headaches experienced is to take pain medication containing a little caffeine.

11. Medication

Having headaches is a side effect of some types of medication. Withdrawal from some prescriptions can lead to headaches as well. Surprisingly, adding pain medication can actually lead to chronic headaches.

Medications that can lead to headaches include the following:

12. Allergies

Talk to an allergy sufferer, and they can probably confirm that they’ve experienced headaches during allergy season. People with rhinitis (hay fever) often experience headaches due to irritation of their sinuses and nasal passages.

Many allergy sufferers have chronic rhinosinusitis, which leads to sinus headaches. This happens when the nasal passages become inflamed as an allergic reaction. The best way to deal with allergies and sinusitis is to seek treatment from an allergist or ear, nose, and throat doctor.

13. Migraines

A large number of people who think they are experiencing sinusitis are having migraines. Migraines sometimes present other symptoms before they attack, such as neck stiffness, mood changes, aura, vision loss, and body weakness or numbness.

See a doctor if you experience migraines with a fever, double vision, seizure, or neck stiffness. These are usually the signs of someone having a stroke. See a doctor if a migraine occurs after a head injury.

Treatment for migraines usually starts with pain medications or preventative medications that make them less frequent.

14. Hangover

If you went out for a night of drinking, you might wake up feeling like lying on your pillow is hurting your head. More than likely, you would be experiencing a hangover.

Drinking six drinks in one evening is considered heavy drinking, and the behavior has been linked to morning headaches. Alcohol itself is a depressant. While you might seem nice and giddy when it first enters your system, eventually, you can experience a “come down” that can leave you fighting off a headache.

Drinking alcohol can also lead to dehydration, another cause of headaches.

15. The Wrong Mattress

Finding the right pillow won’t do you any good if your mattress doesn’t meet your needs. A good mattress should provide support for your upper body and hips. It should be firm enough so that when you place your pillow on top of it, you don’t experience any discomfort.

Take a good look at your mattress. Take note of how you feel when you sleep on it each night. If you’re experiencing chronic aches and pains, your mattress just might be to blame. Consider upgrading to a mattress designed to provide adequate support and comfort, like SONU’s, so you get a full night of peaceful sleep.

Conclusion

Headaches are no fun. Having a headache due to sleeping on an inadequate pillow or other underlying cause is not ideal, but there are ways you can deal with the pain.

If you are experiencing chronic headaches, make an appointment with your doctor to see if you have an underlying health problem. If you’re in great shape but wake up with aches and pains, it might be time to upgrade your bed.

SONU has created a one-of-a-kind sleep system that will caress your pain away. Check out the innovative comfort of the SONU Sleep System, and allow yourself to experience luxurious sleep that only SONU can provide.

Sources:

Pillow use: the behavior of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain | NLM

Morning Headache as an Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Related Symptom among Sleep Clinic Patients-A Cross-Section Analysis | NLM

Morning headache in habitual snorers: frequency, characteristics, predictors and impacts | NLM

Quitting Caffeine the Headache-Free Way | Cleveland Clinic

Why You Wake Up With a Headache | Sleep.org

How Much Water Should We Drink Every Day? | NutritionFacts.org

Morning Headaches: Causes and Treatments | Sleep Foundation

Headaches Connected to Allergies and Sinus Problems | AAAAI

Migraine - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/mattress-comfort-levels2022-05-12T04:38:40-07:002023-10-12T14:39:38-07:00Mattress Comfort Levels: A Scale To Discover ComfortBridget Reed

How much do you know about the mattress firmness scale? Everyone has heard the mattress firmness descriptions before — extra firm to extra soft — but most people probably don’t know the key differences between those levels.

When you choose a mattress, you need to consider a lot of different factors, including your sleep position.

Picking the right mattress firmness is integral to getting sound, comfortable sleep. Choosing the wrong firmness level can lead to buyer’s remorse, or worse, an uncomfortable experience that makes it hard for you to sleep.

This article will go over the mattress firmness scale ratings, everything you need to know to choose the best mattress for your needs, and why the SONU Sleep System is the best option yet.

What’s the Difference Between Support and Comfort?

Two words that come up frequently when discussing mattresses are support and comfort. You will see them many times in this article. People often use these words interchangeably when describing mattresses, but they actually mean two different things.

Support refers to a mattress’s ability to help keep your spine in alignment. A mattress with poor support can result in spine misalignment when you sleep, which can cause pain. If you wake up with neck or back pain often, lack of support may be to blame.

Comfort refers to how the mattress feels. The mattress firmness scale rates mattresses according to how hard or soft they are. Determinants for mattress comfort are the material the mattress is made of, its core support system, and the mattress topper.

What Is the Mattress Firmness Scale?

The mattress firmness scale consists of ratings 1 through 10, which all describe the different levels of firmness that mattresses come in. Many of these ratings overlap, as you’ll soon find out in the following descriptions.

Extra Soft

Extra soft mattresses are rated between 1 and 2. They are the plushest mattresses available, allowing your body to sink deeply into them. If you need a lot of pressure relief, try an extra soft mattress. Side sleepers and back sleepers alike often go for this mattress level. It isn’t ideal for stomach sleepers.

Soft

If you love sinking into your mattress, opt for a soft one. Soft mattresses are rated between the range of 3 and 4.

Many side sleepers prefer soft mattresses. Some back sleepers prefer them as well, as long as their lower backs are not overextended due to the softness of the mattress. Soft mattresses offer optimal pressure relief.

Medium

Medium mattresses are represented by levels 5 and 6. This range is often called the “Goldilocks zone” because it is just right for most sleeping positions. Medium mattresses offer an optimal level of spine support while providing the plush cushioning many sleepers prefer. If you prefer something just a little firmer, keep reading.

Medium-Firm

Medium-firm mattresses fall between 6 and 7 on the firmness scale. If you’re a side sleeper, a medium-firm mattress may be just right for you. However, just like the medium mattress, it is suitable for nearly all sleepers.

If you need soft, hip-cradling support of a medium-firm mattress, SONU has you covered. All SONU mattresses are medium-firm with a firmness scale rating of 6.5, that comfortably molds to you while providing the support your body needs.

Firm

Mattresses that fall between the ratings of 7 and 8 are firm. If you’re a back or stomach sleeper, a firm mattress is perfect for you. Firm mattresses have slightly less padding than medium-firm ones, making them more rigid to sleep on.

Extra Firm

Ratings 9 to 10 represent extra firm mattress levels. Extra firm mattresses are typically recommended for anyone who sleeps on their back. It can be too hard for other types of sleepers and cause them pain because there isn’t enough cushioning for their bodies. Extra firm mattresses are often described as being too “rigid.”

If you sleep on a mattress that is too hard or too soft, you will face the consequences. If you have a pain condition, it could get significantly worse with a mattress that isn’t the right firmness level. In some cases, you may start having pain in places that you never did before.

What Are the Benefits of Soft, Medium, and Firm Mattresses?

To further help you decide which mattress firmness level is for you, here are the benefits of the primary firmness levels.

Benefits of Soft Mattresses

Benefits of Medium Mattresses

Benefits of Firm Mattresses

What Are the Disadvantages of Soft, Medium, and Firm Mattresses?

No firmness level is without its flaws. Here are the disadvantages of each.

Disadvantages of Soft Mattresses

Disadvantages of Medium Mattresses

Disadvantages of Firm Mattresses

How Long Does Mattress Firmness Last?

How long your mattress stays at its original firmness depends on how it was made and what it is made of. A rule of thumb to keep in mind is that the firmer your mattress, the firmer it will stay for a while. Soft mattresses usually deteriorate faster than firm ones.

This is not a reason to go out and buy a firm mattress. You should always purchase a mattress that meets your expectations.

How Do I Pick the Best Mattress for Me?

Understanding the level of firmness you need is just one step in choosing the right mattress. Other factors to consider are your budget, the mattress material, your size, and more.

Budget

This is usually the first consideration for mattress customers. Whether you are a single sleeper or someone else shares your bed, you need to know how much you are willing to spend to get the type of comfort you need.

The size of the mattress you need also matters. Smaller beds like the Twin and Twin XL will cost less than a Queen or King bed. Take into account if you are a single sleeper or not to determine just how much sleep space you require.

Don’t come up with one hard number. Create a price range that you and your co-sleeper are comfortable with.

Thankfully, today, it’s easy to search for mattresses online via their price points.

Mattress Material

What do you want your mattress to be made of? Are you a fan of foam mattresses? How about hybrid mattresses or latex ones?

Mattress materials each have their pros and cons, so it’s important for you to weigh each of them before selecting a mattress. If you’ve been sleeping on one mattress for a while and are happy, go with that material.

If you’re stuck between mattress materials but are open to something new, SONU Sleep has a mattress that combines memory foam topped off with Serene foam, the new cooling material on the mattress scene.

Body Size

Your height and weight make certain mattresses poor options for you. Someone who is over 6-feet tall and weighs 200+ pounds will need a mattress with more support than someone who is 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds.

Here is a handy chart that recommends mattress firmness according to body size.

Firmness Level Body Size
Soft Light (<150 lbs) or average (150 lbs - 200 lbs)
Medium Light, average, or heavy (200+ lbs)
Firm Heavy

Many mattresses come with weight restrictions. Check mattress retailer websites for these details. They’re usually listed in the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.

Sleep Position

Some mattresses are made with certain sleeping positions in mind, like mattresses made for side sleepers. If a manufacturer does not specify a particular sleep position for a mattress, go back and refer to the mattress firmness scale descriptions.

The most popular sleep position is the side position. Runners up are the back sleep position and the stomach sleep position. Combination sleepers switch from one position to the next throughout the night. If you fit into any of these categories, know that there is a mattress out there that was made with you in mind.

Some other things to consider when buying your mattress are sleep disorders and any pain you might have. If you suffer from hip or shoulder pain, the amount of pressure relief a mattress provides matters. If you have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea, the adjustability of the mattress can play a role in your comfort.

If you are pregnant, your doctor might recommend that you sleep on your side for part of your pregnancy.

If a company does not tell you that it’s made for a particular sleep position, check out their customer reviews for insight.

Can the Mattress I Choose Affect My Health?

Yes, the mattress you choose can affect your health. Not only can it cause you pain, as mentioned a few times in this article – it can affect your entire life.

If you’re sleep-deprived because your mattress is uncomfortable, you can end up being lethargic, accident-prone, and disengaged. People who do not get enough sleep often end up performing worse at work, or they end up missing a lot of days.

You may not feel it immediately, but sleeping on a saggy mattress or one that is too firm can ruin your posture. Your spine won’t be the only thing to suffer. People with poor posture sometimes suffer from headaches, breathing problems, slowed digestion, and heartburn.

Conclusion

Now that you know how the mattress firmness scale works, you are better equipped to go out and select the right mattress. When you decide which mattress firmness level is right for you, don’t forget to consider other points like how much money you wish to spend on a mattress or what type of mattress is best for your preferred sleep position.

SONU Sleep makes medium-firm mattresses that exceed the expectations of almost any sleeper. The mattress comes with the never-before-seen, patented Comfort Channel that was made to finally allow room for arms and shoulders to rest where they’re meant to, as well as full range of motion below the surface while you are sleeping. The SONU Sleep System also incorporates the cooling comfort of top quality serene foam as well as a support system created from high resilience memory foam to give your body the best support and comfort possible.

If this is your first time purchasing a mattress and you need some extra information, SONU’s customer testimonials can help you decide.

FAQ

Which firmness levels do SONU’s mattresses come in?

All SONU mattresses are medium-firm, rating a 6.5 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale.

I’m not a side sleeper. Is a SONU mattress a good choice for me?

Yes! All sleepers can benefit from SONU’s 14-inch thick, lush, cooling mattress. It is medium-firm, a comfort level that suits sleepers of all kinds.

I’m trying to find a mattress that supports my body type. How much body weight can SONU mattresses support?

SONU mattresses can support up to 700 pounds or 350 pounds per side if two people share the mattress.

Does mattress firmness change as a mattress ages?

In a sense, yes, mattress firmness does change. As the mattress ages, the firmness can decrease, and it can start to sag. If your mattress comes with a warranty, ask the retailer about the average lifespan of your mattress.

Sources:

3 surprising risks of poor posture | Harvard Health

Sleeping mattress determinants and evaluation: a biomechanical review and critique | NIH

How To Choose A Mattress in 5 Easy Steps | Sleep Advisor

Firm vs. Soft Mattress — Your Ultimate Guide | Best Mattress Brand

Mattress Firmness Guide - Find the Perfect Comfort Level for You | Sleep Advisor

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/firm-soft-mattress2022-05-12T04:36:51-07:002022-05-12T04:36:52-07:00Firm vs. Soft Mattresses: A Goldilocks Guide to ComfortBridget Reed

You’re shopping for a new mattress but facing a dilemma: do you want your mattress to be firm or soft?

Choosing the right mattress is crucial to ensuring you can enjoy a good night of sleep each night, and is even more important if you have chronic pain or other factors that can make it tough to get comfortable in the evening. Mattress firmness is just one of the many factors you want to take into consideration when choosing a mattress — but should you opt for a firm or soft bed?

Everyone has different preferences, and what one person finds most comfortable, another person may not enjoy at all. If you aren’t quite sure if a firm or soft mattress is best suited to your needs, you aren’t alone.

Today, we’re diving into everything you need to know about firm and soft mattresses so that when you shop for your new bed, you have one less thing to wonder about. Get ready to dive into the pros and cons of firm and soft mattresses, what you should keep in mind, and how SONU Sleep’s mattress measures up.

How Do I Choose Between a Firm or Soft Mattress?

The mattress firmness scale typically features six mattress firmness levels: extra soft, soft, medium, medium-firm, firm, and extra-firm. Some versions of the scale also include medium-soft.

Though there are mattresses available in all of these varying firmness levels, most people keep it simple by choosing between a firm mattress or a soft mattress. There are a wide variety of factors both supporting and contesting each type of mattress, so let’s break it down.

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Firm Mattress?

Not everyone wants to feel like they’re floating on a cloud when they sleep — but if you do, we don’t blame you. For people who prefer a bed that feels hard and sturdy, firm mattresses are excellent.

Pros

Firm mattresses have several key advantages as compared to soft mattress options. Just some of these advantages include:

Cons

Firm mattresses also have some disadvantages, which may be more prevalent for certain sleepers. These include:

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Soft Mattress?

Some people love being enveloped in plushness, while others don’t enjoy the feeling of sinking into their bed. Like firm mattresses, soft mattresses also have both pros and cons. Let’s take a look.

Pros

Soft mattresses come with several noteworthy benefits, including:

Cons

Though soft mattresses can feel plush and cozy, there are also some disadvantages worth being mindful of. These include:

What Else Should I Consider When Buying a Mattress?

The firmness of your mattress isn’t the only important factor you should consider, so allow us to explain a few other variables.

Each person has different preferences, but here are five things you should consider when searching for your new bed.

Mattress Material

Mattresses come in all sorts of materials today, making it a bit difficult to decide exactly which type of foam or other material will make for the most comfortable and supportive bed. The most notable types of mattresses are innerspring, hybrid, memory foam, and latex.

Innerspring mattresses consist of coil systems that make up their support cores. Sometimes these coils are individually wrapped, and sometimes they are linked to one another to form circles or loops. These coils are surrounded by an encasing of another material like cotton, and they usually have a pillow top. The more coils in your mattress, the firmer it will be.

Hybrid mattresses combine two types of mattresses in one. The support core of the mattress will be made of one material, like latex, and the top of the mattress will be layered with a few inches of another material, like memory foam. Many people opt for hybrid mattresses when they can’t decide between two materials.

Memory foam mattresses are made from viscoelastic foam. The foam is famous for its body contouring and ability to snap back into its original shape. The cradling of the memory foam is excellent for spine alignment and hip support. If frequent movement is a concern for you, memory foam can actually help you stay in your sleep position for most of the night.

The SONU Sleep System features a combination of top quality memory foams, including cooling serenes and high resilience foams for the ultimate sleeping experience. If you’re looking for unparalleled pressure relief for your arms and shoulders, better breathing, cooling properties, and optimal head, neck and spine alignment, the SONU Sleep System has just what you need.

Finally, we have latex, which is made from the sap of rubber trees. Like memory foam, latex cradles the body and provides excellent support. It returns to its original shape quicker than other materials. Latex is also cooler than some other mattress materials.

Sleep Position

The most popular sleep positions are on the side, back, and stomach — but more people sleep on their side than in any other position. Today, mattresses are often made with specific sleep positions in mind.

Some beds work better for side sleepers than they would for back or stomach sleepers.

SONU’s mattresses are made with side sleepers in mind, but can benefit sleepers of all positions. The unique, patented Comfort Channel gives sleeper’s arms and shoulders the space to be able to rest where they’re meant to, within the mattress and between the adjustable Support Pillows. The result is truly comfortable sleep, free from the constraints of typical mattresses.

Weight Limit

A bed that is comfortable for a light or average-weight individual may not be as comfortable for someone heavier. Most mattress manufacturers include weight limits with their products.

Someone larger may prefer a firmer mattress as opposed to a smaller person, who could get adequate support from a softer bed. The SONU Sleep System can support 700 pounds total, or 350 pounds per person, per side, making it one of the best and most durable beds available.

Motion Isolation

Are you someone who wakes up when your sleep partner makes the slightest movement? You’re probably sleeping on a mattress with poor motion isolation. To avoid this issue, look for mattress materials known to help reduce motion disturbances. For example, foam is known for its motion resistance.

Price

How do you buy a good mattress that doesn’t break the bank?

Come up with a budget for how much you are willing to spend on a new mattress. Take into account all the features you want your ideal mattress to have, including its size, and research the average prices for those types of mattresses.

You can purchase the SONU Sleep System for $2,000 total, and have the option of paying with Affirm if you would rather pay monthly installments. You can also choose to opt out of the 100 Night Trial period to save $100.

Conclusion

After learning the pros and cons of firm vs soft mattresses, which one will you choose?

Firm and soft mattresses are not your only options. If you need something softer, go for extra soft. If you need the firmest bed available, choose an extra firm. You can also choose a firmness level that meets the requirements of the average sleeper, like medium or medium-firm mattresses do.

It all comes down to how you like to sleep. There's a bed for you, whether you’re a back sleeper, lightweight, or sensitive to movement.

Hopefully, this article laid out all of the information you need to decide between a firm and soft mattress. If you ended this article realizing that you’re someone that needs something in the middle, SONU can help.

SONU’s medium-firm mattresses rate at 6.5 on the mattress firmness scale, meaning they meet the “Goldilocks” standard for firmness - just right.

Every SONU mattress comes with the adjustable Support Pillows, which fit into the patented Comfort Channel. If you want a sleep experience that finally provides room for your arms and shoulders and truly elevates your level of comfort, SONU Sleep is just what you need.

Check out SONU’s innovative negative space mattress and experience sleep that you’ll brag about to all your friends.

FAQ

Can a mattress be too soft or too firm?

Yes, but this depends on you. If you don’t like feeling like you’re being sucked into your mattress, then a soft or extra soft mattress may not be for you. If you don’t enjoy sleeping on rigid surfaces, then a firm or extra firm bed probably won’t be to your liking.

How much weight can a firm mattress support?

This depends on the manufacturer. However, on average, someone 200 pounds or more may get enough support from a firm or extra firm mattress. The firmer the mattress, the more it can hold.

I think I need a medium-firm mattress, but how can I be sure?

If there is a mattress retailer near you, go into the store and ask to try out a medium-firm bed. However, if you’re shopping online, find out if there’s a return policy for the mattress you want. For example, SONU offers customers a 100 Night Trial with all new mattress purchases. If they aren’t satisfied after 100 nights, they can return the mattress for a refund.

Sources:

Firm vs. Soft Mattresses: All the Pros and Cons | Savvy Sleeper

Firm vs. Soft Mattress – How to Choose the Right One for You? | Sleep Advisor

Do I Need a Firm or Soft Mattress? | Sleep Foundation.

How To Choose A Mattress in 5 Easy Steps | Sleep Advisor

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/numbness-in-hands-sleeping2022-05-11T05:11:14-07:002022-05-11T05:11:16-07:00Numbness in Hands While Sleeping: What To KnowBridget Reed

Do you experience numbness in your hands when you sleep? Is it making it hard for you to get an adequate amount of rest each night? It could be a sign of a medical issue.

In this article, we will discuss what causes numbness in hands, how you can address it to find some relief, and how the SONU Sleep System mattress can help with this and how you sleep.

Will My Arm "Fall Asleep" In The Comfort Channel?

Contrary to what some might believe, the Comfort Channel is not conducive to numbness or tingling in your arm. When a body part “falls asleep”, as the saying goes, it is due to lack of circulation, or not enough blood reaching the body part. When your arm starts to tingle or loses feeling it is caused by a position you are in that is cutting off this necessary circulation that supplies oxygen to the nerves that run between your neck and your arm.

Nerves have their own blood supply, so pressure on a nerve cuts off that blood supply and the nerve becomes starved for oxygen and shuts down. This happens often on traditional flat mattresses as you are forced to overextend your shoulders and arms into positions in which they are not meant to rest, which can cut off this circulation. While side sleeping on a flat mattress you are forced to apply unavoidable pressure on these body parts which results in the discomfort and lack of circulation that can cause this numbness. The SONU Sleep System’s patented Comfort Channel design helps to greatly relieve these pressures on your arms, and with this relief comes improved circulation and reduced chances of numbness.

Some may look at the SONU design and believe that because your arms are below the rest of your body, you may have an increased risk of circulation issues or numbness. This is a common misconception, but is not the case - here’s why. Your arms are naturally below your heart when you are upright, walking or sitting, throughout the day. Your arms never tingle in this position because they are receiving the correct amount of circulation. The Comfort Channel enables your arms to also rest below your heart, as if you were upright, resulting in your arms receiving the correct amount of circulation – which actually reduces the chances of circulation issues or numbness, compared to flat mattresses.

SONU designed the Comfort Channel system with all of this in mind. You will be impressed at the elevated level of comfort and truly deep sleep you will enjoy on your SONU, enabled in part by the improvement in circulation your body will experience.

For more information about the causes of circulation issues and numbness while sleeping, you may visit the Sleep Foundation’s website.

What Is The Anatomy of The Hand?

Our hands are complex.

They’re made up of muscles, tendons, nerves, and other bones that all have jobs that help our hands function. Our hands are some of our most delicate body parts that can be easily injured by simple accidents and overuse. Like the rest of our bodies, the hands are controlled by the brain.

Below, we’ll highlight well-known parts of the hands.

Bones

There are 27 bones in the human hand. These bones are divided into three categories:

Each group of bones has a different function, and each group is essential to the overall proper functioning of our hands.

Joints

The wrist is actually a two-part joint below the hand. Other joints in the hand include:

Muscles

Our hands have 30 muscles in each of them. These muscles are mostly connected to those in the forearms. Hands also have short muscles in them that lie between the metacarpal bones. These short muscles help us point, bend, and stretch our fingers.

Nerves

The nerves are most relevant to numbness in the hands. There are three primary nerves in the hand:

Our hands consist of “17,000 touch receptors and free nerve endings in the palm.” These receptors and nerves sense movement and pressure.

What Causes Numbness In Hands?

Numbness in the hands is a condition known as paresthesia. People often describe it as feeling like their hands went to sleep. This numbness is often caused by nerve compression or nerve damage in the hands.

People may experience numbness in their hands while sleeping on them, repeatedly conducting the same movement with them, or keeping them in the same position for a long time. In other instances, it may be caused by an underlying medical issue.

Numbness in the hands can be a cause for concern if you think you have a medical issue. Several medical conditions include paresthesia as a symptom — let’s take a look at the most widely known.

Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that disrupts the way your body processes glucose. This can result in an excess of sugar in your blood. Type 2 diabetes is irreversible. Diabetics often suffer from poor circulation, which can lead to numb or tingling hands or feet.

Other symptoms of diabetes include:

Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel may occur when the median nerve in an opening in your wrist, called the carpal tunnel, is compressed. This unique opening sits on top of the wrist and consists of the carpal ligament and carpal bones. When the median nerve is compressed, it can cause numbness in the hand.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel include:

Raynaud’s Syndrome

During Raynaud’s syndrome, fingers and toes can go numb due to stress or low temperatures. This happens when arteries that deliver blood flow to your skin become narrow. This decrease in blood flow is known as vasospasm.

Symptoms of Raynaud’s syndrome include:

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is an illness in which an inadequate amount of the thyroid hormone reaches your bloodstream. As a result, you may experience lower energy, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold weather. You may also experience numbness in the hands.

Other symptoms of hypothyroidism are:

Stroke

A reduced supply of blood flowing to the brain can cause a stroke. Strokes can cause numbness in different parts of the body, from head to toe. However, this paralysis usually only occurs on one side.

These are the most common medical issues that experience numbness in the hands as a symptom. Additional conditions that may involve numbness in the hands include herpes, herniated disks, migraine headaches, vitamin B12 deficiency, or insect bites.

How Can I Treat Numbness In Hands?

If you experience any symptoms of the conditions above, you should immediately consult your doctor. If you are only experiencing hand numbness and no other symptoms, you may be able to treat yourself at home. However, if your hand numbness lasts for an extended period, you should seek medical attention.

To address your hand numbness, you can try some of the following options.

Hand Strengthening Exercises

Hand exercises can both strengthen your hands and increase flexibility. You can easily use them to “wake up” your numb hands by making and releasing a fist, gripping and squeezing a small object like a ball, or stretching each finger and your wrists.

Wrist Braces or Splints

Many people dealing with hand numbness opt to wear a brace or splint to address the underlying cause. Splints are especially popular with carpal tunnel patients. These braces/splints hold your hand and wrist steady and protect them from muscle weakness.

If your doctor determines that your hand numbness is the result of an injury, like a pinched nerve or ulnar nerve compression, they may recommend physical therapy or over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to address any discomfort you may be experiencing.

New Mattress and Pillows

If you constantly experience numbness in your hands while sleeping, changing your mattress and pillows can help you. Switching to the SONU Sleep System can help alleviate and prevent hand numbness by providing you with a negative space mattress that features a patented Comfort Channel that you can immerse your arms and hands into while sleeping.

The mattress comes with support pillows that elevate your head and align your spine while sleeping. This takes the pressure off of your shoulders, arms, and hands as you sleep, leaving you with the soft, cool feeling of multi-layered, high-resilience foams and a layer of plush serene foam.

You can also try changing your sleeping posture, which can contribute to a tingling sensation in the hands.

Conclusion

Numbness in the hands can make it difficult to get a good night’s rest, and there are many possible causes for this symptom.

If you are experiencing numbness in your hands, you should first make a note of other symptoms you are having because they could signal a much larger health condition. If you suspect your numbness may result from a medical issue, you should consult a doctor.

If you do not have any other symptoms, you can try to cure your numbness with some of the suggestions in this article. If your discomfort persists, seek medical assistance.

If your hand numbness is due to your sleep position, such as sleeping on your side, investing in the SONU Sleep System will help you very much. This system consists of the SONU negative space mattress with the patented Comfort Channel that you can put your hands into while you sleep, providing you with pressure relief, cooling comfort and spinal alignment.

Treat yourself to the pain-free comfort of a SONU mattress. You will not be disappointed.

FAQ

What causes numbness in hands?

Numbness in the hands can be caused by sleeping on your arms or hands, overuse, or an underlying condition. If you think you have an underlying condition, you need to consult with your primary care physician.

Is numbness in hands permanent?

No. You can treat many cases of mild numbness in the hands with strength exercises, rest, or wearing a brace. Your doctor might also have some suggestions for additional treatment.

Can the SONU mattress really help with numbness in the hands?

Yes! SONU designed its mattresses to help people who suffer from various types of body discomfort. Sleeping with your shoulders, arms, and hands submerged into the mattress under SONU’s Support Pillows can take the pressure off these areas of your body and help prevent them from falling asleep.

Sources:

Diabetes - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Raynaud's disease - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

Hypothyroidism: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Medication | Cleveland Clinic

Stroke - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

Numbness in Hands: Causes, Tests & Diagnosis | Cleveland Clinic

Carpal tunnel syndrome: Wrist splints and hand exercises - InformedHealth.org | NCBI Bookshelf

How do hands work? - InformedHealth.org | NCBI Bookshelf

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/innovative-mattress2022-05-11T05:09:16-07:002025-07-17T15:56:27-07:007 Mattress Innovations You Should Know AboutBridget Reed

Mattresses and the mattress industry have changed a lot over the years. From the coil mattresses invented in the 1800s to the new era of memory foam and latex mattresses, customers have more bed options now than they ever have.

The number of mattress options might be overwhelming for some people. In this article, we will go over the best mattress innovations and new products you should know about for a good night’s sleep, including two that come straight from SONU.

1. Smart Mattress

Most people can’t live without their smart devices today. From our phones to our televisions to our watches, smart technology is everywhere. It was just a matter of time before someone came up with a smart mattress. That’s just what quick-thinking mattress manufacturers have done.

Smart mattresses combine the intelligent technology used in our most-prized devices with mattresses to deliver features to customers that improve their sleep quality. These features include sleep tracking, biometric monitoring, firmness adjustments, and temperature control. Some beds even come with alarms that you can set to wake you up in the morning!

2. Split-Base Adjustable Beds

Adjustable beds have been available for a while, and they are popular with people who need to lift or lower their beds for comfort or medical reasons. One gripe that people have about them is that the entire bed needs to be adjusted no matter their sleep partners’ preferences. Imagine sleeping beside someone who can only sleep in the upright position while you prefer to sleep flat?

Well, bed makers have come up with a solution: a split-base adjustable bed. These beds consist of two bed bases that sit beside each other. They are equal in dimension but can be purchased with different firmness levels and other features.

A plus of the split-base adjustable bed is that two sleepers can let up their individual sides of the bed and adjust them without disturbing their co-sleepers. If you often sleep with a partner, an adjustable bed may support better sleep for both of you.

The SONU Sleep System is available in a Split King size especially for these adjustable foundations.

3. Serene Foam

One of the biggest downsides to memory foam mattresses is body heat retention.

Well, cool sleepers, rejoice! Serene foam is a new form of viscoelastic foam that includes billions of air pockets that allow plenty of air to flow through the material, creating a cooling effect.

The SONU negative space mattress includes two-inch layers of this serene foam to help customers fall asleep in comfort. SONU’s cutting-edge serene foam layer supports side sleepers’ upper torsos and hips, helping to align their spines while they snooze.

4. Patented Comfort Channel

SONU Sleep’s unique mattress design incorporates the patented Comfort Channel that provides Sink-In support. The Comfort Channel is 10-inches deep, and customers can immerse their upper extremities in it. This allows for full range of motion of the shoulders and arms, preventing pressure and pain in the upper torso and lower body that is unavoidable in all other mattresses.

To top it off, the Comfort Channel comes with adjustable support pillows that keep sleepers’ heads in alignment for pressure relief and high-quality sleep.

5. Eco-Friendly

The popularity of the bed-in-a-box has introduced customers to an unexpected con: off-gassing. Off-gassing occurs when you unbox a mattress, and a chemical smell is released. This smell results from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used in the manufacturing of the mattress. Although the smell is temporary, some customers are concerned about the use of VOCs and their effect on the environment.

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly mattress made with little to no VOCs or other harsh chemicals, you can purchase one certified by CertiPur, like the SONU Sleep System.

6. Gel Memory Foam

If you prefer to sleep cool, a gel memory foam bed may be a great option. Gel memory foam mattresses are made by adding a cooling gel layer to the center of memory foam. This additional layer helps traditional memory foam mattresses defeat one of their biggest issues: heat retention.

The types of gels used in gel-infused memory foam mattresses are either therma gel or phase-changing gel. The latter alternates between a solid or liquid state as the temperature of the mattress changes. No matter which type of gel is used, the result is the same: a cooler sleep experience.

7. Hybrid Mattress

Old coil-spring mattresses come with the possibility of the coils sticking through the mattresses’ encasing fabric and top layer. If you’ve been the victim of a coil spring sticking in you while you sleep, then you’ll appreciate the increased number of hybrid mattresses available today.

Hybrid mattresses have a coil-spring base in which each coil is individually wrapped. On top of this base is a layer of comfortable material like memory foam or latex. Sleepers get the sturdiness of a coil mattress along with the body-conforming effects of memory foam or latex.

What Should I Look For in a Mattress?

We spend a good portion of our lives in bed, so what we choose to sleep on matters.

If you’re in the market for an innovative mattress, here are the factors you should consider before purchasing.

Price

How much are you looking to spend on a mattress? Some mattresses with extra special features can be expensive. However, it’s hard to put a price on the comfort of a good bed.

Material

Are you allergic to certain mattress materials? Are you looking for an organic mattress, or do you prefer a certain type of foam? Take this into consideration when making your choice.

Firmness

How firm your bed is can affect your quality of sleep. If you have a co-sleeper, ask them what firmness level they are most comfortable with and compare it to your own preference. If you differ, see if there’s any medium ground or if you need to consider other options.

Edge Support

No one wants to feel like they’re falling out of bed when they’re trying to sleep. Once a mattress catches your eye, read up on whether it delivers good edge support. If the manufacturer doesn’t mention it, see what other customers have to say.

Motion Isolation

This one is important if you have a sleep partner. Find the right mattress that prevents you from feeling each other toss and turn on opposite sides of the bed throughout the night.

Temperature Control

Do you sleep cool or hot? This is important to getting restful sleep. See which mattress types offer sleep temperatures to your liking.

Special Features

Are you looking for a smart mattress? How about one that allows for full range of motion, like the SONU Sleep System? There are all kinds of mattresses available now with special features. Determine which features are must-haves for you and anyone else who sleeps in your bed.

Conclusion

Mattress makers are more innovative than ever. Choosy customers can find beds to their liking, no matter their preferences. Whether you want a bed with smart technology or one that allows immersion of the arms, you’re covered.

SONU is proud to introduce the negative space mattress. This unique mattress comes with innovative features such as a Comfort Channel, adjustable support pillows, and a cooling layer of serene foam. SONU specializes in creating mattresses for anyone who is tired of traditional mattresses and ready for an all-new, luxurious experience.

Innovation is a click away. Let SONU take you there.

As a result of these innovations, The SONU Sleep System has been awarded "Best Mattress For Side Sleepers & Most Innovative of 2023 & 2024"by SleepDoctor.com.

The SONU Sleep System is now available in select stores. You can check to see if the SONU Sleep System is sold near you, or you simply purchase directly online and enjoy the peace of mind of the 100 Night Trial period.

FAQ

What is serene foam?

Serene foam is a type of viscoelastic foam that contains air pockets. These pockets help the foam provide a cooling effect, which is ideal for anyone who likes to sleep cool.

I want to try an innovative mattress like SONU’s, but what if I don’t like it? Is there a return policy?

SONU Sleep offers a 100-night trial with all mattress purchases. If you are not satisfied with your SONU, you can return it for a refund.

What should I consider before buying a new mattress?

Decide what features you want your new mattress to have and how much you are willing to spend. At SONU, we offer a 36-month payment plan through Affirm with a 0% APR.

Where can I buy the SONU Sleep System?

All of SONU’s mattresses are available online. The mattresses are also now available in limited brick-and-mortar stores. See if a store is in your area so you can try out the SONU in person.

Sources:

Best Smart Beds of 2022 – Why You Need A Smart Mattress | Sleep Foundation

What to Know Before Purchasing a Split King Adjustable Bed | Sleep Advisor

Find a Mattress Without Harmful Chemicals or VOCs | Consumer Reports

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers | SleepDoctor.com

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/moving-mattress2022-05-11T05:07:45-07:002022-05-11T05:07:47-07:00Moving a Mattress: 4 Steps That'll Make Moving EasyBridget Reed

If you surveyed people and asked them how they liked the moving process, a majority of them would probably say that it’s a pain. Honestly, it can be. The process isn’t made any easier when you have big furniture pieces to move, like a mattress.

Maneuvering a mattress in and out of your home can be tricky. If you have a large mattress like a queen or king, your job is made even harder.

You might wonder if moving a mattress is worth the hassle. It is when you have a mattress that molds to your body, like the negative space mattress from SONU Sleep.

Follow these steps to make the mattress-moving process go smoothly, and learn how to properly store your mattress.

What Tools Do I Need To Move a Mattress?

Before you start the moving process, you will need to gather a number of supplies to help you transport your mattress. You may own some of them already. If not, most can be purchased at your local retailer or hardware store.

Mattress Bag

Most mattress bags are clear, thick plastic bags with the same dimensions as standard mattress sizes. Mattress bags protect your mattress from being damaged during the moving process.

They will also keep your mattress clean and protected from dust and bugs in a storage unit. For extra protection, enclose your mattress in two mattress bags.

Tape

Even though many mattress bags come with zippers, you may still need some tape to secure yours shut. The best tape to use would be packing or duct tape. When taping the mattress, start by covering the ends or openings, then wrap the tape around the mattress horizontally and vertically.

Ratchet Straps or Ropes

Ratchet straps, also known as tie-downs, are available at most hardware stores. They are fairly inexpensive. These nifty straps can be used to tie down a variety of items, including cargo on vehicles. They use hooks and fasteners to close themselves securely, taking away the need to tie knots.

If you prefer to use ropes to tie down your cargo, shoot for poly ropes. These braided ropes are extra strong and near impossible to tear apart.

Scissors

Having scissors around may come in handy. You might need them to cut the tape you’re using.

A Friend or Hired Help

Okay, this last one isn’t exactly a “tool,” but having a friend on hand to help you move can make a big difference. Though it is technically possible, we don’t generally recommend that you try to move your mattress without any help.

If one or more of your friends can’t help you move your mattress, considering hiring some movers.

How Can I Move a Mattress?

Once you have gathered your supplies and enlisted help, you’ll be ready to move your mattress. Follow these steps, and the process of moving your mattress will be much easier.

1. Clear the Area

Moving a mattress out of a room can take up a lot of space. It’s best to clear the area where you will be working before you start packing the mattress up. Clear your pathway and the surrounding area of any possible obstructions first so you won’t have to worry about it after the fact. A clear workspace and pathway give you more room to move your mattress.

2. Put the Mattress in the Mattress Bag

Doing this may take two people, at least. Open your mattress bag and slide the opening over the end of your mattress horizontally. Then, with help, gently slide the remainder of the cover over the mattress. One person may need to raise the mattress a little for the cover to slide on all the way.

3. Seal the Mattress Bag

This is where scissors and tape come in handy. Zip the mattress bag if it has zippers. If not, folder the opening of the cover over and tape it down. Proceed to wrap the tape around the rest of the mattress to secure it so it won’t slip out of the bag.

4. Carry Out and Load the Mattress

With the help of your friend(s) or movers, make sure the mattress is turned over onto its side. With one person leading and the other following, have one person pick up the front of the mattress while the other picks up the back.

Slowly carry the mattress out of the room and home and onto the vehicle you will be loading it in. Gently load the mattress onto the back of the vehicle you’re using to transport it.

How Can I Transport a Mattress?

Different types of vehicles can be used to transport a mattress between locations. Never transport your mattress standing up or on its side; it should always lay flat.

Here’s how to load a mattress in or on different vehicles.

Van

Many people rent moving vans when they are moving to new homes. However, if you are only transporting your mattress, you may be able to load it into a standard minivan.

Either way, you will need to ensure that the bed or back of the van is clear. In a minivan, you will likely need to remove the seats in order to fit your mattress inside.

Pickup or Other Truck

Load the mattress onto the truck’s bed and lay it flat. You should secure the mattress so that it does not fly off the back of the truck when it is being driven. Loading and unloading trucks is fairly easy when compared to other vehicles.

Car

What if all you’re left with is your average sedan?

It’s still possible to carry your mattress to its new location with a small car. All you will need to do is secure the mattress to the top of your vehicle with some straps/tie-downs or rope.

Ensure that your ropes or straps are long enough before you load the mattress onto the vehicle; usually, 16 to 17 feet is enough. Tie the ropes or connect the straps under the bottom of your car and through the back passenger windows.

How Should I Secure a Mattress?

Securing your mattress is extremely important. For example, if you are using a truck, not securing the mattress will leave it vulnerable to falling off the truck’s bed. With other vehicles, you need to secure the mattress, so it does not move around when someone is driving.

The best tool to secure a mattress on the floor/bed of a truck or top of a car is with ratchet straps. The mattress should always lay flat. Before driving off, make sure the straps are closed properly and that the mattress is secure.

When you are driving with a mattress in tow, be aware that accidents, inclement weather, or other distractions are all possibilities. Drive slowly and obey all traffic signs. Monitor your side and rearview mirrors frequently and look out for erratic drivers.

What Are Some Mattress Moving Alternatives?

Some people don’t want to deal with the pain of moving their own mattress, and that is okay. That is why there are other ways to transport mattresses between locations. Here are some other options for people who do not want to move their mattresses themselves.

Hire Movers

The most common way to have your mattress moved is to hire professional movers. This will usually include at least two people who are either independent contractors or employees of a moving company. The movers may use a moving container or typical moving van to transport your mattress to its new home.

Either way, you should feel confident that your mattress will arrive at its destination safely if you are using professional movers.

Ship It

If you don’t want to hire movers, you can have your mattress shipped. This is the best option for people who are sending their mattress to a far away location. Most likely, you will still need to package up your mattress for shipping.

If you have a bed-in-a-box, you can partially compress and roll it for moving in an SUV or pickup truck.

How Should I Properly Store a Mattress?

Storing a mattress incorrectly can lead to damage. Items in storage are often subject to mold, pests, dust, and structural damage. To prevent all of this from happening, you need to store your mattress the right way. Doing this can extend the life of your mattress.

Where To Store a Mattress

A climate-controlled, indoor storage unit is the best place to store your mattress. Units that are not climate-controlled put your mattress at risk for mold. The ideal climate-controlled storage facility will keep the humidity below 50%.

Keep It Flat

Storing a mattress on its side can make it lose its shape and functionality. This is why it’s best to lay mattresses flat in storage. If you’ve invested in a high-quality mattress like the SONU, you’ll want to store it properly to protect your investment.

If you are storing your bed frame intact, it’s good to lay your mattress on top of it for long-term storage. Avoid laying the mattress directly on the floor, as this will subject it to dirt.

If you have no choice but to store your mattress on its side, you should rotate it every few months. Doing this will help it maintain its shape and durability.

Air It Out

Before storing your mattress, clean it. You can clean a mattress by vacuuming it. A vacuum will suck up the debris hidden in the folds of your mattress.

If you want your mattress to be extra fresh, you can steam clean it or use an upholstery cleaner to spot clean. Ensure that the mattress is completely dry before it goes into storage, because dampness can lead to mildew or mold.

When your mattress eventually comes out of storage, you will want to repeat the cleaning process. Vacuum the mattress and allow it to sit uncovered for a few hours to air out.

Conclusion

See, that wasn’t so bad, was it? All it takes to move a mattress are four easy steps: 1) clear the surrounding area, 2) put the mattress in a mattress bag, 3) seal it, and 4) load it. The process doesn't feel overwhelming when you look at it that way.

Storage is always an option if you aren’t ready to use your mattress right away. Picking the right storage unit is key, along with how you position your mattress for long-term storage. That way, when your mattress eventually comes out, you’ll be able to enjoy it as if it's good as new.

SONU Sleep makes mattresses that are durable and innovative. The negative space mattress with the patented Comfort Channel is made with 26 highly resilient foams, and it allows sleepers full range of motion within the mattress. With the proper care, your SONU mattress can last you a lifetime!

All SONU mattresses come with a five-year warranty. Read more about what is covered in the warranty and review tips for handling your SONU mattress properly.

FAQ

Do I have to use a mattress bag when moving my mattress?

If you want to protect your mattress from dirt, damage, and other issues, it’s best to use a mattress bag or two. These bags will help keep out dust and pests and shield your mattress from wear and tear during the moving process.

Why can’t I store my mattress on its side?

Storing your mattress on its side can damage it. The mattress may become misshapen and saggy the longer you have it in storage. If you have no choice but to store it on its side, rotate it from time to time.

What vehicle is best for transporting a mattress?

You can use almost any vehicle to transport a mattress. The most common are moving trucks/vans, pickup trucks, minivans, and even cars like sedans.

What qualifies me for a SONU Mattress Warranty?

SONU Sleep’s Mattress Warranty applies to mattresses purchased directly from SONU. Mattresses purchased via third parties are not covered by this policy.

Where can I learn more about SONU Sleep’s Mattress Warranty and other policies?

You can read SONU’s entire Mattress Warranty policy and other information online at your convenience.

Sources:

How to Move a Mattress – Tips for Transporting A Bed on Your Own | Sleep Advisor

How to Store a Mattress | Savvy Sleeper

How to Ship a Mattress | Sleep Foundation

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/hips-hurt-sleeping-on-side2022-05-11T05:06:00-07:002023-10-12T14:41:03-07:00Hips Hurt Sleeping on Side: Why Mattress Materials MatterBridget Reed

If you’re a side sleeper who recently began experiencing hip pain, your mattress may be to blame. Upgrading to a mattress made for side sleepers, like the one from SONU Sleep, can help reduce and prevent hip pain.

Sometimes, the cause of your hip pain is an underlying health issue. It is still important that you choose the right mattress material to help support your hips as you heal.

If you sleep on your side, this position can result in too much pressure being placed on your hip, thus leading to aches and pains.

Suffering from hip pain at night can lead to sleep deprivation. Having a painful hip can make it hard for you to fall asleep at night, and it may continually wake you up as the night goes on.

Hip pain can be caused by a wide variety of health issues, injuries, or other factors, and determining what is causing this symptom can help you find relief more quickly.

Read on to learn more about hip pain while side sleeping, potential causes, treatment options, and how the SONU Sleep System may be able to help.

What Causes Hip Pain While Side Sleeping?

Sometimes, the pain you are experiencing is medical. Some common hip issues that people suffer from are bursitis, arthritis, tendinitis, and hip fracture.

Bursitis

Overuse of the hips can lead to bursitis, an inflammatory response that occurs in the fluid sacs surrounding the hip joints. Bursitis will usually go away with time, but a doctor may suggest that you take pain medication. If your bursitis is extreme, surgery may be required.

Arthritis

Aging is often accompanied by the deterioration of our joints, which is called arthritis. Arthritis can stem from other health issues or overuse of the joints. A doctor may prescribe pain medication to treat arthritis or suggest changes to your lifestyle.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendons. Many people who play sports that repeatedly use their tendons are prone to tendinitis. The condition is temporary and can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).

Hip Fracture

Weakening of the bones and accidents can sometimes lead to hip fractures. Signs that someone has a hip fracture include severe hip pain, inability to get up after a fall, a bruised hip area, and more. The only way to repair a hip fracture is with surgery and physical therapy.

When Should I Call a Doctor?

If your hip pain has gone from occasional to constant, it’s time to alert a physician. If you have difficulty getting in and out of bed, doing chores, or walking due to your hip pain, a doctor is the best person to help you come up with a pain relief plan. You should also notify your doctor if you are experiencing other symptoms along with your hip pain, like a fever.

What Are Some Mattress Options for Hip Pain?

The following mattress materials are best for hip pain.

Serene Foam

Serene foam is a relatively new option in the mattress world. The foam contains air pockets that help air flow through it, combatting the heat retention that is so common in other types of foam. Like other foams, serene foam contours to your unique body shape, which helps hip pain sufferers by cradling their aching hips and preventing too much pressure from being applied.

SONU’s mattresses are made of 26 highly resilient foams topped off with a layer of Serene foam, delivering a well-cushioned mattress that provides pressure relief on the torso and hips. The mattress is designed with side sleepers in mind.

SONU’s Support Pillows may also help relieve and prevent hip pain while side sleeping by aligning your head, neck, and spine. Each SONU mattress comes with Support Pillows for optimal head and neck comfort.

Memory Foam

Memory foam has been popular with customers for years. It’s able to conform to a person’s body shape while they’re sleeping, but it will bounce back to its original shape when they get up. People with hip pain should pick a firmness level for their memory foam that doesn’t make them feel like they are sinking in or that the mattress is too hard. Medium-firm is usually recommended.

Latex

Like serene and memory foam, latex conforms to sleepers’ bodies. However, it bounces back much faster than foam mattresses do. Customers enjoy latex due to its cooling comfort, which is perfect for anyone who does not want to sleep hot. Latex delivers good pressure relief for people with hip pain and other pain issues.

Conclusion

If you suffer from hip pain when you sleep on your side, invest in a mattress made for side sleepers that delivers body contouring and pressure relief. You can also minimize your pain by stretching, using support pillows, or using the RICE recovery method.

When it comes to hip pain and mattresses, your mattress's material matters.

Generally, you will want to opt for something that is sturdy, supportive, and body-conforming. Materials that deliver in this regard are serene foam, memory foam, and latex.

SONU’s mattresses were designed with side sleepers in mind and are the solution to the pain or pressure that often results from sleeping on your side.

Memory foam layers are encased in cooling Serene foam for a comfortable temperature. The SONU Sleep System also features a top layer of plush serene foam for Sink-In support that offers soothing pain relief and prevention. SONU’s mattresses even come with a patented Comfort Channel that allows sleepers to immerse their arms into it, further relieving pressure from the body.

Do you have hip pain? Are you ready for some relief that doesn’t involve exercise or physical therapy? SONU’s mattresses were made with you in mind.

What are you waiting for? Check out the SONU Sleep System today.

FAQ

Is sleeping on my side bad for hip pain?

Sleeping on your side can actually be good for hip pain if you have a mattress made for side sleepers. A mattress for side sleepers will keep your body in alignment, one of the most crucial aspects to reducing hip pain.

How will SONU’s mattress help relieve my hip pain?

SONU’s mattresses are made with several layers of body contouring foams that deliver pressure relief and spine alignment. SONU’s adjustable support pillows are also an important part of what makes its mattresses a great choice for people suffering from pain.

Sources:

The Best Sleeping Positions to Reduce Hip Pain | Healthy Sleep

What Causes Hip Pain at Night? | Hackensack Meridian Health

Hip fracture - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/best-mattress-fibromyalgia2022-05-06T10:51:43-07:002023-10-12T14:42:08-07:005 Factors That Make Mattresses Good for FibromyalgiaBridget Reed

Do you or someone you know suffer from fibromyalgia? What even is fibromyalgia?

Up to 4.8% of the global population suffers from fibromyalgia. The disorder is most common in women, and there is currently no cure.

Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal pain disorder. It can affect the way the brain and spine receive and transmit pain signals.

What causes fibromyalgia? It usually occurs when there is overstimulation of the nerves between the brain and the spinal cord. Fibromyalgia can also develop due to genetic mutations, illnesses or infections, and traumatic events like accidents.

Who is at risk for fibromyalgia? Women, people with a genetic history of the disease, those who have lupus, and people with arthritis are the most susceptible to the disorder.

SONU is steadfastly working to help pain sufferers get excellent sleep. Check out the SONU Sleep System to learn about an unparalleled sleep experience.

What Are Common Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

People living with fibromyalgia experience a range of symptoms. These symptoms include:

Fibromyalgia can also cause cognitive difficulties. The issue is nicknamed “fibro frog,” and it is known to make it extremely hard for the person with fibromyalgia to concentrate. It can also lead to sleep disturbances.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is also common in people with fibromyalgia. The symptoms between the two overlap. Treatment typically provided for RLS can help control the side effects of fibromyalgia.

How Are Fibromyalgia and Sleep-Related?

People with fibromyalgia often suffer from sleep disorders. The more pain they are in, the less quality sleep they experience. The duration of their sleep decreases, and the amount of wake time is increased. This can also lead to mood disorders in the person with fibromyalgia.

Patients with fibromyalgia experience less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is essential to staying focused and processing information.

Sleep deprivation can induce fibromyalgia symptoms. Poor sleep quality can cause fibromyalgia pain to spread even more throughout the body. A lack of sleep can also interfere with a person’s pain threshold, causing them to feel more pain.

Low sleep quality can also put non-fibromyalgia sufferers at risk for widespread pain.

One way to manage pain and fibromyalgia is to be prescribed sleep medication. The patient will be able to sleep longer, but they will also experience less pain the day after they’ve taken the sleep medication.

How Can I Sleep With Fibromyalgia?

The sleep advice given to fibromyalgia patients includes much of the same information given to people to get good sleep, in general.

Regular Exercise

Exercising regularly can reduce fibromyalgia symptoms and improve sleep quality. Initially, someone who is sleep-deprived may not feel up to the task. However, incorporating even 30 minutes of exercise a day can help people with fibromyalgia start getting deep sleep for longer durations.

Sleep Schedule

Creating a sleep schedule has always been recommended, regardless of whether you have fibromyalgia or not. However, for the fibromyalgia patient, training the body to get up and go to bed at the same time each day can trigger better quality of sleep. Avoiding stimulants and naps later in the day can also help you stay on track with your schedule.

Vitamins

Fibromyalgia patients do not always get enough essential vitamins, like Vitamin D. Talking to a doctor to find out where you are deficient is the first step. They will likely recommend that you take supplements, change your diet, or even get more sunlight (a source of Vitamin D) to help you get a sufficient amount of the vitamins you are lacking.

Good Mattress

When you have fibromyalgia, the bed you sleep on is very important. Getting enough sleep is hard enough; you don’t need an uncomfortable mattress adding to your pain. Do your research. Read reviews and seek some assistance in finding a suitable bed for people with fibromyalgia.

Next, we’ll explain how a good mattress can help ease fibromyalgia pain.

5 Ways Mattresses Help With Fibromyalgia

There are at least five factors that make mattresses good for fibromyalgia. These factors are pressure relief, support, edge support, firmness, and motion isolation. When a person living with fibromyalgia is shopping for a mattress, these five factors should always be at the top of the list to help you find the best choice.

1. Pressure Relief

Sleeping on a mattress that applies too much pressure on the body can be incredibly painful if you have fibromyalgia. It’s necessary to find a mattress that provides pressure relief while helping you get a comfortable night’s sleep. Memory foam mattresses do this by contouring to your body shape.

2. Support

Proper support should help keep your spine aligned when you sleep. This is important for people with fibromyalgia because lying on a mattress with inconsistent support can misalign the spine, creating pain in the body from top to bottom. A supportive mattress should keep your body level when you sleep.

3. Edge Support

Edge support should also be considered when buying a mattress for someone with fibromyalgia. Someone in intense pain needs the perimeters of their mattress to be strong and sturdy in case they sleep close to the edge of the bed. A saggy mattress with little edge support can put you at risk of falling off the bed.

4. Firmness

Mattress firmness is related to how much pain relief you receive. If you have fibromyalgia, you should not sleep on a mattress that is too soft or too firm. A medium to medium-firm mattress is usually the right choice for many people. If it is still a little hard on your body, you can cover the mattress with a soft topper.

5. Motion Isolation

How much shock absorbency a mattress provides when someone moves is very important if you have fibromyalgia. If you have this disorder and you have a co-sleeper, you’ll want to consider how much their movement in bed may exacerbate your pain and disrupt your sleep. A good mattress will provide enough motion isolation that you can hardly feel when the other person moves.

What Are the Best Mattresses for Fibromyalgia?

Latex

Latex mattresses provide support without the sunken feeling that can come with many memory foam mattresses. The mattresses offer adequate spine support. They also offer better temperature control, sleeping cooler than their memory foam competition. Latex is resilient and bounces back to its original shape quickly.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are the most popular mattresses sold today. The foam responds to the heat and weight of your body to conform to your individual shape. As a result, these mattresses offer fantastic pressure relief and spine support. One caveat to sleeping on memory foam is that it tends to retain heat, which isn’t ideal for people who want to sleep on a cooling mattress.

Serene Foam

Serene foam is new to the mattress market. It’s made of high-performing polyurethane that sleeps cool due to the billions of air capsules included in the material. Serene foam does not skimp on support; instead, it absorbs shock and releases air pressure that provides the type of support you won’t get from any other mattress type.

Get It All With SONU

With SONU’s negative space mattress, you benefit from these materials. The mattress’s support system is made up memory foam, and other high resilience foams that are then topped off with a cooling layer of Serene foam.

Not only does the negative space mattress conform to your unique shape, but it also features a patented Comfort Channel that allows you to let your shoulders and arms sink into the mattress.

Conclusion

As you can see, having the right mattress is crucial for people living with fibromyalgia. Pressure relief, firmness, support, edge support, and motion control are five factors to consider when purchasing a mattress for someone with this autoimmune disease.

SONU Sleep has created an original mattress made out of 26 layers of memory foam, other high-quality foam topped off with a layer of Serene foam. SONU’s goal is to help customers experience less pain and discomfort when they sleep by offering them a patented Comfort Channel, adjustable pillows, and multiple firmness levels to suit the needs of every sleeper.

Add the SONU Sleep System to your pain-relief arsenal if you have fibromyalgia. If you aren’t satisfied after 100 days, you can return the mattress for a full refund.

FAQ

What causes fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is often genetic. It can also be caused by trauma, an infection, or an illness.

How do fibromyalgia and sleep affect each other?

Not getting enough sleep can exacerbate a fibromyalgia patient’s pain. Likewise, the pain from fibromyalgia can make it difficult for the sufferer to get a full night’s sleep. A doctor may prescribe a sleep medication to help with both issues.

What mattress firmness level is best for fibromyalgia?

You do not want a mattress that is too soft or too hard. A medium to medium-firm mattress is usually recommended for people living with fibromyalgia.

Are memory and serene foam mattresses too hard for people with fibromyalgia?

No. As long as you select the right level of firmness, memory and serene foam mattresses provide support and pressure relief that lessen fibromyalgia discomfort.

I have fibromyalgia and want to try the SONU Sleep System. Do SONU mattresses come with a trial period?

Yes. All SONU mattresses come with a 100-day/night trial. If you are unhappy with your mattress after that trial period, you can return it for a full refund.

Sources:

Fibromyalgia - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

The association between pain and sleep in fibromyalgia | NIH

Fibromyalgia and Sleep: Sleep Disturbances & Coping | Sleep Foundation

Best Mattress for Fibromyalgia - 2022 Update | Sleep Advisor

The best mattress for fibromyalgia | Chicago Tribune

The role of sleep in pain and fibromyalgia | Nature Reviews Rheumatology

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/best-sleep-recorder-apps2022-05-06T10:50:33-07:002022-05-06T10:50:34-07:00Sleep Recorder App: 5 You Should Try OutBridget Reed

Have you been told that you snore? Are you a sleep talker? You might just be curious about your sleep pattern.

Your sleep behavior could be a sign of a sleep disorder. It can be hard to identify sleep disorders without recordings. This is why sleep recorders were invented.

This article will name sleep recorder apps you can download on your iPhone or Android devices from the app store. Before we do that, we’ll talk about what sleep recorders do and the most common sleep disorders that benefit from sleep recording.

Quality sleep starts with your mattress. Check out SONU for the only mattress around that offers you arm support, making it perfect while you scroll through your sleep app on your smart device.

What Is a Sleep Recorder App?

Sleep recorder apps allow you to capture how you sound when you’re asleep, offer you better sleep techniques, and often provide sleep sounds. You can use them to track your sleeping habits, how much you sleep, the quality of sleep you experience, and how often you experience a sleep disturbance.

Although scientific studies do not validate the data provided by sleep recorder apps, these apps can still serve as a helpful tool to address sleep issues you were unaware of. Some companies are in the process of creating more sleep recorder apps that can aid health professionals like sleep specialists.

Perhaps the coolest thing about the apps is their mobility. You can download them on any of your smart devices. Many people choose to put the apps on their phones. In addition to sound recording and sleep analysis, sleep recorder apps can serve as sleep aids and alarm clocks.

What Should I Look For in a Sleep Recorder App?

That depends. What do you need? Are you looking for something that just records and offers no other features?

Maybe you want an all-inclusive sleep recorder app that plays white noise for you at night and wakes you up with an alarm in the morning. You can even find apps that include mindfulness meditation. There are so many different types of sleep recorder apps for you to choose from.

What Are Some Common Sleep Disorders?

As mentioned previously, all of the sleep recorder apps we will include in this article have different features. If you use more than one, you will probably find that they produce different data when it comes to sleep analysis.

Seventy million Americans have sleep disorders. One-hundred million of them are not getting enough sleep; that’s one-third of the US population.

If you’re trying to use a sleep recorder app to see if you exhibit symptoms of a sleep disorder, you should first know what the most common sleep disorders look like.

Nearly 80 sleep disorders have been discovered. Here is a list of the most common sleep disorders:

5 Best Sleep Recorder Apps To Try

Get ready to take notes. Here are some of the most recommended sleep recorder apps that you can download. Each of them were rated at least 4.0 out of 5.0 stars in the Google Play Store and Apple Store.

Sleep Monitor

Coming in with a whopping 5 million downloads in the Google Play Store alone is Sleep Monitor. The app tracks and records sleep cycle data, and it even has a sleep reminder feature. The app also comes with the following features:

Sleep Monitor allows you to take notes within the app. It can also play relaxing music to help you fall asleep.

SnoreLab

Find out if you snore once and for all with this sleep recorder. SnoreLab will tell you how often and how intensely you snore at night. The app’s creators claim that SnoreLab has monitored over 50 million nights of sleep.

SnoreLab can offer you advice for reducing your snoring, and it will keep track of aspects of your lifestyle to see what causes you to snore in the first place.

SnoreLab’s features include:

Do I Snore or Grind

Track your snoring and teeth grinding with this sleep recorder app. Do I Snore or Grind will record you overnight and deliver the results the next morning. You can record up to 5 nights of snoring or grinding for free before the app asks if you’d like to pay for it.

Do I Snore or Grind will recommend ways that you can stop snoring or grinding your teeth. If you suffer from both issues, the app will tell you which is more severe.

The latest version of the app includes:

BetterSleep

BetterSleep provides sleep tracking, stories, sleep sounds, and guided meditation. Discover your sleep pattern and figure out ways to improve your sleep. Several health professionals recommend BetterSleep, and 91% of the app’s users have reported getting better sleep after using it for a week.

BetterSleep offers:

Sleep Tracker

Sleep Tracker by Leap Fitness Group tracks your sleep cycles, records snoring and dream talking, provides a smart alarm, and even has sleep sounds that you can play.

There are a number of sleep recorder apps named Sleep Tracker. However, this one is the most popular of the bunch. It encourages its users to create happier, healthier lives by improving their sleep quality.

Sleep Tracker offers:

Conclusion

Sleep recorder apps are an innovative way to track your sleep quality. They even provide you with guidance for improving your sleep or stopping behaviors like snoring or grinding teeth.

The five sleep recorder apps featured in this article are some of the best you can download. Have you tried a sleep recorder app before? What was the result?

Whether you are a snorer, teeth grinder, or sleep talker, you need a quality mattress to go with your sleep recorder app to help you get a restful night’s sleep. SONU Sleep has created the perfect mattress for people who exhibit disruptive sleep behavior or suffer from sleep disorders.

SONU’s supreme mattresses provide you with the support you need to properly align your spine, keep your airways open, and reduce the amount of pressure on your upper torso. If you’re ready for a superb sleep experience, consider SONU.

Your journey to better sleep awaits.

FAQ

Are sleep recorder apps free?

Some of the Apple Store and Google Play Store apps are free. Others provide a trial period before requiring payment.

Do I need more than one sleep recorder app?

One app should suffice. Look for one that has most of the features you are looking for.

Can sleep recorder apps detect sleep disorders?

Most of the apps track your sleep behavior and patterns, which could indicate that you have a sleep disorder. To be officially diagnosed, you need to visit your doctor.

Sources:

Overview of smartphone applications for sleep analysis | NIH

How to Pick the Best Sleep App for You | Sleep Foundation

Common Sleep Disorders: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/cuddle-pillow-arm2022-05-06T10:49:36-07:002022-05-06T10:49:37-07:00Cuddle Arm Pillow: The Science Behind Their SuccessBridget Reed

Do you love cuddling with a loved one but hate that it causes your arm to ache or go numb? This article is for you. We’re going to talk about the side effects of cuddling, cuddle pillows for your arm, and whether you should buy a cuddle arm pillow.

Many of us enjoy a good snuggle with our loved ones. If you are someone who cuddles with your arm supporting another person’s head, you’re familiar with how uncomfortable that can be. For many people, their cuddle arm will experience pain or numbness from their cosleeper’s head weight.

Luckily, there are many cuddle arm pillows available for purchase. These pillows are made specially for your cuddle arm. They each have armholes, and some come in a curved shape for you to place your arm under.

Your cosleeper places their head on the pillow while your arm is under the hole or arch, free from making contact with their head.

Your mattress is just as important for helping with your discomfort as the cuddle arm pillows. SONU’s mattresses come with a patented Comfort Channel that allows you to immerse your shoulders and arms into the mattress fully. If you cuddle, the channel frees your arms and shoulders from the weight of your loved one.

Why Do I Need a Cuddle Arm Pillow?

As fun as it is to cuddle with someone, it can damage your arm. Constant pressure on your radial nerve, which is on the underside of your arm, can lead to a condition called radial nerve palsy.

Your radial nerves control movement in your triceps and help you extend your fingers and wrists. Radial nerve palsy is common in couples where someone falls asleep on their partner's arm.

Symptoms of radial nerve palsy include numbness in the arm and tingling in the fingers. Your wrist can also become stiff as a side effect of the condition.

Another condition that can stem from frequent cuddling is wrist drop. When wrist drop occurs, the muscles you use to raise your hand become paralyzed, and your fingers become difficult to move.

The nerves in our hands and forearms originate in the neck. Because of its somewhat awkward positioning, cuddling could put excess strain on the neck leading to forearm tingling, numbness, or weakness. This pressure on the neck’s nerves may also affect the arm's reflexes.

Your arm could be tingling or numb from other reasons, such as neuropathy, diabetes, or a vitamin B1 deficiency.

Sleeping with a cuddle pillow can help prevent radial nerve palsy and wrist drop since the arch or hole in the pillow protects your arm from pressure. It can also protect you from any general arm and shoulder pain that may result from sleeping in the cuddle position.

Are Cuddle Arm Pillows Really Worth It?

When it comes to specialty pillows, cuddle pillows for arms are in good company. But are all of these “alternative” pillows worth the hype?

If you struggle to sleep comfortably due to pain in your arms, shoulders, or neck, specialty pillows might be what you need to enjoy better, deeper sleep.

Some types of specialty pillows include:

The type of pillow you use isn’t the only important factor — the mattress on your bed frame matters as well. If your mattress, which is the primary part of your bed, is uncomfortable, you likely won’t even notice whether your cuddle arm pillow is helpful.

If you’re in the market for a mattress that provides you with luxurious comfort while supporting your neck, shoulders, and arms while you sleep, look no further than SONU’s Sleep System.

SONU’s mattress features a patented Comfort Channel that allows you to immerse your arms and shoulders into the bed while you sleep, thus preventing pain and pressure that often occurs while side sleeping. The SONU Sleep System is suitable for all sleeping positions, and features a cooling layer, a plush top layer of serene foam, and Support Pillows for head and neck support.

Cuddle Arm Pillow Factors To Consider

Is this your first time buying a cuddle arm pillow?

When you buy a cuddle arm pillow, you should consider the following factors:

Reading the reviews of the cuddle pillows that interest you should provide you with this information. You can also check the labels of the pillows to learn how to care for them.

What Types of Cuddle Arm Pillows Are Available?

If you’re set on getting a cuddle arm pillow, here are some popular brands:

Couple Cuddle Pillow From Sossey

The Sossey Couple Cuddle Pillow is designed for both the left and right side sleeping positions. It is also perfect for back sleepers. The pillow is 65 x 49 x 12 cm and made from memory foam. It has a curve under it for you to place your left or right arm while your loved one lays their head on the pillow.

The pillow provides great support for sleepers’ necks and shoulders. Sossey claims that sleeping with their Couple Cuddle Pillow will help you “experience less tossing, less turning, and more deep sleeping.”

Snuggex From Raglis

This pillow from Raglis is designed for side sleepers who experience neck pain. Made of memory foam with a polyester cover, the pillow is 35 x 30 x 13 cm or 14 x 12 x 5 in.

Snuggex is small enough for you to take it with you when you travel. Use it for cuddling or individual sleep. Snuggex’s arched design provides a tunnel for your arm to go under while you or your partner place your heads on top of it.

Coodle Pillow

This pillow’s design is similar to Snuggex’s, except it comes with a lower arch. Its dimensions are 12 x 12 x 5.5 in. Coodle is made of high-density, supportive foam and it can be used individually or with a partner.

Gel Arm-Tunnel Pillow from Better Sleep

Better Sleep’s Gel Arm-Tunnel Pillow helps improve circulation in the hands and arms by providing two tunnels for sleepers to put their arms under. The 22 x 4.5 x 15 in pillow is good for side and stomach sleepers. Unlike the other pillows on this list, this one is made out of cotton.

SONU’s Adjustable Pillows and Comfort Channel

SONU’s Sleep System comes with adjustable pillows that are placed in a patented Comfort Channel that lets cuddlers submerge their shoulders and arms.

The sleep system is perfect for side sleepers who may experience neck, shoulder, or arm pain as the pillows can be adjusted to the level of support you need to keep your head and neck in perfect alignment. Additional top pillows can also be purchased for optimal comfort.

Conclusion

Cuddling with a loved one can sometimes lead to pain. Luckily, the cuddle arm pillow is a way around it. The pillows mentioned in this article are perfect for people who cuddle and for those who prefer to sleep solo but need somewhere comfortable to put their arms.

If you are experiencing numbness, tingling, or aching pain in your arm and you are prone to cuddling, check these pillows out. If you want to go beyond cuddle arm pillows, check out SONU’s Sleep System and its Comfort Channel which was made with cuddlers in mind. Nix your arm and shoulder pain while side sleeping, enjoy plush serene foam, and get the sleep of your dreams — all thanks to SONU.

Give yourself the gift of better sleep with the SONU Sleep System.

Sources:

Numbness and Tingling | Massachusetts General Hospital

Physician warns cuddling while sleeping can get on your nerves | UToledo News

Do Specialty Pillows Really Work? | Consumer Reports

Couple Cuddle Pillow | Sossey

Side Sleeper Cuddle Arm Snuggle Pillow For Neck Pain | Raglis

Coodle Pillow | Amazon

Better Sleep Pillow Gel Fiber Pillow | Amazon

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/what-is-memory-foam-made-of2022-05-05T10:42:34-07:002023-10-12T14:43:48-07:00What Is Memory Foam Made Of? The Ultimate GuideBridget Reed

Memory foam, also known as viscoelastic foam, is a polyurethane product. In recent years, memory foam mattresses have become more popular with consumers than any other type of mattress. This sudden rise in popularity is due to memory foam’s ability to mold to and support sleepers’ bodies, often relieving pain in the shoulders, hips, and back.

Wise consumers have begun asking exactly what this polyurethane foam is. What is it made of? Are its components harmful?

This is the ultimate guide to everything you need to know about memory foam and how SONU can help if you’re looking for the most comfortable mattress yet.

What Is Memory Foam?

Unlike other polyurethane foams, memory foam uses additional chemicals to create its consistency. This consistency makes the foam viscous and elastic. What do you get when you combine those two adjectives?

That’s right — viscoelastic.

NASA first used the foam for shock absorption during liftoff and to cushion airplane seats. It was later used as protective padding in football helmets before being used in hospitals to protect patients from bedsores. Since that time, memory foam has evolved along with its uses.

What’s in Memory Foam?

In addition to polyurethane, memory foam mattresses can contain formaldehyde, petrochemicals, boric acid, and polyvinyl chloride. However, be aware that most of these chemicals were used when memory foam mattresses were first created.

Chemicals that used to be commonly found in memory foam products include the following:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires that all mattresses are flameproof. Manufacturers make them flameproof by applying chemical flame retardants.

Some flame retardants have been found to affect people’s health negatively. However, manufacturers must label any mattresses that could endanger human health.

Newer memory foam mattresses contain fewer chemicals, and they are much safer for consumers. A mattress that has Kevlar or rayon applied to it is considered nontoxic.

How Is Memory Foam Tested?

Memory foam goes through a rigorous testing process before it is allowed on the market for purchase. The mattresses' viscosity, elasticity, and durability are all put to the test. The material is graded on its weight, Indentation Load Deflection (ILD), resilience, and tensile strength.

Weight. Memory foam density is measured in pounds per foot. The more chemicals used to create the foam, the higher the density. Therefore, the goal is to find a product with lower density because it uses fewer chemicals to create. The average density for most memory foam mattresses is between 4lbs and 5lbs.

ILD Rating. This rating measures the viscosity of memory foam, aka, how soft or hard it is and how much pressure it can take. A lower ILD rating means that the foam delivers higher pressure relief.

Resilience. This just measures how bouncy the foam is and how quickly it will spring back to its original shape. Higher resilience equals a more supportive and durable foam.

Tensile Strength. This measurement puts memory foam’s elasticity to the test. It isn’t given as much importance as the other measurements.

Is Toxic Memory Foam Still Sold?

If you purchase a memory foam mattress from the United States, it won’t contain polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) or formaldehyde. American manufacturers have gone to great lengths to reduce the amount of chemicals used in their mattresses.

What’s Off-Gassing?

If you’ve purchased a bed in a box, you’ve probably experienced off-gassing. Off-gassing is the emission of certain compounds used to create memory foam mattresses when the mattress packaging is opened.

Memory foam customers have noticed that the mattresses have an unusual smell when unwrapped or unboxed. This smell is temporary, but it can last for a few weeks. It’s usually caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

What are VOCs? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines VOCs as “compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility.” VOCs are human-made, and they are common in refrigerants, paint thinners, dry-cleaning solvents, and, surprisingly, pharmaceuticals.

Some other products that contain VOCs are:

As you can see, VOCs are in many products that we are exposed to every day. These compounds are emitted as gasses, and they include an array of chemicals.

Are VOCs Safe?

VOCs are safe at low levels. However, some people are sensitive or allergic to them.

Exposure to high levels of VOCs is extremely unsafe and can cause the following issues:

Frequent exposure to high levels of VOCs can cause various cancers, kidney or liver damage, and damage to your central nervous system.

If you are concerned about VOC exposure, there is an alternative: Biogreen. Biogreen memory foam mattresses are made with fewer harsh chemicals, and they contain below-average amounts of VOCs. In fact, the amount of VOCs allowed in Biogreen mattresses is 13 times below average.

Are VOCs Regulated?

Yes, but only for outdoor air. The EPA regulates some VOCs via the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Clean Air Act regulates air emissions in order to help protect the health and welfare of the public by reducing potentially hazardous air pollutants.

Some VOCs produce ozone, a smog ingredient that negatively affects the environment. If a product like memory foam is not photochemically reactive (aka does not cause ozone), it will be marked as “low VOC” or “no VOC.”

Even though the EPA can’t regulate the VOCs in mattresses, other certified organizations, like CertiPUR-US, have taken on the task. Other certifiers are OEKO-TEX and GREENGUARD Gold.

Qualities To Look For in a Memory Foam Mattress

You might be wondering, what qualifies as a good memory foam mattress? What qualities should I be looking for when buying one?

Memory foam’s number one job is to intimately fit the contours of your body to provide you maximum pressure relief and prevention of pressure points. How much support you need might depend on your height, weight, or pain issues like back pain or shoulder pain.

If you are experiencing chronic physical pain, consider how firm you need the mattress to be. For example, it’s recommended that people with chronic shoulder or hip pain sleep on a medium-firm mattress.

When determining how much you want to sink into your mattress, you should also consider firmness. Memory foam is known for feeling like it has swallowed your body whole. You should get a firmer mattress if you don’t care for that feeling.

Motion control is a concern for many co-sleepers, and luckily, memory foam is a good option for controlling it. Memory foam is an excellent choice if you are looking for a bed that doesn’t move every time your partner, pets, or children move or get out of bed. When a particular memory foam mattress catches your eye, look for reviews about its motion control.

You should also consider how long the warranty period is for memory foam mattresses. Typical warranties are five or 10 years.

Also, see if there is a trial period. Many people have buyer’s remorse because they bought mattresses that didn’t come with a trial period. You won’t have that problem with SONU — they offer a 100-night trial with each mattress you purchase.

Last but not least, consider the price point that you find memory foam mattresses under. Cheap memory foam mattress manufacturers may use higher quantities of toxic chemicals to save money on the manufacturing process. This is not to say that you can’t find a nontoxic, budget-friendly mattress. Research which memory foam mattresses are the least toxic before you shop; if you’re in a mattress store, look for toxicity labels on the mattresses.

Not all memory foam mattresses are made with high standards. You don’t have to worry about that with SONU. All of SONU’s mattresses are certified by CertiPUR-US. SONU’s combination foam mattresses are created according to the highest standards, avoiding ozone-depleting chemicals.

What’s the Best Alternative to Memory Foam?

Memory foam is known for its heat retention, which some sleepers do not prefer. When the foam contours to your body, it absorbs the heat from it. Popular alternatives to memory foam include innerspring, gel, latex, and hybrid mattresses.

Innerspring mattresses are a classic, but they are not as supportive as some alternatives. The mattresses consist of an inner coil system that is encased in another fabric with a pillow top.

Hybrid mattresses combine two types of mattresses in one. The most common is a memory foam mattress with an innerspring support system.

Gel mattresses are a popular alternative to memory foam because they do not retain heat. Typically, gel is infused inside a memory foam mattress, which gives it a cooler feeling for the sleeper.

Natural latex is made from the sap of rubber trees. Latex offers pressure relief just like memory foam, but it bounces back into shape much faster. It also does not retain as much heat as memory foam does.

A new contender on the market is the serene foam mattress.

What Is Serene Foam?

Serene foam is a material that contains billions of air capsules that allow air to flow freely. It gives sleepers a cooling experience.

SONU Sleep offers a unique new mattress that contains memory foam layers to deliver a cool, pressure-relieving mattress unlike anything else you’ll find on the market today. The combination of these materials topped off with a sumptuous comfort layer of serene foam provides you with a relaxing sleep experience that you won’t get from regular mattresses.

This top layer offers sink-in support for all sleeping positions, meaning even side sleepers can rest easy. What’s more, the SONU mattress includes a Comfort Channel that allows you to fully immerse your arm and shoulder into the bed while sleeping on your side, thus preventing pain and pressure in these areas.

Conclusion

Memory foam has been around since the 1960s. Customers love it because of its body contouring abilities and pressure-relieving support. The foam is known for being durable and long-lasting, which is why so many people purchase memory foam mattresses today.

If you’re looking for a foam experience that does not retain heat and still provides you the support of your average memory foam mattress, look no further than SONU’s own serene foam negative space mattress.

Get all the body contouring of memory foam with the flexibility and heat-resistance of the Serene foam. And to top it off, it comes with a patented Comfort Channel that you can allow your arms and shoulders to sink into while you sleep!

SONU’s goal is to provide customers with a high quality, unforgettable sleep experience that they can’t get anywhere else. If you’re ready for true comfort, try SONU.

Sources:

Summary of the Clean Air Act | US EPA

All Mattress Types Explained - What Are The Pros & Cons Of Each? | Sleep Advisor

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Your Home | EH: Minnesota Department of Health

Does EPA regulate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in household products? | US EPA

What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? | US EPA

Information, Comparisons and Buying Tips | MemoryFoamMattress.org

Forty-Year-Old Foam Springs Back With New Benefits | NASA Spinoff

Final Rule - Standard for the Flammability (Open Flame) of Mattress Sets | CPSC

https://certipur.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/0433_CertiPUR-US_Slabstock_TechnicalGuidelines_Slabstock_10.06.21.pdf

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/how-to-wake-self-up2022-05-05T10:40:46-07:002022-05-05T10:40:47-07:00How To Wake Yourself Up: 7 Techniques To TryBridget Reed

Do you have a hard time waking up in the morning? Are you having a long day and keep finding yourself yawning or nodding off? You might be suffering from excessive sleepiness.

Don’t worry — we’re going to teach you some ways to wake up and stay awake as the day goes on.

What Is Excessive Sleepiness?

What is excessive sleepiness? It’s the inability to stay alert or awake due to low energy levels. Many people suffer from it during the day, and they yearn to go back to bed, but they can’t.

Between 10% and 20% of Americans experience excessive sleepiness that makes them want to hit the snooze button. It’s more common in sedentary people or those suffering from mental health problems, like depression. It’s typically caused by sleep disorders like insomnia or poor sleep quality that can make it tough to be a morning person.

You can improve your sleep quality by investing in a new mattress, like the SONU Sleep System. SONU’s mattresses provide luxurious comfort while relieving pain caused by sleeping on inefficient mattresses.

Symptoms of excessive sleepiness include:

Excessive sleepiness can be dangerous. It can lead to automobile accidents, workplace injuries, disabilities, and reduced productivity. People who suffer from excessive sleepiness sometimes experience a lower quality of life and mental health problems. It can also affect your relationships and your social life.

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

We have all heard that we should get eight hours of sleep per night. However, the answer varies by age group. For example, it’s recommended that teenagers get between eight and 10 hours of sleep per night. It’s recommended for adults aged 18 to 60 to get around seven hours of sleep each night.

If you experience sleep problems that contribute to sleep deprivation, it may be beneficial to visit a sleep specialist who can help you form healthier sleep habits.

7 Ways To Wake Yourself Up

If you suffer from a sleep disorder like excessive sleepiness or just find it hard to get up in the morning and move on with the rest of the day, here are some tips for waking up that have stood the test of time.

1. Move Around

Getting exercise at some point during the day will wake you up, especially if it is part of your morning routine. Some people prefer to get it out of the way first thing in the morning, while others might work out midday or in the late afternoon.

If a full-on workout is not your style, getting up and doing any movement will help wake you up. This could include taking a quick walk around your house, stretching, or doing breathing exercises. All will warm you up and help you feel alert.

2. Drink Caffeine

We couldn’t make a list of things that wake you up without including caffeine. Caffeine stays in your system for several hours, which is why most people tend to drink a cup of coffee or tea when they get up in the morning.

As the day goes on, you may feel like you need a little “pick me up” in the form of another cup of coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverage. Be mindful that consuming caffeine late in the afternoon can make it more difficult for you to fall asleep that night. Is that extra cup of coffee worth it?

3. Drink Cold Water

Unlike caffeine, you can drink water at any time of day. Drinking it first thing in the morning can make you feel refreshed and alert. As the day goes on, it’s fine to drink water regularly to wake yourself up.

In addition to curing your tiredness, water is beneficial to your health and can even slow down aging. The only con to drinking water all day is that you will need to go to the restroom to relieve your bladder frequently.

4. Turn On Some Music

There’s no better way to wake up than feeling the beat of your favorite music! Start your day with some upbeat tunes that put you in a good mood.

Don’t just play music in the morning. Jamming out to your favorite songs can help keep you awake and spark productivity.

5. Get Some Natural Light

Exposing yourself to natural light is a good way to boost your mood and wake you up. Since our sleep-wake cycle is affected by light, it’s good to expose yourself to it at various intervals to encourage wakefulness. Taking a walk out in the sunshine and fresh air or opening your curtains and letting light shine in is extremely helpful — plus it may help you enjoy better quality sleep later on.

6. Eat a Snack

Eating a healthy snack can give you an energy boost. Avoid sugary things like cookies and candy and go straight for fruit, vegetables, cheese, or nuts. Opt for protein-rich snacks and try not to consume too much salt. You’d be surprised at how much more alert you feel when you nourish your body.

7. Take a Nap

When all else fails, take a nap, but keep it short. Your body just needs about 20 to 25 minutes to rejuvenate. Don’t nap too close to bedtime because it can make sleeping that night much more difficult.

If you cannot nap, closing your eyes for a few minutes and meditating can help. Our eyes grow tired during the day, and we sometimes lose focus. Just closing them for a few minutes can help.

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

These techniques can only do so much if you don’t improve your sleep quality first. If you have been losing sleep and suspect that you have a sleep disorder, it’s time to talk to your doctor.

A doctor may recommend training yourself to wake up naturally by getting better sleep. Here are some ways to establish good sleep hygiene to help you sleep better each night.

Go to Bed At the Same Time

One of the first changes you can make is your bedtime. An inconsistent bedtime can disrupt your circadian rhythm or internal clock, making it harder to wake up in the morning or throughout the day. Your body needs you to be on a regular sleeping schedule.

Keep Work Out of the Bedroom

Your bedroom is where you get some shut-eye each night. It shouldn’t be the same location where you do your work. Disrupting your sleep environment makes your body associate your bedroom with productivity, not sleep.

If you work from home, create a workspace outside your bedroom. Not everyone has an extra room to use as an office, so using part of your living room or kitchen would be ideal.

Make Sure Your Bed is Comfortable

It’s hard to get enough sleep if lying on your bed feels like torture. Your bed should never cause you pain. Unfortunately, a lot of traditional mattresses do. That’s why you need to purchase a mattress that is in tune with your body. Once you do that, you will find it easier to rest well.

You can find great mattresses made out of latex, gel, memory foam, or other types of highly resilient materials. Take your time and do your research to figure out which material works best for your body. You can even find beds that cater to your specific sleeping position.

Conclusion

Excessive sleepiness is common in up to 20% of Americans. Are you one of them?

If you are someone who feels tired and groggy all day, or you simply can’t make yourself get up in the morning, you might be experiencing excessive sleepiness. You should talk to your doctor to determine if you have a sleep disorder and to rule out anything more serious.

If nothing serious is at play, try these seven techniques to help wake you up. In no time, you will find that you feel better and that you are awake enough to handle your responsibilities. Most importantly, you’ll have taken steps to prevent yourself from ending up in a dangerous situation, like a car accident.

Better yet, clean up your sleep hygiene and establish a regular bedtime to be attentive and full of energy. Make sure your mattress is part of your sleep hygiene routine — buy a mattress specific to your needs.

One of the best mattresses out there is SONU Sleep’s negative space mattress. This unique mattress molds to your distinctive body shape, relieving pressure from parts of the body most susceptible to pain when sleeping.

If you’re ready for something new, explore the SONU Sleep System here and see if the negative space mattress is right for you. You won’t regret it.

Sources:

How to Wake Up Without an Alarm Clock | Sleep.org

How to Stay Awake Naturally | Sleep Center | Salem Health

Are You Getting Enough Sleep? | CDC

Excessive Sleepiness: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments | Sleep Foundation

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/big-spoon-little-spoon2022-05-05T10:39:05-07:002022-05-05T10:39:06-07:00Big Spoon vs. Little Spoon: What Position Is BestBridget Reed

Spooning is a position that can be described as a side hug between two people. It’s when two people lie on their sides facing the same direction. The back of one person is pressed against the other’s chest. The person behind, aka the Big Spoon, wraps their arm around the person in front, aka the Little Spoon.

Spooning is very popular among couples. When you sleep with your partner, are you the big spoon or the little spoon? Do you each take turns cuddling in both positions?

For some people, spooning with a partner is their favorite position. For others, they prefer other cuddling positions.

It doesn’t matter which position you take. What matters are your comfort and preferences for sleeping beside a partner.

If you want the ultimate sleep experience when snuggled up with a partner, try the SONU Sleep System. SONU’s system was designed with couples in mind — wrap one arm around your partner while the other arm sinks into the patented Comfort Channel, taking pressure off your arm and shoulder and enabling you to spoon all night long.

Keep reading to learn more about being the big spoon versus the little spoon.

What Are the Benefits of Spooning?

Spooning is not just a form of cuddling between two people. Did you know that it’s good for your mental health?

There are various benefits to cuddling. Here are a few.

More Intimacy

Spooning, and cuddling, in general, can bring you closer to your partner. It can help you form a bond and build trust with each other. Couples who spoon tend to be happier in their relationships than those who do not. Spooning can give them a sense of safety with each other that they may not feel in other aspects of their lives.

Less Stress

Spooning with a loved one can help release oxytocin, the “happy” hormone. As a result, couples who spoon may feel their symptoms of stress and anxiety decrease when they are physically touching their partner in this way. We could all use less stress and anxiety in our relationships!

Stronger Immune System

Spooning can help you prevent sickness. Simple touch has been shown to improve the immune system and protect people from various illnesses. People who hug tend to have a stronger defense against contracting the common cold. Who would’ve thought?

Lower Blood Pressure

Spooning with a loved one could help lower your blood pressure levels, and it can be especially helpful during moments of stress. Embracing your partner can give you a feeling of safety, which in turn keeps your blood pressure from elevating. Lower blood pressure also reduces your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

Better Sleep

Spooning with your partner can help you sleep better. In a study of 90 couples, people in the spooning position fell asleep easily due to an increased sense of intimacy. If you are someone who cannot sleep while physically touching another person, you can still end up sleeping better if you spoon with your partner for a little while before bedtime.

What Are Some Different Ways To Spoon?

If you want to mix up the way you spoon, try having one partner lie on their back while the other places their head on that partner’s chest. You can then wrap your arms around each other and embrace.

It’s possible to spoon while facing each other as well. To do this, the little spoon gets in the fetal position, and the big spoon embraces them.

Should You Be the Big Spoon or the Little Spoon?

The key differences between the big spoon and little spoon positions are who is being embraced and who is doing the embracing. It doesn’t matter which partner takes on which position. Ask yourself, “Do I want to be held, or do I want to do the holding?”

Being the big spoon can make someone feel like they are protecting their partner. If you’re the little spoon, you may feel safe and supported in your partner’s arms.

If you are prone to shoulder or arm pain, you’re probably better off being the little spoon. As the little spoon, you may be lying on your partner’s arm, which could cause it to go numb, experience pain, or become stiff.

One way to prevent this is to invest in SONU’s negative space mattress.

Conclusion

After reading this article, which position do you prefer? The big spoon or the little spoon?

Whether you’re the big spoon or the little spoon doesn’t matter. What matters are the benefits you gain from cuddling in this position, like increased intimacy, boosted immune systems, and lower stress levels.

Spooning couples will love the SONU Sleep System. Never before has a mattress included a patented Comfort Channel that helps alleviate pressure from your necks, shoulders, and arms. And each mattress even comes with four adjustable pillows, so you and your partner can maximize your sleep experience.

Don’t be shy. Visit sonusleep.com today and check out the SONU Sleep System.

Sources:

How Cuddling Affects Sleep | Sleep.org

5 Benefits Of Spooning & Why You Should Do It More, From Relationship Experts | Mind Body Green

Why Hugging Is Actually Good for Your Health | Cleveland Clinic

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/best-sleep-positions-sleep-apnea2022-05-05T10:37:20-07:002022-05-05T10:37:21-07:00Best Sleep Position for Sleep Apnea: What To KnowBridget Reed

Do you or someone you know suffer from sleep apnea? You aren’t alone. 22 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea.

You might be wondering which sleeping position is best for sleep apnea — the answer is the side sleeping position, and there are various benefits to sleeping on your side. Read on to find out what sleep apnea is and why it’s best to sleep on your side, as well as how SONU can help you enjoy a good night of sleep, every night.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

The American Sleep Apnea Association defines sleep apnea as a medical condition where a person repeatedly stops and starts breathing during sleep. When this occurs, oxygen cannot sufficiently reach your brain. This can impact not only your quality of sleep, but also your quality of life.

The most common form of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which happens when your throat muscles collapse and block your airway when you’re asleep. Snoring is a symptom of this type of sleep apnea.

There are two other common types of sleep apnea:

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, here are common symptoms to look out for:

Untreated sleep apnea puts you at risk for other health issues, including:

Diagnosing & Treating Sleep Apnea

Diagnosing sleep apnea is the first step towards better sleep. To diagnose sleep apnea, your doctor may have you complete a take-home sleep test, undergo a sleep study, or spend a night being observed at a sleep clinic. Take-home tests require a prescription, and they come with all the necessary equipment, including a machine that measures your oxygen levels, breathing patterns, heart rate, and air flow.

Undergoing a sleep study and spending the night at a sleep clinic entails similar equipment. The participant is hooked up to machines that measure your breathing, brain waves, movements, and blood oxygen while you sleep.

Patients are sometimes prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to treat sleep apnea. These machines are to be used at bedtime. They are made up of a mask with a hose attached to it, which is then attached to the CPAP. Pressurized air travels through the hose and mask, opening up your airway while you sleep.

Other recommended treatments for sleep apnea are losing weight or wearing special mouthpieces that prevent snoring. Doctors may also recommend that sleep apnea sufferers avoid alcohol, sedatives, antihistamines, opiates, and smoking.

The medical field has even come up with sleep apnea implants. These are technology similar to pacemakers, and they help move the muscles that keep your airways open.

How Are Side Sleep and Sleep Apnea Related?

The way you sleep matters for most, if not all, health disorders.

You could choose to sleep in a position that worsens your condition or one that makes it better. We know which option we would pick. Sleep apnea is affected by sleep position, just like any other condition. Your choice is so powerful that it can help reduce your sleep apnea symptoms.

Sleeping on your side helps open your airway when sleeping, preventing it from collapsing or closing. This position also helps prevent snoring, a common sleep apnea symptom. When it comes to sleep apnea, sleeping on your right side is better than your left side for preventing the blockage of your airway.

Stomach sleeping can also benefit you if you have mild sleep apnea.

SONU has just what you need if you’re a side sleeper with sleep apnea.

Known as the only negative space mattress, the SONU Sleep System features a patented Comfort Channel that allows you to fully immerse your arms and shoulders into the bed. If you’re looking for a way to remove pressure from your arms and shoulders when you sleep, look no further.

Other Benefits of the Side Sleeping Position

Sleeping on your side isn’t just great for sleep apnea. If you have acid reflux or heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are pregnant, or have lower back pain, sleeping on your side can help alleviate your pain and decrease the acid moving up your esophagus.

How Can I Sleep Comfortably on My Side?

Did you know that sleeping on your side is the most popular sleeping position, and the best position for various health conditions? It isn’t without its caveats, however.

Sleeping on your side can lead to pain and stiffness if you do not do it correctly. This usually happens if you are sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress. You can reduce some pain by sleeping with a pillow between your knees.

Another option is to purchase a medium-firm mattress that was created for side sleepers, like the SONU negative space mattress. This mattress features a one-of-a-kind Comfort Channel made for you to submerge your shoulders and arms while you sleep. This takes the pressure off your upper body and helps you maintain a neutral, aligned posture while you sleep.

If you aren’t used to sleeping on your side, you can train yourself. One method is to prop pillows up in front and behind you so your body won’t revert to another position. It will help you maintain the side position throughout the night. Body pillows are great for this.

You can also sleep on narrow furniture, like your couch, to help you get used to sleeping on your side. The back of the couch can serve as support that keeps you from rolling onto your back or stomach, depending on which direction you are facing.

If you aren’t comfortable sleeping with your arms straight down by your side, rest assured that this is not the only way to sleep in the side position. There are other variations of the side position, including the fetal, yearner, log, and pillow-hugging positions.

Conclusion

The most important thing you should take from today’s article is that how you sleep affects your sleep apnea. It’s highly recommended that you sleep on the right side for best results, like allowing your airway to open up and preventing other issues, like acid reflux.

There’s a reason sleeping on your side is the most popular position.

SONU Sleep works to maximize comfort for side sleepers by providing a mattress that is for people who are tired of changing positions throughout the night. SONU’s luxurious negative space mattress molds your unique body shape, and the Comfort Channel lets your arms and shoulders sink into it, relieving pressure from your neck, shoulders, and arms.

Once you try the SONU Sleep System, you won’t go back to any other kind of bed. Try out the SONU Sleep System today for a 100 Night trial.

SONU — where innovation meets luxury and comfort.

Sources:

Sleep Apnea Information for Clinicians | American Sleep Apnea Association

What is Sleep Apnea? | American Sleep Apnea Association

Choosing the Best Sleep Position | John Hopkins Medicine

Best Anti-Snoring Mouthpieces and Mouthguards of 2022 | Sleep Foundation

The Sleeping Positions for Sleep Apnea Patients | Oklahoma Otolaryngology Associates, LLC

How to Sleep on Your Side - Train Yourself Today | Sleep Advisor

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/how-to-get-memory-foam-mattress-back-in-box2022-04-27T13:49:36-07:002022-04-27T13:49:36-07:00How To Get a Memory Foam Mattress Back in the BoxBridget Reed

If you have ever ordered a bed in a box, you know just how convenient it is to receive your bed on your doorstep. All you had to do was bring the box inside, open it, and put the mattress on your bed.

But what do you do if you decide to move the mattress to a new location, temporarily store your SONU mattress, or return it to the seller?

Mattresses are some of the most inconvenient furniture to move. Not only do they take up a ton of space, but they are awkward to maneuver. For this reason, some people choose to compress a mattress before they move it.

The company that sent you your mattress has the advantage of compression machines that can squish and roll up the mattress. You just have your hands and (hopefully) the help of a friend.

While you won’t be able to get a SONU mattress back into the box, at least not without the aid of a 20-ton press and heavy rolling machinery, you can vacuum seal your mattress for moving or storage. Don’t worry. We’ll show you how.

Considering a bed in a box? SONU Sleep offers the convenience of delivering your bed in a box via FedEx.

The SONU Sleep System comes with a 100 Night Trial so you can test your new mattress before deciding whether to keep it. If somehow you determine it’s not for you, returning the mattress is easy.

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to learn what you should do if you need to return your mattress and how to vacuum seal your mattress for easier moving or storage.

How To Vacuum Seal Your Mattress for Moving or Storage

Whether you are moving across town or across the country, learn how you can save space for your move with a few basic supplies. If you aren’t moving yet or need to store your SONU mattress, turn to these handy steps for simple storage without the bulk.

Before you get started, make sure you gather a mattress bag, ratchet straps, a vacuum bag, and some duct tape. Here’s the rundown on each of these supplies:

1. Gather Your Supplies

Mattress Bag

Before you can compress your mattress, you need to wrap it in a plastic mattress bag. These bags are available at nearly every big retailer or mattress store, and they are fairly cheap. The bag you want should be durable, heavy-duty plastic with a seal.

The mattress bag needs to be the same size as your mattress. Do not try to squeeze a Queen bed into a bag made for a Full! It’s not going to fit.

Likewise, do not buy a bag that is too big, or the compression may not work as well.

Ratchet Straps

Ratchet straps will secure the mattress once it has been compressed and rolled up.

You can find them at hardware and home improvement stores for a few dollars. These straps will make moving the compressed mattress easier by supplying you with a better handhold. They will also help keep the mattress from unrolling.

Vacuum Bag Valve

Find a vacuum bag and remove the valve from it. You will be attaching this valve to the mattress bag.

Duct Tape

You will use duct tape to wrap and seal the mattress before you finish compressing it.

2. Compress Your Mattress

  1. Before you start the compression process, make sure all of the bedding has been removed from your mattress. Do not leave anything on it, not even the mattress protector.
  2. Put the mattress bag onto the mattress. This may be a little hard to do on your own, so enlist the help of a friend to make the job easier.
  3. If you chose to use a sealable mattress bag, go ahead and seal the bag. To ensure secure sealing, apply duct tape to the edges of the seal.
  4. Put the valve on the mattress bag and trace it. Then, cut out the circle you have traced and push the vacuum bag-valve through it. Place tape around the sides of the valve so that no air will escape the bag when you compress it.
  5. Now you’re ready to compress! Attach the vacuum’s hose to the newly placed valve and turn the machine on. Watch in amazement as all of the air leaves the mattress and it flattens.
  6. Once the mattress is flat, roll it up horizontally. Do not turn the vacuum off to prevent the mattress from inflating.
  7. Once you’ve rolled the mattress up, apply the ratchet straps and tighten them around it so it cannot spring back to shape. If you haven’t done so already, turn off and detach the vacuum.

How Do You Return a Sonu Mattress?

Adjusting to a new mattress takes time. That’s why SONU comes with a 100 Night Trial. After 60 days, if you still aren’t satisfied, send SONU an email to returns@sonusleep.com or call +1 (844) 444-SONU for troubleshooting and advice.

If you still aren’t loving your new mattress, send an email within the 100 day period to begin the return process. Make sure SONU receives your returned mattress within the 100 Night Trial period in good, donatable condition. Per the return policy, all approved refunds will take the form of your original payment method.

Don’t worry about trying to keep the box and other packing materials or worry about getting the mattress shoved back into it. Without heavy compression equipment, you’ll find it impossible. SONU has partnered with LoadUp to pick-up your gently used mattress, so you won’t have to worry about any heavy lifting.

Conclusion

That’s it! You’ve learned to compress a mattress for easier moving and storage as well as how to return a SONU mattress. Either way, you don’t need to hang onto that box. Without fancy warehouse machinery, getting a SONU mattress back into the box isn’t going to happen.

All you need to complete this job is a mattress bag, ratchet straps, vacuum bag valve, vacuum, and some duct tape. You can purchase most of these items inexpensively from local retailers.

We told you this wouldn’t be hard. If you’ve completed the compression already, pat yourself on the back. You deserve it.

Whether you are moving your mattress to a new place or returning it, these instructions will come in handy.

SONU Sleep provides customers with one of the best mattress buying experiences possible. Not only can you purchase SONU’s innovative mattresses with a 36-month, 0% APR payment plan with no down payment, but you get to try them out for 100 Nights too.

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, contact SONU and let them know what they can do better. If you still aren’t satisfied, SONU will work with you to return the item for a full refund.

FAQ

Do I need special equipment to compress my mattress?

No! All you need to compress your memory foam mattress are a vacuum, vacuum bag valve, mattress bag, duct tape, and ratchet straps.

I’ve never heard of ratchet straps. Where can I buy them?

You can buy ratchet straps at your neighborhood hardware store or home improvement store. Major retailers will likely also have them.

Can I compress an innerspring mattress?

Probably not. Memory foam mattresses are easier to compress because they do not have springs or coils like an innerspring mattress, which can cause damage to the mattress encasing. Contact the mattress retailer to find out for sure if you can or cannot compress an innerspring mattress.

Will my mattress lose shape during the compression process? Will it be a different size when I decompress it?

No, your mattress will spring back to its original shape when you decompress it. When you decompress it, you’ll see that compression doesn’t change the mattress’s size or shape.

How long does it take to compress a memory foam mattress?

Not long. Once you have attached the mattress valve and turned on the vacuum, it shouldn’t take very long to decompress your mattress. Have patience, and the process will be over before you know it.

Sources

How To Compress a Memory Foam Mattress at Home I Sleep Advisor

How to Compress a Memory Foam Mattress at Home | Savvy Sleeper

Ratchet Straps - Tie-Down Straps | The Home Depot

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/best-small-pets-cuddling2022-04-11T14:22:53-07:002022-04-11T14:23:24-07:00The 10 Best Small Pets for Cuddling in BedBridget Reed

Who doesn’t like cuddling up with their small furry friends? Cuddling with our pets brings a lot of joy — and the occasional headache — to our lives.

As domesticated animals have evolved, they have been more attuned to human emotions. They’re seemingly able to tell when we are happy and sad, when we need a cuddle, and when we need to be left alone.

We (and our tiny friends) may not be able to speak the same language, but there is enough evidence to prove that having them around is invaluable to our mental health, in and out of bed.

If you’re looking for a perfect bed for you and your pets, check out the SONU Sleep line of products.

Stay tuned as we walk you through the best small pets to cuddle in bed.

10 Best Small Pets for Cuddling in Bed

Are you ready? Here are some of the best small pets that you can cuddle in bed.

1. Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise is a small, cuddling powerhouse. These dogs are infamous for being coddled by French royalty. It’s hard to stop yourself from picking up and hugging these tiny dogs.

2. Havanese

Another cutie who is fun to snuggle with at bedtime is the Havanese. People typically coo over these dogs due to their long, silky hair and playful expression. The Havanese is the national dog of Cuba.

3. Siamese Cat

Siamese cats notoriously love attention, which makes them perfect cuddlers. These cats are sweet-natured and tend to show more adoration for their owners than most cats.

4. American Shorthair Cat

Contrary to popular belief, many types of cats are affectionate. One of the most affectionate breeds is the American shorthair cat. These cats’ calm demeanors make them excellent cuddlers.

5. Boxer

We all know how much dogs love to lie around with us. Boxers, like most dogs, have a lot of energy and love playing with their owners. When it comes to snuggling, they show an equal amount of enthusiasm.

6. Ferret

Don't forget the ferret when you think of pets to cuddle in bed. Not only will this little dude entertain you with his humorous antics, but he will do his best to vie for your affection.

7. English Ragdoll Cat

English Ragdoll cats are low energy but highly affectionate. They enjoy sitting on their owners’ laps or lying in bed with them. This calm, cool kitty will be one of your favorite cuddlers.

8. Pig

Are you surprised to see a pig on this list? It’s not uncommon to keep pigs as indoor pets nowadays. These intelligent creatures can be fun to cuddle with, from teacup piggies to potbellied pigs.

9. Bombay Cat

Just like the Siamese, the Bombay cat thrives on attention. These cats enjoy the company of their owners, making them one of the most loving pets you can lie in bed with.

10. Chinchilla

Chinchillas are nocturnal animals, which means they sleep during the day and play at night. If you’re a fan of naps, the chinchilla is happy to be there right by your side.

What Are the Benefits of Sleeping With Pets?

Fifty-six percent of people like their pets to sleep in their bedrooms. This is good news for puppies, especially; 86% like to sleep next to their owners.

Puppies aren’t the only ones who benefit from co-sleeping. Sleeping with your pets offers you a ton of benefits. And in general, having pets is amazing for your mental and physical health.

Sleeping with dogs makes some people feel safe. A lot of owners get dogs to deter crime on their properties. Just the act of sleeping with them at night creates a sense of security and comfort.

How Do Pets Improve Mental Health?

Having pets is wonderful for our mental health. It doesn’t matter what kind of pet you have.

People who own pets aren’t as likely to have depression as people with no pets. Pets elevate our moods and help keep stress and anxiety at bay. This is because interacting with animals increases dopamine and serotonin.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sufferers report feeling safer when they have service dogs. These dogs are trained to pick up on their owners’ stress; they can even tell if they’re having nightmares. In fact, 57% of veterans with PTSD reported that their service dogs helped them when they had nightmares.

Having pets can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. The responsibility of caring for a pet gives many people a sense of purpose.

How Do Pets Improve Physical Health?

Having pets like cats or dogs in your home helps boost your immunity by adding to the already present bacteria. Being exposed to various microorganisms is one way our health and immunity improve. People who are exposed to fewer bacteria may end up with allergies and autoimmune issues. Sleeping with your pets is one of the best ways to expose yourself to bacteria.

As you might have guessed, this increased immunity doesn’t just affect adults. Children also develop stronger immune systems when they’re introduced to diverse bacteria. So, go ahead and encourage your child to hug Scruffy.

Your heart can benefit if you have pets. Interacting with them helps lower blood pressure, reduces the occurrence of hypertension, and even helps lower cholesterol levels. If you’ve had a heart attack, you’re more likely to live longer if you have pets.

People with pets spend less time in the doctor's office than those who don’t have them. It looks like all of that raised dopamine and reduced stress pays off!

What Are the Lifestyle Benefits of Having Pets?

Having pets can improve your overall lifestyle. Having a small creature that depends on you gives you a reason to get up in the morning.

Having a dog can help you exercise more. Walking your dog is a big part of having them. If you have an otherwise sedentary lifestyle, going on a walk with your pet daily can help you meet minimum exercise requirements. Your pet will be healthier as well.

Taking care of a pet can add structure to your daily schedule. Scheduling feeding times, exercise, or other necessary activities to care for your pet helps you become more consistent.

How Can Sleeping With Pets Be Risky?

On the other side of the coin, sleeping with pets isn’t always safe or healthy. Some people are allergic to certain animals. Unfortunately, many do not discover their allergy until they’ve already brought their new pet into their home.

Although early exposure to pet hair and dander can prevent allergies in many people, they can negatively affect others by worsening their allergic reactions. If you were not exposed to animals until adulthood, severe allergies could rear their ugly head when you cuddle with your pet.

Our pets can bring zoonotic diseases into our homes, which are diseases that can spread from animals to humans. Other harmful viruses and parasites like fleas and ticks are also concerning. Sleeping with Rover at night could mean these parasites of diseases will transfer from your pets to you.

As adorable as they are, sometimes pets are not the best sleep companions. Nocturnal animals like cats can get up throughout the night and pester their owners to get up and feed them.

Dogs and other pets can move a lot when they sleep in bed with you, which is bothersome for many sleepers. If you are someone who wakes up due to the smallest amount of motion transfer, you probably shouldn’t allow your furry pals to sleep with you.

In some instances, your pet might injure you when you sleep with them. Six percent of dogs have bitten resting humans. If your dog sleeps in your bedroom, they’re twice as likely to bite you. Children are at a higher risk of being bitten by pet dogs than adults.

Any animal with claws could potentially injure their humans in bed. This is especially dangerous for children.

How Can I Safely Sleep With a Pet?

Here are some ways to make sleeping with your pet a safe experience:

Conclusion

There you have it. The ten best small pets for cuddling in bed. Did you spot one of your pets on this list? Did any of the pets on this list surprise you?

We are all creatures of comfort. Having our fur babies sleep with us is one of the best bonding and trust-building experiences we can have with them, but we need to be careful.

Keeping our pets healthy and clean is a necessary step before we allow them on our beds with us. So is creating a comfortable sleep environment for you both to fall soundly asleep in.

SONU Sleep offers one-of-a-kind mattresses with the cooling comfort of 26 high resilience foams topped off with serene foam, which creates a supportive body-contouring experience you’ve never felt before.

Each mattress comes with a ten-inch, patented Comfort Channel for you to immerse your arms and shoulders in while lying in the cuddle position with your favorite animal pal.

SONU’s goal is to deliver you (and your furry friends) a sleep experience you can’t get anywhere else.

Don’t wait another second. Check out the SONU Sleep experience today.

FAQ

How many people sleep with their pets?

Fifty-six percent of people sleep with their pets in their bedrooms.

Is sleeping with my pets harmful?

It can be risky sleeping with pets because they can spread zoonotic diseases to you or injure you. However, maintaining their hygiene and taking other measures can help prevent that from happening.

Do I need a special bed to sleep with my pets?

No, but we recommend sleeping in a big that’s big enough to accommodate you, your pets, and any other co-sleepers.

Is it safe to sleep on a SONU bed with my pets?

Yes! SONU’s mattresses are durable, comfortable, and safe for you and your pets. SONU’s beds come with a Comfort Channel that allows anyone who likes to sleep while cuddling to immerse their arms and shoulders into the mattresses for maximum comfort.

Sources

The Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of Pets | HelpGuide.org

Sleeping with Pets: Benefits and Risks | Sleep Foundation

20 Pets That Like to Cuddle (With Pictures) | Pet Keen

Sleeping with Pets: Benefits and Risks | Sleep Foundation

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/bed-in-a-box-traditional-mattress2022-04-11T14:21:48-07:002022-04-11T14:21:49-07:00Bed in a Box vs. Traditional Mattress: Pros and ConsBridget Reed

Do you need a new mattress but don’t know where to start looking? If your last purchase was a traditional mattress, are you going to go the same route when purchasing this time? Or are you ready for a modern mattress shopping experience?

These are questions that potential customers ask themselves when they need a new mattress.

Thankfully, you have a lot of choices today when it comes to buying a new bed. You could go with a traditional mattress or buy a bed in a box from an online retailer. Both options have significant pros and cons that you need to consider before making your next purchase.

When it comes to which provides a better experience, buying online and buying in person are surprisingly tied. However, how you decide to purchase your mattress is likely influenced by things like where you live, how much you’d like to spend, and what kind of customer experience you’d like to receive.

Whether you choose to buy a traditional mattress or go with a bed in a box (like the mattress offered at SONU Sleep) is a personal choice.

Here, we’ve collected some information that will help you decide which option is best for you.

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Bed in a Box?

The top two pros of a bed in a box are:

Why go out to a mattress retailer and try a dozen mattresses when you can read the reviews of top mattresses from behind your computer screen?

People love the convenience of buying almost anything online today. You can even have a car delivered to your front door. So why wouldn’t you order your mattress online?

Did we mention that a bed in a box can save you money? Buying directly from a retailer online is often less expensive than buying from a physical store.

When you order a mattress online, it is delivered tightly packaged to your doorstep by a major shipping company. All you have to do is bring the mattress inside, open it, and put it on your bed frame. How easy is that?

What if you want to try the mattress out first?

Before you buy a mattress online, read as many reviews as you can about the product. Have a list of “must-haves” required in a mattress, such as specific firmness levels, material, sleep temperature, price, and other features. On some websites, you can even sort the mattress reviews by requirement.

Before you buy a mattress online, see if there is a trial period. SONU offers a 100-night trial so you can get the best idea of how your new bed will treat you. If you aren’t satisfied with your purchase within 100 days, you can return the mattress and receive a refund.

The cons of buying a bed in a box are that you can’t walk into a store and try it out before buying it, and you might not be able to receive in-home delivery. If neither of those things matters to you, the bed in a box may be the right choice.

If you have questions about mattresses in boxes before buying them, you’ll have to contact the retailer’s customer support department. This assistance could be delivered in the form of a live chat feature, email, or phone conversation.

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Traditional Mattress?

As you might have guessed, two of the reasons people opt to purchase a traditional mattress from a brick-and-mortar store are:

However, another pro is having a sales associate on hand to help you pick the right mattress. Not only can a sales associate describe all the benefits of a mattress to you, but they can also help you find a mattress within your budget.

Most mattress stores will offer in-home or white-glove delivery so that you don’t have to worry about transporting the mattress to your home or even putting it inside your bedroom by yourself. They will unpackage the mattress for you and place it on top of your bed frame.

A con of buying a mattress in a physical store is that you won’t know how well-rated the mattresses are unless you do your research prior to coming. The sales associate might tell you if a particular mattress is popular with customers, or they might not. They usually have to meet certain quotas and sell specific products.

Another con of buying a traditional mattress is that brick-and-mortar stores often mark up the price of mattresses by 30% to 50%. Some people simply cannot afford to pay that much for a mattress.

When you shop in a mattress store, there may be a limited variety of mattresses for you to choose from. The types of mattresses for you to select may be slim, so you could purchase a mattress that you aren’t in love with but needed in a pinch.

And, let’s face it — how many people want to physically go to a bunch of mattress stores to look for the right mattress? After a while, the process can be draining.

Should I Buy a Bed in a Box or Traditional Mattress?

As a refresher, we’ve covered the pros and cons of the bed in a box and the traditional mattress. By now, you should have a good idea of which option you’d like to proceed with. However, if you are still on the fence, we’ve come up with some more information for you to consider.

To help you decide if you want to buy a bed in a box or a traditional mattress, consider the following criteria.

Cost

How much do you want to spend on a new mattress? Does your budget limit you or is it flexible? If you have a sleeping partner, will you be splitting the cost? Which purchase option will be the most cost-effective?

Customer Service

When you shop, are you typically someone who can find all the information you need from a simple online search or glimpse at the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section?

Maybe you’re someone who needs a little more guidance from customer service. One option is conveniently communicating with customer support specialists over chat, email, or phone. The other is to speak with a sales associate in person. With SONU, you can contact customer support through chat, email, or phone services.

Variety

Some people prefer to shop for a particular brand of mattress, or want to have many mattress sizes available. Others want to see what else is out there and don’t want to limit themselves. Consider the place you’re buying from, whether they offer products by one or more mattress retailers, and what’s easier for you to look through.

The SONU Sleep System is available in sizes Twin XL through California King so you have plenty of options to choose from.

Warranty & Trial Period

How long your warranty is and how long you can try out a mattress will depend on the mattress brand or retailer. If you purchase directly from a mattress brand, they will have their own rules about warranties and trial periods.

If you buy from a large eCommerce site like Amazon, these details will vary by seller. And if you buy from a physical store, the warranty and trial period will depend on the store’s policies.

With SONU, you can enjoy a 100 Night Trial period and a 5-year warranty.

Delivery

Do you want the convenience of having your bed shipped to your doorstep? Would you rather have a store provide in-home delivery? Are you a DIY-er, or do you require assistance?

SONU offers free delivery, and will even take care of removing your old mattress for you for an extra $125.

Packaging

Offgassing is the process in which a chemical smell is emitted when a mattress is unpackaged. It happens with both traditional mattresses and beds in a box. Offgassing may be a little more prevalent with certain beds in a box, but keep in mind that the effect is temporary.

Conclusion

How you buy your bed is really important. Don’t skimp on the details. Take all factors, including budget and delivery, into account.

People can be equally happy with bed-in-a-box delivery as they can with traditional mattress purchasing. Don’t make your decision based on what you think is popular. Make it based on what’s most convenient for you.

If you decide to go with a bed in a box, don’t miss out on the negative space mattress by SONU Sleep. With its patented Comfort Channel and layers of highly resilient foam, this uniquely engineered mattress is not just comfortable — you can purchase it with a budget-friendly payment plan of 36 months, provided by Affirm.

Be an innovator. Purchase the SONU Sleep System and change the way you sleep forever.

Sources

The Mattress Industry is Evolving for the Future: Statistics and Trends | Mattress Clarity

Should You Buy A Mattress in Store or Online? | Best Mattress Brand

Best Mattress in a Box 2022: Everything About Buying a Mattress Online | Start Sleeping

]]> https://sonusleep.com/blogs/news/is-it-bad-to-sleep-on-your-side2022-04-11T14:19:23-07:002022-04-11T14:19:24-07:00Is It Bad To Sleep on Your Side? 4 Factors To Keep in MindBridget Reed

The side sleeping position is the most popular among all sleeping positions. There are a ton of benefits to sleeping on your side, like breathing better and protecting your heart, so there’s no wonder it’s so popular!

As with all sleeping positions, there are some cons to sleeping on your side – albeit very minimal ones – that may make you pause and ask, “Is it bad to sleep on my side?”

In this article, we will take you through all the advantages and disadvantages of sleeping on your side. If you do sleep on your side, we’ll even recommend the best beds for you, like the SONU Sleep System.

Sit back, relax, and start reading.

What 4 Factors Should I Consider Before Sleeping on My Side?

If you’re a side sleeper or someone considering sleeping on your side, you should consider at least four things before you assume the position. All sleeping positions come with their pros and cons. With that in mind, here’s what you need to assess before you lie down.

If you experience any of the following conditions, you need to choose your sleeping position wisely.

  1. Health issues. Do you suffer from acid reflux, GERD, or sinus issues? Certain positions will either alleviate or worsen these problems.
  2. Physical pain. Do you experience physical pain from an injury or disorder? If you experience any pain issues like lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, or arthritis, to name a few, the position you lie in matters.
  3. Pregnancy. Are you pregnant? Certain positions are not beneficial for pregnant women because they can slow down circulation and blood flow.
  4. Sleep disorders. Do you have a sleep disorder? Anything from sleep apnea to insomnia counts as a sleep disorder. Many of them are interconnected. The way you sleep can affect your breathing and your ability to sleep throughout the night.

What Are the Advantages of Sleeping on My Side?

Let's start with the benefits of sleeping on your left side:

On the other hand, sleeping on your right side can be beneficial if you have heart failure, and sleeping on the left side has been shown to increase discomfort. Simply switching over to the right can help get rid of that discomfort.

In general, sleeping on your side can alleviate back pain by relieving pressure on your spine. The SONU Sleep System was made with side sleepers in mind, and it comes with adjustable pillows that you can position to help your head and neck line up with your spine while you sleep.

The SONU Sleep System also features a plush top layer of serene foam, sink-in support, and a cooling layer for the most comfortable sleep of your life.

Side sleeping is the best choice if you suffer from sleep apnea. It prevents your airways from being blocked while you sleep and prevents your tongue from falling to the back of your throat and obstructing it.

What Are the Disadvantages of Sleeping on My Side?

On the flip side, sleeping on your right side may be harmful if you have acid reflux. The symptoms of acid reflux are worse when sleeping on this side as opposed to your left side.

For every benefit sleeping on your left side provides, sleeping on your right nearly always makes them worse. Sleeping on your right side can increase your discomfort, from issues with lymphatic drainage to circulation problems during pregnancy.

Draining food waste isn’t as effective when sleeping on your right side. The right side also isn‘t ideal for the positioning of your stomach and pancreas; lying on your left side allows these organs to sit in the most comfortable position while you sleep.

What Is the Right Way To Sleep on My Side?

Did you know that there were different types of side sleeping positions? The most common is sleeping with one arm under your pillow while the other arm is either straight by your side or hugging your body while your legs are straight.

If you are a side sleeper who often wakes up with pain in your bottom arm or shoulder, the SONU Sleep System can help. With sink-in support and the patented immersive Comfort Channel, the SONU Sleep System helps prevent uncomfortable pain and pressure on your arms, shoulders, chest and neck while you sleep on your side.

The exact position you assume while sleeping on your side is also a factor. Here are a few side positions to familiarize yourself with.

Fetal Position

About 47% of Americans sleep in the fetal position. In this position, your knees are curled up toward your chest while your arms are curled in front of you, with one under your pillow. Women are more likely than men to sleep in this position.

Yearner Position

This one may sound new, but 13% of Americans sleep in it. Think of the most common side position except with your arms outstretched in front of you – that’s the yearner position. Baby Boomers are more likely to sleep in the yearner position than any other generation.

Log Position

Finally, the log position involves sleeping with your legs and arms straight down by your sides. It may be uncomfortable for the arm beneath your body, potentially causing arm and shoulder pain. Around 6% of Americans sleep in the log position.

What Are the Best Beds for Side Sleepers?

There are mattresses made with side sleepers in mind to help prevent low back pain by aiding your body in maintaining a neutral position.

The perfect combination is a mattress that contours and supports your body while you sleep. If you suffer from shoulder pain, back pain, or other discomfort after sleeping, SONU’s mattress has the patented Comfort Channel made for your arms and shoulders to slip into while you’re on your side, eliminating these pains that are unavoidable with all other mattresses.

Additionally, the SONU Sleep System offers sink-in support to help your spine stay aligned, and Support Pillows for head and neck comfort.

Conclusion

Is it bad to sleep on your side? That depends. There are benefits to sleeping on your left side that don’t exist when you sleep on your right and vice versa. In general, sleeping on your side is great if you have pain issues and sleep apnea, no matter which side you sleep on.

Before you lie down, you should consider a few factors, like whether you experience physical pain regularly or have health issues that are affected by the way you sleep. We also recommend that you choose a bed made for side sleepers so that you have the best sleep experience.

The SONU Sleep System was crafted specifically for side sleepers, but also offers optimal comfort for all sleeping positions. Treat yourself to a bed that contours to every curve of your body, pillows that you can adjust, and a Comfort Channel for your shoulders and arms to sink into, so you can finally have the best sleep of your life.

You won’t find this experience anywhere else.

Upgrade your life with a SONU today.

Sources

Effect of Different Recumbent Positions on Postprandial Gast... : Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology | ACG

This Is Why You Should Sleep on Your Left Side (Backed by Science) | Lifehack

How to Sleep on Your Side - Train Yourself Today | Sleep Advisor

Good Sleeping Posture Helps Your Back - Health Encyclopedia| University of Rochester Medical Center

Benefits and Which Side to Sleep On | Sleep Foundation

Sleep Positions | Bettersleep.org

]]>