Moving To A Waterbed

The vast majority of us still sleep on a regular spring mattress
at home, despite the wealth of choice now on the markets
relating to mattresses, new materials, ergonomic and orthopaedic
sleeping solutions The waterbed is perhaps the most recognised
of those alternatives, but also the one that raises the most
doubt in prospective buyers minds This article aims to work
through the potential worries and benefits of replacing your
regular mattress with a waterbed
What are the risks?
It is natural to assume, because of the very nature of a
waterbed, that using one is going to be slightly risky After
all, keeping a large plastic vessel filled with water in our
bedrooms is not normally something you’d recommend In this case
however, it’s far safer than you would think Even a violent
puncture with a sharp instrument will not lead to a leak, as all
waterbeds have a built in vinyl safety liner which captures any
leaks within the liner The water stays captive within the
plastic, and holes can be easily repaired using kits available
at waterbed stockists Waterbeds are, in fact, constructed so
that they are free from any internal pressure This means that
you could open the ‘fill valve’ and sit on the waterbed, and
still no water would escape
The other main worry that tends to come to mind is the amount of
weight a waterbed might be putting onto your bedroom floor
Weight is rarely, if ever, a problem The weight of the water is
spread evenly over the floor, and any doubts you may have can be
assuaged by the professional installation that most waterbed
suppliers can offer
The final thing worth noting is that a waterbed is not like a
fish-tank – you do not have to clean it out every week! The only
maintenance a waterbed requires is the addition of a special
water conditioner every six months, to help treat and condition
the water and the vinyl interior for maximum performance
What are the benefits?
For asthma and allergy sufferers: While of course
waterbeds cannot offer a cure for these problems, it can often
go quite some way towards reducing suffering Dust mites and
their droppings (which cause many problems for asthma and
allergy sufferers) collect in regular mattresses and are
impossible to remove With a waterbed, it is very easy to remove
bedding and wipe over the plastic surface with a cloth every now
and then, effectively sanitising the bed completely Water
mattress covers can be removed and washed at 60 degrees C, the
temperature at which mites are killed Used in conjunction with
allergy-safe bedding, a waterbed can provide even more superior
levels of hygiene
For backache relief: Backache is a common problem in
modern society, with people making uninformed decisions on
mattresses and cutting costs in areas where they really should
be putting more attention Many lower and upper back problems
can be tracked back to an improper sleeping position, and even
those who do not suffer from back problems would see
considerable back health benefits and posture improvement when
moving to a bed that is kinder on their spine A waterbed acts
as a naturally orthopaedic bed, forming around your spine and
offering support where it’s needed Floatation systems remove
pressure from the spine allowing the spinal muscles to fully
relax Doctors have also found that the addition of heat speeds
up the relaxation process and increases circulation to
rejuvenate problem areas
For bedsore sufferers: Any person immobilised and
confined to bed for a prolonged period is susceptible to
bedsores (decubitus ulcers) The tissue being pinned between
hard underlying bone and the surface of the bed for a long
period of time causes these The blood tissues are squeezed,
making circulation to the tissues difficult If cells are
deprived of blood for a long period of time they eventually die,
causing bedsores Therefore, treatment relies on reducing these
pressure points A water mattress spreads the body weight
evenly, so blood can circulate freely right through the body A
regular mattress puts uneven pressure on certain areas, whereas
a waterbed moulds to the shape of your spine and joints to
relieve pressure and support your posture gently throughout the
night The constant warmth of a waterbed further enhances blood
circulation, keeping your skin healthy and vastly reducing the
likelihood of sores developing For those in convalescence, or
those with circulation problems, a waterbed can significantly
increase their quality of sleep and skin health
For arthritis sufferers: Waterbeds are thermostatically
heated The warmth of the water helps your muscles to relax
resulting in improved blood circulation while alleviating sore
or stiff muscles and joints Better circulation means you toss
and turn less and get a better nights sleep as your
sub-consciousness is allowed to unwind The improved blood
circulation also increases your body’s ability to heal, meaning
it can concentrate on rejuvenating damaged joints – leaving the
waterbed to do the job of supporting your joints and looking
after your posture
For insomnia relief: This common sleep problem is caused
by stress, discomfort, pain, light, noise etc It is the
inability to fall asleep quickly due to mental or physical
problems So how can a waterbed help? The short answer is:
relaxation A waterbed is not a cure but it can provide an
environment that helps the problem cure itself Waterbeds
conform perfectly to our bodies, which are themselves 75% water
We literally ‘float’ on it so are effectively semi-weightless:
So we relax! Our body’s temperature is regulated by the bed’s
heater so it remains constant, again leading to relaxation and a
better chance of overcoming sleep problems
Overall, the benefits of a waterbed vastly outweigh the
potential worries (which can mostly be discounted anyway), and
offer a strong case for the waterbed as the best alternative to
a regular spring mattress While it certainly cannot claim to be
a cure for any of the ailments mentioned above, it goes a long
way to making recovery and regeneration easier and kinder on the
body There are a range of different kinds of waterbeds
available, and you’ll find professional advice and the chance to
test different models in your local waterbed store Be sure to
choose the best type for yourself, and make the most of this
move to a waterbed

Tags | allergy, bedroom, doubts, interior, materials, mattress, mattresses, orthopaedic, performance, prospective, puncture, result, sufferers, waterbed