Mattress
Mattress
A mattress is a large, rectangular pad designed to support the reclining body, designed to be used as a bed or on a bed frame. Mattresses may consist of a quilted or similarly fastened case, usually of heavy cloth, that contains materials such as hair, straw, cotton, foam rubber, or a framework of metal springs. Mattresses may also be filled with air or water, or a variety of natural fibers, such as in futons.
History[edit | edit source]
Mattresses have been in existence for thousands of years. Early mattresses were filled with natural materials, such as straw or feathers. The invention of the innerspring mattress in the late 19th century revolutionized the industry, providing a level of comfort and support previously unavailable.
Types of Mattresses[edit | edit source]
There are several types of mattresses available today, including:
- Innerspring mattresses: These mattresses use a steel coil support system. The spring shapes, designs, coil gauge, and number of coils in a mattress can vary. The innerspring is covered by padding or upholstery materials, which can include various foams, fiber, and additional layers of smaller steel springs.
- Foam mattresses: These mattresses use one or more types of foam as the support system. The foam may be polyurethane foam, memory (or viscoelastic) foam, or latex foam, and can contain gel or other materials.
- Air mattresses: Also known as an airbed, these mattresses use an adjustable air chamber as the support system. Unlike mattresses used for camping, the air chamber of a permanent-use air mattress is covered by padding or upholstery materials, which can include various foams and fiber.
- Waterbeds: These mattresses use a water chamber as the support system and are covered by padding or upholstery materials, which can include various foams and fiber.
Health and Mattresses[edit | edit source]
The type of mattress an individual uses can have a significant impact on their health. A mattress that provides both comfort and back support helps reduce low back pain, allowing the structures in the spine to really rest and rejuvenate during the night.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Mattress Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
