As the name suggests, an adjustable bed can be adjusted or configured into various sleeping positions based on user preference. This type of bed features two or more hinges whose operation is controlled via a motor. It is this component that allows raising and lowering of different parts of the bed. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of an adjustable electric bed are outlined below.
Pros of an adjustable bed
1. Increased comfort: Electric adjustable beds are more comfortable than conventional beds. The additional level of comfort is because the sleeping positions can be altered or customized. The patient may set the bed to be inclined at an angle (popularly angles 30 and 45 degrees) which offers a greater level of comfort than lying flat.
2. Relief from pain: Adjustable electric beds are capable of providing effective relief from chronic and painful conditions such as sciatica and arthritis. It greatly improves the life quality of people battling these conditions since they can change the bed’s position to the angle that they are most comfortable with. They can sleep well and avoiding exerting pressure on certain parts of the body. This provides enough recovery time for painful areas especially at night.
3. Independence: It is absolutely important to have a sense of independence in life especially as you grow older. Electric adjustable beds have a positive knock-on effect on mental health because they reduce pain and increase mobility which raises the users’ level of independence. It has the ability to empower older people or people battling chronic pain conditions.
4. Reduces snoring: When you sleep close to a person that snores loudly, it lowers the quality of your sleep because it will be difficult to fall asleep. Eventually, you will be sleep-deprived if you continue to find it difficult to sleep off daily. This will affect the quality of your waking life as well. An adjustable bed helps to combat snoring problems because the top half of the bed can be raised leading to full opening of the airways. The main cause of snoring is the sagging of the throat’s soft tissues during sleep. This is what causes the production of a loud rumbling sound. When the bed’s top half is raised, the effect of gravitational force can be minimized preventing the dropping down of the tissues of the throat.
5. Improved sleep quality: Adjustable beds facilitate undisturbed sleep in people that battle pains in their joints or muscles. A conventional bed restricts you to a horizontal sleeping position which has the tendency to reduce sleep quality because of frequent moving around as the user attempts to reduce the pressure exerted on painful parts of the body. An adjustable bed allows you to raise the bed’s top or bottom half so that there would be no pressure on sore areas. This improves the overall quality of your sleep.
6. Easy entry and exit: An adjustable electric bed facilitates easy entry and exit through the press of a button. The bed can be brought to a comfortable height which makes it easier for sick or aged people to make their way in and out of bed.
Cons of an adjustable bed
1. Cost: Electric adjustable beds are more expensive because of the features and benefits on offer. The relatively higher cost is also not unconnected with the fact that the technology an adjustable bed uses is much more advanced than that of a conventional bed.
2. It may not be compatible with your existing mattress: You will probably have to purchase a new mattress if you buy an electric bed. This becomes a disadvantage because you’d have to discard your existing mattress or at least stop using it.
3. Quality variation: It is not uncommon for variation in quality to exist in technology and adjustable electric beds are not different. They vary based on the quality of the mattress and motor. So, you must be deliberate about what you want from the market. Don’t allow the variations in quality detract you from purchasing an electric bed. This variation only makes it harder and trickier to find the right one.
Wrapping up!
Some benefits of electric adjustable beds to users include:
- Better comfort compared to a conventional bed
- Improved independence for aged persons
- Improved quality of sleep for people sleeping close to persons who snore and people battling chronic conditions
- Pain relief from painful conditions like sciatica and arthritis.