GAITHERSBURG, MD — Restful sleep may be one of our best defenses against COVID-19 according to a sleep advocacy group, but several factors are preventing us from getting the recommended amount.
“With such unprecedented changes coming on so quickly, it’s understandable that the importance of sleep is flying under the radar. But as we adjust to stay-at-home orders and try to remain healthy in a time of COVID-19, focusing on sleeping well offers tremendous benefits,” according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).
It is easy to assume that with most states still under some form of quarantine during the pandemic, getting better sleep would be easier, but that is not necessarily the case, which could be putting our immune system at risk.
“Sleep is critical in helping our immune system work to its fullest capacity, [specifically] getting the right amount of rest throughout the night,” Bill Papettas, President of one of the nation’s largest mattress retailers, Mattress Warehouse, said in an interview with 104.7 WONK FM’s Jen Richer.
Under a pandemic, the immune system is our first line of defense when coming in contact with the virus.
“Study after study ties your overall health to sleep … how important it is to not only get sleep, but getting a full seven or eight hours of sleep per night, in order to let your body get into REM sleep, that’s where a lot of the recovery happens for both the nervous system, muscular system and immune system,” Papettas said.
According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), “sleep is critical to physical health and effective functioning of the immune system. It’s also a key promoter of emotional wellness and mental health, helping to beat back stress, depression, and anxiety.”
There is a big difference between resting in bed for eight hours and restfully sleeping for eight hours, and mobile devices aren’t the only things keeping us from bridging that gap. Sleeping on the wrong mattress can just as easily rob you of critical REM.
“The difference now for a lot of people between now and pre-pandemic is people were working on five or six hours of sleep, and now people are starting to work out of their house and are starting to realize how poor their mattress is and the impact it’s had sleep,” Papettas said.
One of the most common issues Papettas sees is customers who, “come in and they’ll have a preconception of the right support level for their body. You’ve heard over the years that you need a really firm mattress to get a good night’s sleep, and that simply isn’t true. Everyone’s body is different… and you need a more curated sleep solution."
Mattress Warehouse devised a sophisticated system to help customers determine the best mattress features for their body type called bedMATCH where customers lay on a mattress outfitted with sensors that alert the computer to pressure points, distribution of weight, and body measurements among others.
“Our customers have been very happy with this process, recognizing that we have made their needs a priority. Putting their health and well-being at the forefront of our business is what we’ve always done,” Tracy Jones, Vice President of Marketing for Mattress Warehouse said.
With over 300 stores across the country, each is adhering to their local re-opening guidelines, but customers are still able to get advice and shop for mattresses both in-store and online. All Mattress Warehouses have also implemented a Clean Shop Promise, which includes extensive sanitization measures, disposable protective coverings on all of the mattresses and pillows, and the option for our customers to book a private appointment in stores.
For more information on Mattress Warehouse and their Clean Shop Promise here: SleepHappens.com
Listen to the full interview here:
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