Fosters Mattress Blog

How do you wake yourself up each morning? For many of us, this involves setting some sort of alarm clock. According to sleep psychologist Dr. Samina Ahmed Jauregui, "The jarring sound of an alarm can be problematic, leading to spikes in cortisol levels and triggering the stress response system." This is particularly tough when your alarm goes off while you are in a deeper part of your sleep cycle. You could end up with a condition called sleep inertia creating mood swings, fatigue, confusion and delayed reaction time. In addition, many people use their cell phones as alarm clocks which...

Most of us tilt our heads more often these days as we look down at our cell phones and other screens. Whether you are spending a lot of time looking at your phone or many hours hunched over a writing or other creative project, you are likely suffering from what is often referred to as "Text Neck."  The human head is a heavy object, and by just tilting it 45 degrees, its weight is triples to 48.5 pounds. Adding this much weight to when in a neutral position causes muscle-tightening and posture-altering over time. In addition, as we continue to lean forward and...

Getting a good night's sleep is crucial for so many aspects of your health. And if you are not able to sleep well, a simple solution could lie in what you choose to eat. According to dietician Karen Ansel, the following nine foods have sleep-assisting capabilities when consumed. Check out the full article for new ideas and recipes to prepare these foods. Kiwi: Contain vitamins C & E, serotonin, and folate that help you catch some Z's. Tart Cherry: The juice of this fruit contains the sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin. Fish: Most fish contains B-6 vitamin needed to make melatonin - a sleep-inducing hormone...

There are many theories out there about whether humans are the only mammals that dream. As you might guess, researchers have delved into this topic to figure out once and for all if Fido is just twitching in his sleep or having a full-fledged dream.  If your dog ever appears to be running in her sleep, it's hard to imagine anything BUT a vivid dream. And you are right - just as people's brains need an active dream state in order to process and store the day's information, so do other mammals. Twitching, rapid eye movement, and shallow breathing, are...

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in four Americans sits for more than 8 hours a day. That's a lot of hours in a sedentary position, so why not find the proper ergonomic support for your posture and overall spine health? For those hours of sitting and relaxing, a great option is a power lift recliner from UltraComfort. As we age, our spine often feels the results of years of poor posture in many ways. It gets weakened by over protrusion of the head and neck which exaggerates our natural spinal curve. Men, in particular develop balance issues due to improper...

Life happens. Over and over again. And, while we hope that when it does, it provides you with joyful and peaceful moments, the reality is that life also throws us curve balls filled with angst and stress. Do you have ways to de-stress? Do you find opportunities to clear your mind and feel refreshed again? We hope so. And if you do not, or you want a different 12-minute option, here's one to try.  Mindful.org provides this mindful meditation that allows you to rest your body in an awareness that in turn restores your overworked self. You will be guided toward gratitude...