Latest news with #sleep
New York Times
10 hours ago
- General
- New York Times
As Wirecutter's Mattress Reviewer, I Sleep for a Living. It's Harder Than It Sounds.
Before we call in mattresses to test in person, we narrow down a list of hundreds of potential contenders. To do this, we build massive spreadsheets and sort them for about a dozen key specifications depending on the kind of mattress we're testing, such as memory-foam densities, polyfoam densities, coil counts, coil gauge, height, weight, materials, and price, to name just a few. Foam density is one of the most important factors we consider before we start testing, and it's a good example of how these specs help us focus our testing. This metric, expressed in pounds per cubic foot, or PCF, can apply to two kinds of foam used in mattresses. Memory foam is the dense, body-contouring foam that lets you sink into the mattress. Non-memory-foam polyfoam, which is lighter, springier, and less body-contouring than memory foam, is usually used in the mattress's topmost layer or in a transition layer between the top comfort layer and the firmer, more supportive core at the bottom. For both of these foam types, we typically look for denser foams, with a minimum memory-foam density of 3 PCF and a minimum non-memory-foam polyfoam density of 1.8 PCF. Wirecutter journalists visit mattress factories and showrooms. Caira Blackwell, Lisa Fischer, and Hali Potters/ NYT Wirecutter We consider only those mattresses with denser foams for a couple of reasons. First, as we've learned from foam engineers, denser foams are more durable. That means they can withstand years of use without forming those uncomfortable permanent indents and impressions of your body over time. Second, many people who shop for foam mattresses want a certain sensation. The denser the foam, the more you feel like the mattress is hugging you — it melts slowly like butter under your body's weight, and it takes more time to recover when you move. In contrast, a mattress with light-density foams is bouncier and recovers faster than a mattress with denser foams. Other factors that help us narrow the testing field include company return policies and warranties. We don't recommend any mattresses that can't be returned or exchanged. Even though we highly recommend trying a mattress before you buy it, we also understand that doing so isn't always a possibility. (Mattresses all too often end up in landfills because they're difficult to donate or recycle, which is why we hope our vetting helps you avoid a return in the first place.) So we look for manufacturers with return or exchange policies that allow you to try a mattress for at least a month and have warranty coverage for at least 10 years. Last, we consider customer service and online reviews. We don't move forward with testing mattresses that have consistently bad reviews. Some mattress companies have reviews only on their own websites, which makes it hard for us to determine how authentic their online feedback is; when that happens, we also look for any reports to the Better Business Bureau. In going through all of that, we narrow our list of hundreds of mattresses to about half a dozen newcomers to test against our favorites.
Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Why cats prefer sleeping on their left side
Cats prefer to sleep on their left side to protect themselves from predators, a study has found. The pets sleep for up to 16 hours a day and often curl up or stretch out for a snooze in opportune places. But the way the animal settles down is not random, and there is an evolutionarily hard-wired logic underpinning it, according to a study from the Ruhr University Bochum in Germany. Scientists found cats lie on their left side around two-thirds of the time, which shows that it was done deliberately. They looked at clips on YouTube of more than 400 sleeping cats and logged which side they were sleeping on. Data revealed that 266 of the cats (66.5 per cent) were on their left side, leaving scientists to conclude this was a survival trait from their history in the wild. Sleeping on their left side means when they wake, their left eye is able to see the local area unobstructed by the cat's own body. This visual information is then processed by the right side of the brain. This hemisphere is what processes threats and is responsible for escaping danger as well as knowing an individual animal's position. This puts the cat at an advantage compared to if it was to sleep on its right side – when the information is processed by the left side of the brain, which is less specialised to aid a swift escape. Anti-predator vigilance This leftward preference is just one of the many ways in which cats protect themselves. 'Sleep is one of the most vulnerable states for an animal, as anti-predator vigilance is drastically reduced, especially in deep sleeping phases,' according to the study. 'Domestic cats are both predators and prey (e.g. for coyotes) and sleep an average of 12–16 hours a day. 'Therefore, they spend almost 60-65% of their lifetime in a highly vulnerable state. To reduce predation risks, cats prefer to rest in elevated positions so that predators are more visible to them and the cats, in turn, are more visually concealed from predators. 'In such a spot, predators can access cats only from below. Thus, their preference for resting in an elevated position can provide comfort, safety, and a clear vantage point for monitoring their environments. 'We hypothesised that a lateralised sleeping position further increases the chances of quickly detecting predators (or to identify careless prey) when awoken.' Threat-processing leftward bias Pregnant cows are known to prefer their left side while sleeping for a similar reason, experts believe. The scientists also found that the pawedness of a cat, whether it preferred its left or right side, is likely not to blame for the sleeping preference. A 2017 study found that male cats tend to prefer their left paws and females are more right-paw dominant. 'We are inclined to believe that the significant leftward bias in sleeping position in cats may have been evolutionarily driven by hemispheric asymmetries of threat processing,' the scientists add in their paper, published in the journal Current Biology.
CNET
13 hours ago
- Health
- CNET
Best Cheap Mattresses on Walmart for 2025
A glimpse into one of the large storage spaces at our testing facility. Aly Lopez/CNET CNET's team of sleep experts has spent years testing, reviewing, cutting open and researching beds. Collectively, we've tested well over 300 beds. All the testing happens in our 6,000-square-foot mattress warehouse in Reno, Nevada, which includes two mock bedrooms we use to film our reviews and test beds. Our testing approach to mattresses is very hands-on and involves analyzing a bed's construction, feel and firmness. We make sure every bed gets multiple points of view from our entire team to ensure we're best representing different genders, body types and sleeper needs. Firmness and feel The Mattress Smasher tests the firm side of the Plank Firm mattress. Aly Lopez/CNET The first and arguably most important factor we look for when we test a bed is how it feels and how firm it is. These are some of the most subjective factors in mattress testing. They depend on your body weight or how much pressure you put on the bed. Through the years, we've found that our experience doesn't always match a brand's website. To test firmness, we have every lie on the bed in different positions, compiling the data to compare it to other beds we've tested. We note how it feels on our backs, and pressure points like the shoulders, hips and knees. Once we feel comfortable with our experience with the bed and have recorded our subjective firmness, we pass the bed off to the Mattress Smasher 9000. The MS9k is a proprietary machine built by the CNET Labs team. This gives us an objective numerical value for firmness across every bed we test. Motion isolation I often describe motion isolation as how well a bed dampens movement across the surface, aka, can you feel someone move around next to you? This is a huge factor that couples need to consider when choosing their next bed. To test motion isolation, I would lie on the bed and close my eyes while someone else moved around on the other side of the bed. Then, I'd rate how much I can feel their movement. Testing the motion isolation with a glass of water on the end and flopping around. It passed. Dillon Lopez/CNET Next, we perform the classic water glass test. It involves setting a glass of water on the edge of a bed and rolling toward and away from it. We note how much the water sloshes in the glass. Traditionally, memory foam tends to do the best in this area. Edge support Edge support refers to the strength of the bed's perimeter. This is important for people who sleep on the edge of the bed or have mobility issues that make it difficult to get in and out of bed. To test a bed's edge support, we lie on the edge and measure how much it compresses under our weight. It receives a low score if it feels like we might slide off. Hybrid beds with reinforced edges tend to do the best in this area. Temperature Temperature control is one of the most sought-after features in mattresses. Hot sleepers need cooling tech to ensure their body heat doesn't interrupt their sleep. Unfortunately, there is no threshold that mattresses must reach for a brand to slap a cooling label on a bed. In my experience, only a handful of beds are actually going to move the needle in this area. Most are just marketing. Part of the testing includes removing the mattress cover and analyzing its interior construction and materials. Dillon Lopez/CNET While testing a bed, we rank its cooling and note what cooling features are included in the construction, like a special cover or gel-infused foam layers. Some beds, like Purple, have an interesting construction that helps them sleep temperature-neutral, which is good for hot sleepers, but I don't consider it to be truly cooling. We also test beds in a temperature-controlled room to ensure we're always getting a consistent experience across beds.
CNET
14 hours ago
- Health
- CNET
These 6 Simple Steps Could Improve Your Sleep Routine
Getting a good night's rest is important for all kinds of reasons, not least because it sets you up for the day ahead. But there are a lot of reasons that restful sleep can be difficult to achieve, including racing thoughts, anxiety, late-night scrolling on social media and more. Here's the thing, sleep isn't a luxury -- it's essential. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night is essential to regulating our mental and physical health. It can improve your mood, sharpen your focus and even strengthen your immune system. If waking up groggy has become your normal, it might be time to work on your sleep routine. These six easy habits can make falling -- and, importantly, staying -- asleep a lot easier. Best habits for better sleep A full night's rest doesn't have to come few and far between. Improving sleep hygiene can help you overcome the different factors that disrupt your quality of sleep. 1. Have a bedtime routine Humans are creatures of habit, and practicing a calm bedtime routine each night before bed can help prepare your mind and body for bed. Before long, your body begins to recognize that it's bedtime when you start your routine and will boost melatonin production. Here are a few things you can do to help promote relaxation and ease stress before bed. Read a book: Reading just six minutes a day has been shown to reduce stress by up to 68%, and CNET's mental health writer credits credits reading before bed as the key to her improved sleep quality. Reading just six minutes a day has been shown to reduce stress by up to 68%, and CNET's mental health writer credits credits reading before bed as the key to her improved sleep quality. Meditate: Research shows that meditation before bed can reduce cortisol levels, a hormone responsible for stress, and increase melatonin production, a hormone that plays a role in your sleep-wake cycle. It can also teach you mindfulness to help you cope with anxious thoughts before bed, not allowing them to prevent you from falling asleep. Research shows that meditation before bed can reduce cortisol levels, a hormone responsible for stress, and increase melatonin production, a hormone that plays a role in your sleep-wake cycle. It can also teach you mindfulness to help you cope with anxious thoughts before bed, not allowing them to prevent you from falling asleep. Take a bath: Taking a bath before bed not only promotes relaxation, but it helps lower your body temperature to a level that's ideal for sleep. While it seems it would have the opposite effect, warm water sets off your body's temperature-regulating mechanism and increases blood flow from your core to your extremities, resulting in a drop in temperature. Taking a bath before bed not only promotes relaxation, but it helps lower your body temperature to a level that's ideal for sleep. While it seems it would have the opposite effect, warm water sets off your body's temperature-regulating mechanism and increases blood flow from your core to your extremities, resulting in a drop in temperature. Drink tea: Certain caffeine-free teas help reduce stress and ease anxiety. This includes camomile, valerian root and passionflower. 2. Stay off electronics before bed I know this isn't what you want to hear. Many people like scrolling on their phones or binge-watching TV shows before bed, but it can severely impact your quality of sleep and sleep latency, which is the amount of time it takes to fall asleep. Blue light from electronic devices disrupts your body's natural internal clock, aka circadian rhythm, and prevents the production of melatonin. The notifications that constantly make your phone buzz also keep your mind stimulated and alert when you should be winding down for bed. The best rule of thumb is to keep off electronics at least 30 minutes before bed. Read more: Best Blue Light Blocking Glasses 3. Get exercise in during the day Exercising during the day can help you sleep better at night. Getty Images/Mike Harrington Physical activity during the day that increases your heart rate can help improve sleep can take the place of sleep medications for some. Around 76% to 83% of volunteers in a 2013 Sleep in America poll who did light to vigorous exercise reported having good sleep. However, avoid high-intensity workouts too close to bedtime to keep your heart rate from spiking and minimize stimulation. 4. Avoid late afternoon cups of coffee Like working out too close to bedtime, you shouldn't have too much caffeine too close to bed. As much as you might crave that 3 p.m. cup of coffee to get you through the rest of your day, it could keep you from falling asleep at a reasonable time. Coffee has a half-life of four to six hours, meaning that's how long it takes for just half of the caffeine to break down in your system. In other words, your body stays alert for an extended period of time, which is counterproductive to falling asleep. Limit your last cup of joe to six hours before bed (or longer). 5. Write down your thoughts in a journal Journaling before bed can help release, cope or organize your stressful thoughts so they aren't trapped in your mind, keeping you from falling asleep. There's something therapeutic about unloading your thoughts physically onto paper. It can also help you prepare for a busy week ahead as you work through the responsibilities you need to tackle. Read more: 5 Reasons You Should Start Journaling and How to Start 6. Consider trying out natural sleep aids Natural sleep aids are a good alternative to sleep medications and can be incorporated into a nighttime routine to help promote better sleep. Home remedies and aids that are easy to get your hands on at a local store include lavender oil, tart cherry juice, valerian root and CBD.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
The part of your house that keeps you cool for free in a heatwave – and it's not your windows
THERE is nothing worse than struggling to sleep in a hot, humid room on a warm summer's night. The heat can often mean it can be tough to create the perfect bedroom temperature that gives us a good night's rest. 3 3 Which is why most of us are forced to fork out for a fan to avoid a restless, sweaty sleep and feeling shattered and drained the next day. But did you know that there is a part of your home that can actually cool you for free? And no, it's not the windows. A sleep expert has now revealed that the precise position of your door can make all the difference when it comes to keeping cool at bedtime in the summer. This is because, depending on how it is placed, it can significantly reduce bedroom temperatures. Which, in turn, can save you from facing an uncomfortable night's rest. Dr Jordan Burns, from Amerisleep, says the way bedroom doors are positioned affects airflow patterns within sleeping spaces. Good sleep remains possible during hot weather if you understand how to control airflow in your home Dr Jordan Burnsexpert from Amerisleep And this can either create cooling cross-ventilation or it can trap heat, depending on the angle chosen. The specialist said: "Most people focus solely on windows for cooling, but bedroom doors control how air circulates throughout your sleeping space. "A properly positioned door can make the difference between restful sleep and hours of uncomfortable tossing and turning." So, what is the perfect position to leave your door at night for a nice, cool, blissful sleep? Dr Burns has said that everyone should take a more precise approach and suggests positioning the door at a 45-degree angle. The sleep doctor explained: "The optimal angle for a bedroom door at night is approximately 45 degrees. "This specific position creates what fluid dynamics calls a 'venturi effect' that accelerates airflow through the narrower opening, pulling hot air out more efficiently than a fully open door would." But he warns that you should never leave your door completely open or fully closed if you want a cool space. Dr Burns said this is the most common mistake people make during hot weather, and it can actually leave you feeling WARMER. He added: "A completely open door actually slows down airflow in many cases because the opening is too large to create the pressure differentials that drive air movement. "Conversely, a fully closed door prevents any air exchange, trapping heat and moisture that build up while you sleep." The sleep expert suggests a simple method to test if your door positioning is working effectively for bedroom cooling. Dr Bruns advised: "Place a lightweight ribbon or tissue near the gap between the door and frame. "If it moves toward the door, you're successfully drawing air through the room. "If it remains still or moves away, adjust your window and door configuration until you achieve proper airflow. "Good sleep remains possible during hot weather if you understand how to control airflow in your home. "Door positioning is a cost-free intervention that can improve your sleeping environment. "It can also reduce both energy costs and environmental impact compared to mechanical cooling options." 3
