Best Mattress for Insomnia in 2023

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia is caused by a variety of factors¹. Some of these include:

• Health conditions and medications – Allergies, acid reflux, back pain, arthritis, depression, and other health issues and their symptoms can cause you to stay awake when you’re trying to sleep. Furthermore, many of the medicines that help treat many of these disorders and others can also cause insomnia.
• Travel and swing shifts – Traveling to different time zones and working night or swing shifts can disrupt your circadian rhythm and cause you to have insomnia.
• Sleep disorders – Disorders like sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep once you do.
• Stress and anxiety – External factors such as financial problems, work issues, relationship conflicts, and the death of a loved one can cause insomnia.
• Poor sleep environment – Using smart phones or laptops, watching TV or playing video games before bed can interfere with sleep cycles. Additionally, inadequate mattresses and sleep accessories can keep you up.
• Diet and alcohol – Eating too much late in the evening can cause physical discomfort that will make it hard to sleep.

Can The Wrong Mattress Disrupt Sleep?

The wrong mattress can prevent you from getting a full night of sleep. There are a couple of reasons why:

1. Although some people can seemingly fall asleep anywhere, most people need a comfortable bed that supports a good night’s rest. Sleeping on a bed that doesn’t suit your needs or preference may lead to insomnia if you’re uncomfortable and constantly tossing and turning.
2. If you experience back, hip, or shoulder pain, it may be difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Beds that are geared towards addressing these problem areas and providing pressure relief, can go a long way in helping to ease your pain and get a restful night’s sleep.

Learn More: How to Cope With Pain and Sleep

Best Mattress Types of Insomnia

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses can be a good fit for those with insomnia because they can counteract many of the issues that cause sleep deprivation. These soft and contouring beds help support your joints and spine. This may help ease pain from diseases such as fibromyalgia and arthritis. Additionally, these beds can provide significant pressure relief around these areas. Co-sleepers who have trouble sleeping due to their partners or pets tossing and turning, will likely appreciate the motion-isolating properties of memory foam. Given that the symptoms of allergies are a possible cause of insomnia, the hypoallergenic nature of memory foam will help ease the symptoms of allergies which may allow for easier and better rest.

Latex

Body temperature is a huge component to getting a good night’s sleep. Those who sleep hot may have a hard time staying asleep. If this is a cause of your insomnia, latex mattresses are a great choice to help keep you cool through the night. These types of bed could also be a good choice for those who sleep better on a mattress that offers more support and a firmer feel. Also, most latex beds are hypoallergenic.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses are built with both innerspring coils and foam. The foam can be memory foam, latex or other types of foam. The coils used in these mattresses provide them with good airflow and ventilation which makes them good for those who experience restless nights because they get too hot. Hybrids are also a solid choice for those who change positions through the night because of their quick response times. This means that those who are combination sleepers won’t likely have to worry as much about waking because it takes too long to get comfortable again.

Tips for Dealing with Insomnia

Sleep is one of the most vital components to your health and well-being and those with insomnia may experience a multitude of mental and physical issues. To help you get better sleep, try these tips² to deal with insomnia.

• Stick to a sleep schedule – Going to sleep and waking at the same time every day – including on weekends – can help keep your circadian rhythms consistent.
• Create a comfortable sleep environment – Investing in a comfortable mattress that suits your sleeping needs and keeping your bedroom dark and cool will likely lead to more restful nights.
• Avoid late-day caffeine – Considering that caffeine is a stimulant, it is best to avoid it³ in the six hours before bedtime to avoid issues with falling asleep.
• Drink in moderation– Although alcohol is a depressant, research shows⁴ it may lead to insomnia symptoms . It is a good idea to always drink in moderation or avoid alcohol all together if you’re living with insomnia.
• Don’t multitask – The bedroom should be for sleeping and sex. It is best to avoid activities such as working, eating and watching TV in bed.
• Melatonin may help – Melatonin is a natural and often effective sleep aid that your doctor may recommend as an alternative to sleeping pills. Melatonin is a naturally-occurring hormone that our body produces, signaling that it’s time for sleep, and taking the supplement may help5 you fall asleep at bedtime. Stop taking melatonin if it isn’t helping after a week or two. Your doctor may have other treatment options to help.
• Address medical conditions – People with sleep apnea are periodically woken throughout the night when their airway becomes blocked and they struggle to breathe. While this is not the same as insomnia, ongoing research suggests⁶ insomnia symptoms are linked to sleep apnea.