National Bed Month 2022

National Bed Month takes place annually each March. This awareness event helps people think about the importance of a comfortable, supportive bed and the part it plays in achieving a good night’s sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research and practice.

In a recent report compiled by the NSF, focus was placed upon our sleep health during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlights a view of cross-sectional data from 12,000 people who were asked about their sleep health from 2019-2021.

The analysis revealed improvement in some measures of sleep, such as more adults getting the NSF’s recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night but results also indicated significant differences by race and ethnicity. These findings reinforce the critical need for attention to sleep health disparities and sleep health equity.

Other measures significantly declined, like sleep quality, which recorded a new low. Declines in sleep quality tended to occur more frequently in women, individuals without college degrees, and middle-to-lower-income individuals, exacerbating already-existing gaps in sleep quality among these groups.

Erin Koffel, PhD, Senior Director of Research at the National Sleep Foundation says: “We know existing studies that looked at pandemic-era changes in sleep health were limited to early in the pandemic, so we see this analysis as adding to our base of knowledge and giving a broader picture of people’s sleep health across two years of this global event. We’re seeing both consistencies and differences compared to other reports, and over a longer span of time than others.”

National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Health Index (SHI) survey, which has continued to be fielded throughout the pandemic, is a validated gauge of sleep health. It includes an overall score and subindices of sleep quality, sleep duration and disordered sleep, with higher scores indicating better sleep health. The SHI has been fielded in nationally representative surveys quarterly since 2016.

Top Tips from The World Sleep Society

Sleep has an important place as a pillar of health, allowing for a healthier future thanks to regular, quality sleep. This focus is purposefully broad in meaning, surrounding the message that quality of life can be improved with healthy sleep.

Conversely, when sleep fails, health declines, decreasing quality of life. Sound sleep is a treasured function. The World Sleep Society has ten tips for healthier sleep.

These recommendations are:

1. Establish a regular bedtime and waking time.
2. If you like naps, try not to exceed 45 minutes of daytime sleep.
3. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and smoking 4 hours before bedtime.
4. Avoid caffeine 6 hours before bedtime. This includes coffee, tea, certain fizzy drinks and chocolate.
5. Avoid heavy, spicy or sugary foods 4 hours before bedtime.
6. Exercise regularly, but not just before bedtime.
7. Use comfortable and inviting bedding.
8. Find a comfortable sleep temperature setting and keep the room well ventilated.
9. Block out distracting noises and eliminate as much light as possible.
10. Avoid using your bedroom for work or general recreation.

And So To Bed

At And So To Bed in The Pantiles, they stock a wide range of mattresses, beds and accessories. Their sleep consultants make sure your mattress is 100% correctly designed for your personal body shape and size. This includes the option of a mattress variation on each side of the bed, personalising the comfort for you and your sleeping partner.

Book a consultation today to discuss your sleep easy options.