Secrets of the Siesta and High-tech Mattresses: a Closer ...

Secrets of the Siesta and High-Tech Mattresses: A Closer Look The circadian cycle has its high points, too. The first peak comes between 9 and 11 o'clock in the morning, the second between 7 and 9 p.m.

These are times when vitality and alertness surge, and even sleep-deprived people may have difficulty falling asleep.Most of us, by far, still sleep on conventional innerspring mattresses, but recently two companies have offered sleepers some innovative springless alternatives.Swedish Tempur-Pedic mattresses, for example, are made from a high-tech, high-density "visco elastic foam" developed in the space program, which literally molds itself to the contours of your body.

Manufacturers claim that Tempur- Pedic mattresses are so comfortable and supportive that they drastically reduce tossing and turning, from 80 to 100 times a night on a standard mattress to as few as 18 times on the Tempur-Pedic.Air beds are another new mattress mode. The Minnesota-based air-bed maker Select Comfort promises superior comfort from sleep on their pneumatically pumped-up mattresses.

Select Comfort air mattresses, which come in three levels of plushness, look like standard beds, but they use high-quality rubber air chambers instead of innersprings for support. The air chambers can be adjusted to any level of firmness, and twin chambers in queen- and king-sized beds allow two sleepers to choose individual settings.If you decide to check out this brave new world of mattresses, use the same approach you'd use to shop for a standard mattress kick off your shoes and lie down for a nice, long bed-test, make sure you get a solid warranty and, finally, trust your body to recognize the best bed for you.