Health Benefits

SLEEPING DISTURBANCES

SLEEPING FACTS
Between the ages of 20 and 60 you are likely to spend more than 15 full years in bed. In a 50 year span, you can be expected to fall asleep almost twenty thousand separate times.

We all know that sleep is essential to maintain good health and enhance the quality of life. It is basic medical knowledge that:

• the nervous system cannot function indefinitely without sleep.
  
• the quality of sleep can be measured and described by bodily functions.
  
• many known disorders of sleep can be corrected with proper medication, changes in lifestyle or sleeping habits.
  
• a "good sleep" usually results in muscle relaxation by decreasing metabolic activity and enhancing recovery from muscle fatigue.
  
• during sleep, changes occur in the position and the size of the eyes. They roll from time to time, but are usually positioned in the center.
  
• dreaming is associated with rapid (vertical and horizontal) eye movements (REM).
  

CONTROLLING OR ENFORCING SLEEP
Good quality sleep on a bed from Waterbed Land's Bedroom Land can help reduce the need for sleep medication.

Chemicals that produce sleep are classified into several categories:

Sedatives - Dampen the brain activity to allow natural sleep centers to take over.
Hypnotics - Work on the natural sleep center.
Tranquilizers - Reduce anxiety and tension and also act as muscle relaxants.
Antihistamines - Usually cause drowsiness. Some do not require a doctor's prescription.

SLEEP DISTURBANCES
Approximately 30% of a normal population sample will have some form of sleep disturbances; trouble falling asleep, waking up during the night or early awakening.

THE INSOMNIACS
Despite all the natural laws of sleep, many people find it difficult to get to sleep or stay asleep. In the United States, approximately 20-25 million people have sleep problems. The steady shift away from manual labor removed much of the natural muscle fatigue that induces sleep.

Temporary insomnia is usually characterized by a high level of anxiety and physiological arousal. This is usually a carry-over from a busy day, acute problems, frustrations, anger, hostility or the working of a "chattering mind." This form of insomnia is usually temporary. As the psychological problem is solved, the sleep pattern will change.

However, there are individuals who have abnormal sleep patterns that will take years to improve. The heated waterbed, softside bed, memory foam bed and airbed should be considered one of many factors that can minimize the problem. It certainly can help in a total relaxation program. Medical studies have shown that heated waterbeds have played an important role both in accelerating and facilitating better sleep patterns. Many patients showed improvements in ease of falling asleep, stabilizing the sleep onset, increasing the total sleep time and reduced night awakenings.

TESTIMONIALS

Dr. M.V. Kline - Some Clinical Sleep Parameters with the Innerspace Flotation Bed.
"For people with histories of disturbed sleeping patterns, the documented therapeutic effects of sleeping on flotation mattresses include increased ease in falling asleep; the ability to sleep with minimal use of medication; longer periods of sleep with less movement and fewer reawakenings during the night; a feeling of 'refreshment' and reduced depression in the morning."

Dr. J. Silver - Santa Monica, California
"Waterbeds are...almost the perfect surface to sleep on. The heat, the subtle movement of the water, the fact that the body is totally and evenly supported, are very important to its beneficial qualities."

Dr. D.D. Stierwalt - Davenport, Iowa
"Ninety percent of those (patients) we spoke to reported a strong, definite benefit from sleeping on waterbeds."

Steven R. Garfin, M.D. - Arch Phys. Med. Rehabilitation Sept. 1980, University Medical Center, San Diego, CA
"Paraplegics, diabetics and other patients with sensory neuropathologies should choose a bed with the most even pressure distribution to help minimize the chance of tissue damage and this will aid in their total care."

BACKACHES

Approximately 6,000,000 Americans are out of work each day because of back pain. It affects all adults and can lead to very serious problems.

Q. What are the causes of backaches?
A. Backaches are usually classified into two categories:

Acute - Due mainly to recent muscle strain, fractures or infection. Today acute backache is a common problem with "weekend athletes" or "do-it-yourselfers."

Chronic - More complex and is usually associated with conditions such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, spinal curvature, disc problems or loss of bone minerals. Other factors such as extreme overweight, poor posture, emotional stress and depression may initiate back pain or aggravate an existing condition.

TREATMENT

There are probably as many methods for treating backaches as there are causes. Doctors will try to remove the cause of the pain as a first step in treatment. For example, losing weight, correcting posture, or special exercises may reduce musculature stress. Strengthening other back supporting muscles can also reduce backaches.

In some cases the work of a skillful physical therapist or chiropractor may be needed. Some therapists will resort to heat treatments, massages, tractions, or other devices for alleviating the pain. Others use analgesics, muscle relaxants or tranquilizers.

However, most specialists agree that the number one form of treatment consists of rest, proper diet and sleep in a comfortable position. This is baseline therapy to which other treatment can be added.

HEAT

A very old and effective means of relaxing muscles, relieving pain and soreness in backaches. Many doctors may prescribe hot baths or heating pads. Hospitals and clinics often have a variety of special equipment for hot treatments. (Hydrotherapy, hot packs, etc.)

WHY USE A SPECIALTY BED FROM WATERBED LAND'S BEDROOM LAND

STANDARD MATTRESS

A specialty bed can aid in the treatment of backache by enabling the backache sufferer to sleep in a more comfortable and beneficial position. A unique distribution of support for the body assures that all parts of the body are evenly supported, and that the body weight is equally distributed. Flotation systems, memory foam and airbeds remove pressure from the spine and allow relaxation of the spinal musculature. Doctors have found that the addition of heat speeds up the relaxation process and increases circulation to rejuvenate problem areas.

WATERBED / MEMORY FOAM / AIRBED

Many hospitals and nursing homes are using heated waterbeds for disabled and chronically ill patients, who are confined to bed because of surgery, burns, stroke and back problems. All derive benefits from using heated beds.

TESTIMONIALS

Dr. Silver, Santa Monica, California
"A harder surface that is not equally supportive of the body can put the spine into some positions that are really bizarre, and not at all beneficial, putting undue stress on ligaments and muscles which would really contribute to a backache."

Dr. Gaylen Johnson, Fresno, California
"When lying on the back on a flotation mattress, the water does the job of the muscles. The only time in a person's life that the spine musculature can relax is on a flotation mattress."

Dr. D.D. Stierwalt - Kimberly Chiropractic Clinic, Davenport, Iowa.
"People feel overwhelmingly better on the waterbed. It supports so much better than a standard bed, and the heat is a big factor in aiding conditions such as stiffness.

Dr. M. Boyce - Bay Harbor Hospital, Torrance, CA
"Patients who appeared to benefit most from the inclusion of the flotation mattress were those with decubitus ulcers, cancer, low back pain and patients with orthopedic related problems..."