Benefits of an Adjustable Bed

Adjustable beds were once found only in hospitals, but now you can have all the comfort and health benefits of one in your own home. Most models look more decorative than what you would see in a hospital so that you can relax in style.

Medical conditions an adjustable bed can help with include sleep apnea, acid reflux, lower back pain, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and Restless Legs Syndrome. Of course, there’s more than just medical advantages to consider. A completely healthy person can still sleep better on an adjustable base because of the bed’s ability to customize how they sleep.

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Our Recommendation: The Zoma Adjustable Bed

With just the push of a button, you can set up the Zoma Adjustable Bed for customized comfort. Do you want to take a load off by elevating your feet or sit up in bed? Just let the whisper-quiet motors raise the mattress to an incline, and you can recline in comfort.

The wireless, backlit remote control has:

• A zero-gravity preset
• A button to make the mattress go flat
• Two buttons that will remember a favorite position

If you’re a snorer, you can save that perfect head tilt that keeps you quiet at night. You can also program your daytime “lounge” position, so you read and watch TV in comfort.

You can pair the Zoma Adjustable Bed with your current bed frame because of the base’s zero-clearance design and detachable legs. What do we mean by zero clearance? It’s our way of saying that the parts that move the base are contained within it, leaving the space under the base clear. You can place it on top of a flat surface, and it will work just fine.

You can even place the base on the floor, although that might make it difficult to take advantage of its under-bed lighting. You can switch on the under-bed lighting when you get out of bed for a midnight bathroom run, or when you’re looking for something that rolled underneath the base.

We offer add-on in-home setup, but you can assemble your new Zoma Adjustable Base without our help. However, we do suggest you get a friend or family member to help you since the base is heavy.

The Zoma Adjustable Base includes a 10-year warranty. For the first year, we will cover all replacement parts and associated labor and shipping costs. In the second year, we will replace all defective parts. However, we are no longer responsible for transportation and labor costs.

From the third to the tenth year of ownership, we will repair the metal frame only. Damage to the frame’s cover, its side rails, the platform legs, motors, remotes, or the power cord is not covered.

What is an Adjustable Bed?

An adjustable bed, sometimes known as an electric bed, is a bed base topped with a series of panels. These panels tilt upward with the press of a button, elevating the head or foot of the mattress.

Because of its electronic components and high-quality metal structure, an adjustable base is one of the more expensive types of bed support. Many shoppers find the cost worthwhile to get a better night’s rest.

There are multiple methods that an adjustable bed uses to keep its mattress in place while it moves. Some use the friction of upholstery, while others include a mattress retainer bar at the foot of the bed.

Benefits of an Adjustable Bed

An adjustable bed is commonly used to treat a variety of chronic conditions. However, improved health isn’t the only benefit an adjustable base offers. When you sleep on an adjustable base, you can choose a comfortable position that’s not lying flat.

Stop Snoring

It’s well-known that snoring can keep a partner awake at night. And if your snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, you may feel sleepy during the day from a poor night’s rest.

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea often happens when your tongue and other soft tissues fall to the back of your throat, blocking your windpipe. This happens most frequently with back sleepers. When you sleep on your side or stomach, your throat’s soft tissues are more likely to stay out of the way.

You may also snore because of congestion or asthma. Keeping your head lifted while you sleep can also ease these symptoms.

If you’re a snorer, you and your partner don’t have to resort to separate beds. Sleeping on an adjustable bed can reduce snoring by elevating your head. By raising the head, you can drain your sinuses and keep your airway clear. Some adjustable bases even include an anti-snore preset on the remote.

Reduce Back Pain

Most of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives—up to 80 percent of us, according to the American Chiropractic Association. If your back pain feels at its worst when you stand up straight, an adjustable bed can provide some needed relief. To alleviate lower back pain, you should raise your head and feet to take the pressure off your spine.

If you find yourself waking up with back pain, you might need to take a closer look at your mattress. An old mattress that’s lost support is a common cause of morning back pain.

Are you thinking about buying a new mattress for back pain? You might want to try a medium-firm mattress since a 2015 study found that it was the best firmness for maintaining spine alignment.

Keep Your Stomach Settled

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) occurs when the contents of your stomach come rushing back up your esophagus. When your stomach acid touches the lining of your throat, it causes heartburn, which is a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest. Chronic acid reflux, also known as GERD, affects about 20 percent of the population.

When left untreated, GERD can cause breathing problems, a narrowing of the throat, and inflammation in the esophagus.

If you have GERD, lying flat can aggravate the condition. If you’re on your back, gravity can’t keep the contents of your stomach in place. What’s in your stomach can then flow up your esophagus. An adjustable bed can raise your upper body and let gravity do most of the work in settling your stomach.

Better Blood Circulation and Reduced Swelling

Do you have varicose veins causing you pain or swollen legs and feet? An adjustable bed can improve blood flow and reduce leg swelling by elevating your legs. When you lift a leg so that it’s higher than your heart, gravity will prevent too much blood from pooling in your lower leg, improving blood flow to the rest of your body.

Your leg may also swell up because of edema, which is when excess fluid is trapped in your body tissue. Edema is common among pregnant women, although it can also be caused by a serious medical condition such as kidney disease or congestive heart failure.

Raising your leg with an adjustable base can relieve the swelling. A massage can also redirect excess fluid out of your leg, so you might want to look for a base with massage features.

An adjustable bed can also improve your blood flow, easing the symptoms and conditions associated with poor circulation. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or even Restless Legs Syndrome, an adjustable bed can help you get a good night’s sleep.

Soothe Arthritis Symptoms

It’s not uncommon to wake up with stiff and sore joints if you have osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. An adjustable bed can help you relieve pressure and support inflamed joints.

You might also find it challenging to move your body because of your arthritis, making it harder to get up in the morning. An adjustable bed can help you sit up, so it’s easier to pivot your body and get out of bed.

Relax Before Bed

Instead of just lying on a flat mattress, you can raise the head of the bed so that it mimics a recliner chair. You can watch TV, read, knit, and perform other calming activities from the comfort of your bed.

Luxurious models may include built-in massage motors with a range of settings. You can relax after a long day on your feet with a foot massage, or soothe a headache with a head massage. Split bases may even let couples set up their preferred massage settings on their side of the bed.

Fall Asleep Faster

Many of us have had a bad night where we just couldn’t get comfortable. Perhaps your normal sleeping position just didn’t feel right. Maybe your pillow wasn’t at a good angle. An adjustable frame gives you the freedom to experiment and find the perfect position for falling asleep.

Sleepers often love the zero-gravity position, which elevates your legs above your heart and slightly raises your head. By resting in the zero-gravity position, you reduce strain on your legs and lower back. Often, this lack of pressure leaves you feeling more refreshed in the morning.

Why Might You Not Want an Adjustable Bed?

For all the benefits an adjustable base offers, there are a few reasons you might not be eager to buy one. Some find the beds too noisy, heavy, or even unsightly.

About 15 percent of adjustable bed owners complain about noisy motors, according to Sleep Like The Dead. However, with advancements in electronics, many manufacturers can offer beds with “whisper-quiet” or “near-silent” engines. Even if you do hear a slight sound as the bed’s panels shift, the base will be quiet once it’s in position.

Many find an adjustable base too heavy to move at their convenience. This can depend on the bed’s design, as some have a foldable structure with lightweight materials. Other models include leg casters with wheels, so it’s easier to shift the base when needed.

Manufacturers often do not trouble themselves with hiding or masking an adjustable base’s electric parts and frame. Some people do not like how such an adjustable base can clash with their bedroom furniture. However, many adjustable bases can be paired with a more decorative bed frame.

Others are designed to look nice thanks to their custom upholstery or colored trim. Still, some find it difficult to use classical elements like a headboard or a bed skirt with an adjustable bed.

While this is negligible to some, others may miss the ease of using these elements for a traditional bedroom look. Even if you do install a headboard on an adjustable bed, some may dislike that it can be partly practical instead of aesthetic, as a headboard and help keep pillows and such from falling behind the bed frame.

Similarly, sheet suspenders may be needed to keep sheets on an adjustable bed.

Finding the Right Mattress for an Adjustable Bed Base

Sometimes when you pick out an adjustable base, you’re only halfway done with your shopping. You might want to consider whether you need a new mattress since not every mattress works well with an adjustable base. The best mattress for an adjustable bed adapts with the base’s movements and remains comfortable no matter how you position it.

The first point for consideration is the type of mattress you have. A memory foam mattress is an excellent choice, along with an all-latex bed. Mattresses made entirely out of foam are flexible enough to move with a base’s panels without damage to the bed’s materials.

Hybrid mattresses are also a good choice since their pocketed coils allow them to move with the bed frame without reducing the mattress’s comfort. A traditional mattress with innerspring coils, however, is often not the right mattress for an adjustable bed frame. The coil setup usually cannot flex with the base’s panels and trying to angle it can damage it.

Airbeds are another poor choice for an adjustable mattress. When you bend an airbed, you often block its air bladder, which can make the bed less comfortable and supportive or even damage its structure.

After you’ve picked out the right mattress material, you need to ask yourself if it’s the right firmness for you. A firm mattress can be just as flexible as a softer bed, but it might not be the most comfortable choice for you.

A mattress for a side sleeper should have a soft to medium feel, while a mattress for a back or stomach sleeper needs a medium-firm to firm feel. If you’re a combination sleeper who switches between two or all three styles, look for a medium feel mattress.

The final point to consider is your mattress’s thickness. Is the mattress thicker than 14 inches? Then it might be too thick to move with an adjustable frame.

And we strongly recommend against a mattress thinner than 10 inches for quality reasons. Mattresses under 10 inches wear out quicker because they have less material to withstand wear and tear. A too-thin mattress also provides insufficient support, so you’re more likely to find yourself waking up with a sore back or neck pain.

If you want an easy time shopping, pick out an adjustable bed and mattress combo. This way, you get a mattress you know is suited for an adjustable frame.

Did We Help?

An adjustable bed can offer many health benefits. Whether you’re a snorer or a chronic pain sufferer, an adjustable base can provide you with the better sleep you need to have a good day.

Of course, the right mattress is also an essential part of getting a good night’s sleep. You can’t reap the full benefits of adjustable beds if you’re sleeping on a worn-out and unsupportive mattress. Consider not only the shape of your mattress but how well it can adapt to an adjustable base’s movements.