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Sleep Tight with the Right Mattress

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, insufficient sleep is a public health epidemic.

Lack of shut-eye has been linked with motor vehicle crashes, occupational errors and also industrial disasters.

Think back to a time when you stayed out late and had to work in the morning. Were you groggy and unfocused the next day? Maybe you worked a little slower or you made small, but easy-to-fix errors. No sweat, right? Well, maybe not. Occupational errors can be small, but sometimes they can be life threatening.

A new study estimates that insomnia is responsible for 274,000 workplace accidents and errors each year, adding up to $31 billion in extra costs, according to ConsumerHealthDay.com.

Similar errors can occur while driving, according to the CDC.

About 4 percent of U.S. adults said they nodded off or fell asleep at least once while driving in the previous month. Some earlier studies reached a similar conclusion, but the CDC telephone survey of 147,000 adults was conducted on a much larger scale. It was conducted in 19 states and the District of Columbia in 2009 and 2010.

The National Department of Transportation estimates drowsy driving to be responsible for 1,550 fatalities and 40,000 nonfatal injuries a year in the U.S.

Also, people who sleep less are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases like depression, hypertension, obesity and diabetes.

An estimated 50-70 million U.S. adults have sleep disorders, notably snoring—which is a major indicator of bad sleep.

So, what can you do to get more Zzz’s and avoid putting yourself in harm’s way?

Switch Up Your Routine to Get More Zzz’s

  • Our bodies like repetition. Try to go to bed at night and wake up in the morning at the same time each day. Your body will naturally begin to fall asleep easier. This is a great tip for someone who has trouble sleeping.
  • Avoid large meals before hitting the sack. Your stomach wants to relax too. It doesn’t like digesting a big meal when the rest of you is trying to relax and drift off to dream land.
  • Say no to caffeine after 2 p.m. and alcohol close to bedtime.
  • Avoid smoking. If you snore, it will only make it worse.

A Great Mattress Means a Great Night’s Sleep

Routine changes only go so far. When it comes to better sleep, your mattress makes the ultimate difference. A great mattress will last longer, sleep cooler and feel better. Try any of these excellent, socially responsible mattresses we carry, including:

Urban Naturals Made with natural wool, latex, and cotton free of pesticides or chemicals, using eco-friendly processes.

Tempur-Pedic Space-age memory foam that conforms to the contours of your body.

Vi-SpringElegant, wondrous natural mattresses handcrafted in the U.K.

You can’t control whether the next-door dog barks incessantly or your kids wake up five times or your neighbors host a raging party. But you can control the mattress on which you sleep. Dream away your sleep troubles with one of these great products and rest comfortably knowing you’ll never be just another sleep-deprived statistic.

Sleep tight, Urbanites!