Bedstar
- Online bed superstore selling beds, mattresses, divans, wooden, metal, pine and leather beds, together with a range of guest, bunk, childrens and zip and link beds. Also check out the pillows and accessories. Brands sold include Airsprung, Cumfilux, Dunlopillo, Jaybe, Millbrook, Sealy, Silentnight and Sleepeezee.

Beds and Mattresses

A bed is a very important purchase and, together with the mattress, is about the most important piece of furniture that you will ever buy. We spend about a third of our lives in bed, and nearly 50% of the UK population will suffer from a back problem at some stage in their life.

Here is some advice on choosing the right bed for you:

• Try out the bed you are thinking of buying. Don't assume that just because it is expensive or is called "orthopaedic" that it provides the correct support for your back. Orthopaedic beds tend to have a firmer mattress, but the term is neither medical nor regulated. It's a bit like saying a Big Mac is "full of goodness" - the phrase itself doesn't mean anything.
• Don't buy a second hand bed - it may not pass current fire safety standards, it may be worn out, and it will undoubtedly be a home to dust mites, the previous owner's skin cells and other allergans.
• Spend as long as you like lying on the beds to find the most comfortable one for you.
• Beds that are slightly firm are generally more supportive, but do not buy a bed with a mattress that is too hard.
• If you and your sleeping partner both have different requirements for a mattress, beds that zip and unzip down the middle, known as "zip and link" can be a good option as you can incorporate two different types of mattress in the same bed.
• A big bed will generally provide more comfort - look for king size and extra king size beds.
• Don't forget about your neck - the correct pillow will support the muscles in your neck and keep the correct body alignment - try to sleep with your neck, trunk, hips and legs in alignment and untwisted.
• Ordinary coiled spring mattresses need to be turned - foam mattresses do not. The latest "memory foam" mattresses shape themselves to your body for even weight distribution and may be the best option - but they are more expensive.
• If you need extra storage - consider a bed with additional drawer space.

What sort of person is more likely to suffer with back pain?

In a high percentage of cases of back pain, the cause remains unknown. However, many causes of back pain include:

• The aging process - the disks between the vertebrae in the back become thinner as we age, and so provide less cushioning between the vertebral bones.
• Pregnancy - caused by an altered weight distribution due to a growing foetus and the loosening of ligaments in the pelvis, preparing for childbirth.
• Genetic factors - some people are genetically more susceptible to lower back pain due to inherited problems in the structure of the spine, or inherited disk weakness.
• Injury - such as a car accident, or lifting a heavy item in an incorrect manner.
• Taller people in general have more back problems than shorter people.

How can I make my mattress last longer?

You can buy mattress protectors, which protect you from the action of dust mite allergans (and also protect the mattress from stains), and mattress toppers which provide additional comfort.