At a Glance:
How Does Core Sleep Contribute to Your Health?
Mattresses Recommended for Better Core Sleep
Have you ever considered the impact of one of the most vital components of your daily life? We spend a third of our time sleeping, so ensuring you have quality rest can make or break your daily routine. But can core sleep influence your life? Is it really that important? Stick around for a breakdown of what exactly core sleep is, some tips on achieving it, and products that can help you along the way.
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Shop MattressesWhat is Core Sleep?
Core sleep refers to the essential, uninterrupted period of sleep that the body needs to function normally. It primarily encompasses the deep, restorative stages of sleep, including both non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles.
Typically, core sleep consists of the initial phases of deep sleep that help repair and rejuvenate the body. This period is vital for various physiological functions, such as muscle repair, tissue growth, hormone regulation, and overall physical restoration.
The term "core sleep" is often associated with segmented sleep. Some historical and cultural sleep patterns suggest that humans might naturally experience two distinct periods of sleep separated by a period of wakefulness during the night. In such patterns, the core sleep represents the more extended, consolidated phase of deeper sleep.
However, in modern society, most people aim for a single, continuous block of core sleep during their nighttime rest, typically ranging from 6 to 8 hours, which is considered crucial for optimal health and well-being.
→ Learn more: How Sleep Deprivation Affects Your Diet
How Does Core Sleep Contribute to Your Health?
Core sleep plays a crucial role in improving and maintaining overall health in several ways:
✅ Physical Restoration: During core sleep, the body undergoes repair and regeneration. Muscles recover from daily activities, tissues are repaired, and the immune system strengthens, promoting better physical health.
✅ Cognitive Function: Core sleep is essential for optimal brain function. It enhances cognitive processes such as memory consolidation, learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. It also supports creativity and mental clarity.
✅ Mood Regulation: Adequate core sleep is linked to emotional well-being. It helps regulate mood by balancing neurotransmitters in the brain, reducing irritability, anxiety, and stress.
✅ Hormone Regulation: Core sleep regulates hormones in appetite control, metabolism, stress response, and growth. Disruptions in core sleep can affect hormone levels, potentially leading to weight gain, increased stress, and other health issues.
✅ Heart Health: Research suggests that insufficient sleep, including inadequate core sleep, may increase the risk of cardiovascular issues such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Quality sleep supports a healthy heart by regulating blood pressure and reducing stress on the cardiovascular system.
✅ Immune Function: Core sleep is essential for a robust immune system. It aids in producing cytokines, proteins crucial for fighting infections and inflammation, thus bolstering the body's defense against illnesses.
✅ Longevity: Adequate and quality core sleep is associated with a longer lifespan. Consistently getting the right amount of sleep contributes to overall health and longevity.
Core sleep is fundamental for the body's physical, cognitive, emotional, and metabolic functions. Prioritizing and maintaining a healthy sleep routine with sufficient core sleep is essential for a good life.
How to Improve Core Sleep
Improving core sleep involves adopting habits and creating an environment that promotes better and more restful sleep. Here are some tips:
- Consistent Sleep Schedule: Maintain a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps regulate your body's internal clock.
- Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment: Make your bedroom conducive to sleep. Keep the room dark, quiet, and cool. Invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows that support your body.
- Limit Screen Time: Reduce exposure to screens (phones, computers, TVs) at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light emitted by screens can disrupt the production of sleep-inducing hormones.
- Use a Quality Mattress: Your mattress can greatly enhance your sleep, and choosing the right mattress for your sleep type will help you better achieve core sleep.
- Relaxation Techniques: Engage in relaxation practices like deep breathing, meditation, or gentle stretching before bedtime to signal your body that it's time to wind down.
- Watch Your Diet: Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol close to bedtime. Opt for a light snack if you're hungry. Also, stay hydrated, but try to limit fluids close to sleep to avoid disruptions due to bathroom visits.
- Exercise Regularly: Engage in regular physical activity, but avoid intense workouts close to bedtime. Exercise can promote better sleep, but timing matters, as it can stimulate you if done too close to bedtime.
- Manage Stress: Practice stress-reducing activities during the day, such as yoga, journaling, or listening to calming music, to ease stress and anxiety that might interfere with sleep.
- Wind Down Routine: Establish a relaxing bedtime routine to signal your body that it's time to sleep. This routine could include reading, warm baths, or soothing music.
- Seek Professional Help if Needed: If you constantly struggle with sleep or suspect a sleep disorder, consider consulting a healthcare professional or a sleep specialist for guidance and evaluation.
Improving core sleep often involves creating a holistic sleep routine that addresses lifestyle, environment, and habits to ensure better rest. You should try it!
→ Learn more: How to Make Your Mattress Firmer or Softer
Mattresses Recommended for Better Core Sleep
Now, let's explore a handful of mattresses that can help you get better core sleep at night.
Sealy® Posturepedic® Plus High Point Hybrid Firm Tight Top Queen Mattress
This premium mattress has a hybrid design, blending fabric-encased coils and memory foam, relieving pressure and minimizing partner motion for undisturbed sleep.
Moreover, the protective cover keeps you comfortable and protects against stains and odors. Rest assured with Sealy—rigorous testing ensures lasting comfort and quality, backed by a 10-year limited warranty for peace of mind year after year.
Tempur-Pedic® TEMPUR-Adapt® Hybrid Medium Smooth Top Queen Mattress
Shop this Tempur-Pedic® Mattress
With this Tempur-Pedic mattress, you can experience complete adaptability, personalized comfort, and support. The premium knit technology integrated into the mattress cover lets you feel the cool-to-touch sensation.
Crafted and assembled in the USA, rest assured with a 10-year limited warranty, delivering consistent quality you can trust. Relieving pressure, minimizing motion, and fostering rejuvenation night after night for restful days ahead.
Sierra Sleep® by Ashley® 10" Hybrid Medium Tight Top Queen Mattress in a Box
Shop this Sierra Sleep® Mattress
This mattress is the ultimate sleep experience. With a cooling gel-infused memory foam, you can enjoy relief from pressure, while body-contouring pocketed coils ensure that your body is adjusted for sleep. This Ashley mattress guarantees edge-to-edge support for you and your partner to experience rejuvenated sleep and peace of mind.
Stearns & Foster® Lux Estate Wrapped Coil Firm Euro Pillow Top Queen Mattress
Shop this Stearns & Foster® Mattress
With a cover enriched with cooling fibers, this Stearns & Foster mattress always has a cool-to-the-touch sensation. The memory foam layers contour seamlessly to your body, providing pressure relief and enduring comfort throughout the night. The AirVent system facilitates airflow, dissipating warmth to keep you comfortably cool during warm nights. And a special plus: this mattress is handcrafted by certified master craftsmen.
Malouf™ Ascend AeroFlex™ Hybrid Ultra Plush Tight Top Queen Mattress in a Box
This Malouf mattress comes with a ventilation layer crafted from premium latex for superior breathability and rapid responsiveness, ensuring firm yet contouring support for the body. Individually-encased steel coils act as a robust core, absorbing and isolating motion for an undisturbed rest.
Beneath, the supportive base foam provides a sturdy foundation. Completing everything, the quilted cover secures all elements in place, presenting a perfect surface for a night's sleep.
Sealy® Carrington Chase Clairesbrook Wrapped Coil Plush Tight Top Queen Mattress
Sealy's plush mattress was built to help you get better sleep. Cushioning foam, encased coils, and added support where you need it most. The design of this mattress emphasizes comfort with a plush, tight top featuring layers of extra soft foam wrapped in a soft knit fabric cover.
Here, durability is enhanced by the cover, known for its ultra-stretchable, smooth yarns. You also have a solid border for comfortable seating, while including four vertical side handles simplifies movement.
Designed to be paired with a Sealy base and proper bed frame, this mattress guarantees an excellent sleeping experience.
→ Learn more: Ultimate Guide to Pillow Top Mattresses and Their Benefits
FAQ
How many hours of sleep should we get?
Sleep needs vary across age groups. Children generally need 9-12 hours of sleep, while teenagers should aim for 8-10 hours. Most adults (18-64 years) function best with 7-9 hours of sleep per night, while for older adults (65+ years), around 7-8 hours of sleep is often recommended.
What is the difference between REM, core, and deep sleep?
Core sleep represents the uninterrupted period encompassing REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) stages. REM sleep, characterized by dreaming and heightened brain activity, supports memory consolidation and emotional regulation. Deep sleep, a phase within NREM, features slow brain waves and is vital for physical restoration, including muscle repair and hormone regulation. These stages cycle through the night, with core sleep laying the foundation for the alternating phases of REM and deep sleep.
Where can I buy mattresses that will help me?
At Idler's, we offer various models of mattresses, and one of them might be just perfect for you. Our customer service team will always help you find the right mattress.
Why Trust Idler’s Home?
At Idler’s Home, we believe in providing the highest quality products and service to our community. Over the span of 70 years (and counting), our business has seen successful growth, with over 100 employees and five locations along the central coast of California. Not only do we offer major appliances, quality furniture, and the best mattresses but we also provide hot tubs and swim spas and perform kitchen design services. In addition, our trained professional installers can set up all appliances we sell while our factory-trained technicians service and repair them if they ever break down. Suffice it to say: Idler’s is dedicated to helping you make the vision you have for your home a reality.
Shop Mattresses at Idler’s
Envision the possibilities for your home and shop mattresses online at Idler’s. Our friendly team is always happy to help you find the best mattress for core sleep — whether you call us, email us, or use our online chat feature. Or better yet, stop by any of our five Central Coast locations to experience the quality of our products yourself. Visit us today!
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