Adjustable bed frames are recognized as one of the best ways to get a comfortable night’s sleep. Not surprisingly, a comfortable night’s sleep leads to many health benefits as well. Here are 10 major health benefits of using an adjustable bed frame that can help alleviate multiple types of pain and even improve your relationship.
- Helps with swelling
For those who have swelling due to fluid retention in the body, elevation is a must. Edema is the accumulation of fluid between cells and soft tissue. This is just one symptom of a disease that can lead to more serious health concerns. Many doctors advise patients with Edema to use an adjustable bed to sleep with their legs elevated above the level of their heart.
- Reduces pain in joints and ligaments
Over 350 million people worldwide deal with some form of arthritic pain. People living with Arthritis can find temporary relief when using an adjustable bed. The goal for pain relief from arthritis and other joint pain is to alleviate pressure on your joints. The disease itself already causes inflammation, creating joint tenderness and pressure, so the pressure added from normal daily life only adds to it.
Adjustable beds can be moved into many ergonomic positions, aiding in getting in and out of bed and helping reduce the pressure on your joints.
- Helps alleviate back pain
Many times, pain in the back is caused by improper dispersal of pressure or incorrect support for the spine. This leads to pressure on the sciatic nerve causing back pain. Spinal back pain also results from aging because the spinal disks become thinner due to loss of fluid, making the vertebrae lose cushioning. Adjustable bed frames let you alleviate back pain and take pressure off of your spine. The zero gravity position associated with many adjustable bed models is designed to take pressure off of your spine completely.
Additionally, upper back pain can occur from the neck compressing or being in a crooked position resulting in uncomfortable sleep and pain upon waking. Some adjustable beds even offer lumbar support – specific support just for the lower back.
- Helps improve sleep apnea symptoms
A person with obstructive sleep apnea stops breathing for short periods of time while they sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), more than 25 million adults suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea due to muscular changes (such as the relaxation of the tongue and other tissues), physical obstructions, brain physiology or improper closing of airways can cause an individual to feel exhausted or tired upon waking and significantly increases their risk of heart disease.
Sleeping in an elevated position helps reduce sleep apnea occurrences by preventing airway blockage, allowing air to more easily pass through airways and keeping blood continuously flowing to your organs.
- Helps reduce asthma flare-ups
Sleeping on an elevated surface helps reduce nasal and postnasal drip. Postnasal drip can lead to mucus in the chest which can aggravate asthma. Secretions from nasal passages can drip into breathing passages and make breathing more labored. This causes coughing and wheezing throughout the night, interrupting sleep.
Elevating your head while you sleep or sleeping in a more angled position helps reduce airway obstruction that leads to asthma flare-ups.
- Improves blood circulation and helps with heart issues
Heart problems can be exacerbated by sleeping on a traditional mattress with a flat frame. The heart needs to maintain regular circulation of oxygen-rich blood which can become more strenuous when laying down. A traditional mattress lacks proper pressure and support, therefore, increasing the workload of the heart while you sleep. With an adjustable frame, this circulation is made easier and the heart does its job more efficiently.
If you normally have swollen legs or feet, adjusting your sleeping position to where your legs are slightly elevated aids in circulation which reduces swelling. Improving circulation helps those with high blood pressure and diabetes maintain proper levels.
- Offers multiple comfort levels
Sometimes a good night’s rest simply comes down to a matter of comfort. While you can position an adjustable bed frame to lay flat if you prefer, you can move it to multiple positions and angles so you can find a more comfortable sleeping position. Adjustable bed frames offer a zero gravity position, alleviating pressure from your spine, and a leisure position great for reading in bed. You can also adjust the bed so you’re sitting completely up with your feet up, great for watching TV.
- Increases accessibility
Some individuals have to stay in bed for long periods of time, such as those with an inability to walk, those who are pregnant, post-partum mothers and people with mobility issues. While it is possible to do a few things while laying on a flat mattress, trying to complete many every-day tasks from a bed can be rather uncomfortable. An adjustable bed frame lets individuals accomplish certain tasks like writing, eating, folding clothes, and more while receiving the proper back and neck support throughout the day. For those with limited movement, this can feel refreshing as they can feel comfortable, supported and be independent.
- Helps improve digestion
For those who eat close to bedtime or wake up to snack, lying flat can cause digestion to be interrupted. Sleeping on a flat surface also causes the food to come back up more easily, resulting in heartburn and indigestion. This is known as reflux or acid reflux and can cause a burning sensation in the chest which can sometimes be mistaken for an issue with the heart. Sitting or resting in an elevated position helps prevent acid reflux and aids in digestion (especially while the person is awake).
- Helps improve relationships
An adjustable bed can help couples who find themselves too stiff or experience chronic aches and pain find more comfortable ways to be intimate. Couples find with certain adjustable bed frames and mattresses, they can adjust their own side of the bed to their personal preference for a sleeping position and angle without disturbing their partner. If you and your partner have different sleep habits, it might be a good idea to consider an adjustable bed frame where either side of the bed adjusts individually from the other side.
- Helps with discomfort associated with pregnancy
It can be hard to find a comfortable sleeping position while pregnant. Even with pregnancy pillows, not every woman feels comfortable. Some women do not like something like another pillow taking up room in the bed. Being able to adjust sleep positions or even sitting positions is a wonderful way to alleviate the aches and pains and provide comfort.
