Health Benefits of Adjustable Beds

Back pain is one of the worst ailments out there and can cause severe pain as well as a vast range of problems ranging from limited mobility to accidents. However it is unfortunately something that many of us have to contend with and especially once we begin to reach older age and following the wear and tear that every day life subjects it to. Thus it is important to do everything in our power to make sure that we can keep our backs healthy and well maintained and prevent them from deteriorating.

There are many ways to do this and many changes that we can make to our every day routine from altering our posture to changing the way that we lift heavy objects. However one thing that many of us forget is the way that we sleep – and the amount of support you get at this point is going to make a big difference to your overall health. Meanwhile it is also possible by changing the position that you sleep in to combat many different health problems, pains and elements specifically.

With adjustable beds it is possible to alter the sleeping position precisely as you wish and normally this means you can incline or recline the head and legs. This in most cases means two main points of articulation – allowing you to bring your head upright and lower your legs or return to a completely flat position (though some adjustable beds will have more points of articulation and this of course has even greater benefits to your health potentially).

Benefits of an Adjustable Bed

For Back Pain

When you sleep on adjustable beds you will be able to do so in a position that more closely matches the contours of your body and this in turn will mean that you are able to keep your back flatter against the ground. This can help to prevent conditions such as sciatica – a condition where the sciatic nerve gets trapped near the base of the spine (this nerve controls the majority of signals heading between the brain and the limbs and is very painful when put under pressure). By supporting the base of the spine it is possible to keep the spine aligned and help to prevent trapped nerves and release those that are currently lodged. You may also find that while suffering from sciatica this can greatly help the associated pain.

At the same time by having some incline you can keep some of the pressure from your back that causes it to compress during the night. This is useful for preventing yourself from waking up and causing injury to yourself while the spine is more vulnerable. You’ll also be able to support your head well using adjustable beds, and this will mean you don’t need to pile up too many pillows which can cause neck ache and headache.

For Apnea and Snoring

If you snore then using an adjustable bed it is possible again to use the incline to help improve your health. This is because one of the major causes of snoring is that your windpipe closes over due to the weight of your neck and this then results in air making a snoring noise as it passes through. By propping yourself upright slightly with adjustable beds, it is possible to alter the direction of the gravity so that it does not obstruct your windpipe. From there you can then reduce the sound of snoring and improve the quality of your sleep.

This is particularly important for those who snore due to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition in which the individual wakes up intermittently throughout the night due to their stopping breathing. This not only can severely damage the quality of sleep, but can of course also be dangerous if they stop breathing for too long. Altering your position won’t help all forms of sleep apnea, but can have a positive effect on some types of obstructive apnea.

For Digestion

Being slightly upright is also highly beneficial for your digestion as it helps your body to process food during the night. It is not advisable to go to sleep on too full a stomach at any point, but if you have eaten within the last few hours then addressing your position can be helpful and by using adjustable beds you can position yourself at the recommended 6 inches and this will help to encourage healthy digestion.

For Swelling

If ever you sprain or pull a limb, break it, or otherwise hurt yourself, then you will be told to elevate it in order to prevent the pain. Often you will use a pillow or cushion to attempt this, however you are likely to find in doing so that you move off during the night. On the other hand then, by using adjustable beds you can give yourself a better elevation and thereby help reduce swelling.

Those who have jobs working on their feet can particularly benefit from this if they often come home and find their lower legs and feet swollen. By elevating their legs slightly it’s possible to not only feel much better, but also to help combat problems such as varicose veins which form when the blood pools in the lower limbs.