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One of the major consequences of suffering from Fibromyalgia is poor sleep. But what many people don’t realize is – the only thing coming between them and a goodnight’s sleep is the bedding.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease where the pain becomes too much to handle at times, and when you are struggling all day with pain, it’s important to choose bedding that can give you the much needed comfort.
Here are some tips on how changing your bedding can finally give you a good night’s sleep:
Adequate support
The idea is to choose a bedding that can give you adequate support, and make you feel comfortable. Start by choosing a mattress that allows curvature of the spin. For this, latex mattresses would be a great option since they mould according to the body’s shape and absorb any shocks that are caused by tossing or turning.
Fabrics matter
Choose fine cotton fabrics instead of synthetic ones. Not only does cotton make you more comfortable at night but it will also keep you cool.
Synthetics, on the other hand, can trap heat and cause itching which could lead to uncomfortable sleeping experience.
Thread count does not mean the bedding is of good quality, it’s just a marketing ploy. Also avoid buying bedding which has ‘permanent press’, or ‘wrinkle free’ marked on it, because that just means the bedding has been treated with formaldehyde resin, which is a chemical that won’t wash out no matter what detergent you use.
Wash new sheets
While packaging, irritants can get on new sheets which can cause discomfort while sleeping. That is why, if possible, wash new sheets at least twice before using them to get rid of any irritants and soften the fabric
Detergents can cause discomfort too
In most cases, irritation is caused because of the detergents used and not by the bedding itself. So before finding a new bedding, search for a good detergent first.
Opt for organic detergents that are free from any type of dyes or perfumes. You might be buying organic bedding, but if you are washing them with chemicals, it really won’t make any difference.
Use a new bedding every 7-10 days
Nothing in this world can beat the feeling of crawling into a clean set of sheets, so even if you have to make some extra efforts in laundry to make that possible, it’s really worth it.
Ideally you should be changing your bedding every 7-10 days, but if you should change it more often if you are more active. For instance, if you do not like to take a shower before going to bed, then obviously, your bed will get dirty quiet quickly. In any case, seven days is a good place to start.
Buy new bedding every 2 years
Just like any other piece of fabric, bedding too gets worn out with hot water and excessive washing. So, it’s always good to switch to a new bedding every 2 years.
If you have to toss and turn in your bedding, and you are just not able to sleep well, it is definitely time to buy a new bedding.
A good pair of pillowcases is essential
The bedding is not enough, pillowcases are just as much important and they shouldn’t be left out. In fact, a bad pillowcase can completely spoil your sleep, no matter how good your bedding is.
Also, if you don’t want to invest in a new bedding right now, you could just buy new pillowcases and get the much needed comfort.
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