Sleep Surroundings

Do You Know Your Sleep Surroundings IQ?

(ARA) - It can make or break your day. It can impact your mood, your productivity on the job, your personal relationships, and even your health.

Yet how much do you really know about your sleep environment?

There are more than 100 million mattresses in use in the United States today, yet many Americans know little about what they're sleeping on, the environment they're sleeping in, or the steps they can take to have better, more restful sleep.

"A good night's sleep is essential," says Nancy Blatt, executive director of The Better Sleep Council, "Yet too often people are trying to sleep in bedrooms that are too hot or too cold, or on a mattress that doesn't meet their needs for comfort and support."

To help Americans take control of their sleep environment, The Better Sleep Council has developed a Better Sleep Guide and enhanced its Web site. Both offer information on everything from purchasing a new mattress to setting your thermostat to the right temperature.

"A few changes to your bedroom can make a world of difference," notes Blatt. "You'll get more out of a night's sleep, which has a profound effect on both your physical and mental well being."

As part of its broader consumer education program, The Better Sleep Council has put together a "Sleep Surroundings Quiz" that tests knowledge of bedding and sleep environment issues. Depending on the number of correct responses, test takers can earn anything from a BA ("General Bedding Aptitude") to a Ph.D ("Dozing Doctorate").

The quiz helps consumers understand what makes for an ideal sleep environment -- and what to look for when purchasing bedding. The eight multiple choice and true or false questions address space, comfort, support and technology and consist of the following:

1. Bedding technology has remained virtually the same since 1985.

True or False

2. Which of the following is not a consideration when buying a new mattress?

Matching sleep sets

Space

Durability

An attractive salesperson

3. How do I select the mattress that is ideal for me?

You ask your mother.

You choose for yourself because every individual has different sleep comfort and support needs, which change over time.

You add your height plus your weight and divide by three to determine the approximate mattress length and width required.

The salesperson should be able to tell me.

4. What are the dimensions of a King-sized bed?

76 inches by 80 inches

75 inches by 78 inches

60 inches by 79 1/2 inches

53 inches by 74 1/2 inches

5. How often should you replace your mattress?

Never

Every 25 years

Depends on individual definitions of comfort and support

Every time you move

6. When buying a mattress what is also essential to purchase?

Foundation (a.k.a. boxspring)

New sheets

New headboard

New pillows

7. What is the ideal bedroom temperature?

60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit

70 to 75

55 to 60

45 to 50

8. Which of the following is recommended to help get a good night's sleep?

Unwind early in the evening

Develop a sleep ritual

Keep regular sleep hours

All of the above

Answers

1. False; 2. D; 3. B; 4. A; 5. C; 6. A; 7. A; 8. D

Your Sleep Surroundings IQ

You've earned your:

BA (General Bedding Aptitude) if you answered 3 questions correctly MBA (Mattress and Bedding Accreditation) if you answered 1 to 6 questions correctly Ph.D ("Dozing Doctorate") if you answered all questions correctly

For additional information about how to get a good night's sleep you can visit www.bettersleep.org or call (888) 31-SLEEP. After all, starting every day with a good night's sleep is among the best investments you can make in improving your quality of life.

Editor's Note: For more information, contact Katie McGuinness at the Better Sleep Council, (202) 828-8857, mcguinnk@fleishman.com.