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Why a good night’s sleep depends in part on the duvet

When it comes to sleeping well, the focus is almost always exclusively on the right mattress. Naturally, this is of crucial importance to get a good night’s rest. But even the best mattress will do no good if the duvet is too heavy, too warm or not sufficiently warming. Sleeping conditions play an important role for healthful sleep. Falling asleep and getting an entire night of restful sleep is much easier with the right duvet.

Sleep disorders are a mass affliction

In theory it’s really simple: you lie down, close your eyes, clear your mind, doze off and wake up refreshed the next morning. But sleep and dream, the twins of the night, have gotten caught in the works of modern life. More than half of all Europeans occasionally suffer from sleep disorders, and at least 20 million are receiving medical treatment as a result. There are many reasons for this. Doctors differentiate between a total of 88 different sleep disorders. The main reasons are stress and sleeping quarters that do not allow us to rest well at night.

When it comes to the latter, most of us naturally think first of the mattress as the culprit. It must not be too hard, nor can it be saggy. Only then can the intervertebral discs regenerate. All of that is true. But the influence of a good blanket on our sleep continues to be underestimated. Sleeping conditions are the key in this context. The blanket should contribute to a feeling of comfort. It cannot do that if you are lying under it shivering or bathed in sweat.

How a good duvet promotes back health

If we are cold, we will not rest any better that someone who sweats excessively at night. It’s a vicious circle: if the bed is too warm, we push the duvet aside. The body, wet with sweat, is exposed to draughts and quickly cools down, which leads to muscle tension and stiffness. Back pain is practically inevitable as a result. So we cover up again, only to start sweating anew. Before we know it the night is over without having truly rested. It is little wonder then that a good duvet can have a positive influence on sleeping conditions, and therefore on sleep and back health.

But what are the characteristics of a duvet that make you feel truly comfortable? While duvets used to be filled mainly with feathers and down, high-tech fibres are much more commonly used today. Duvets are considered particularly warm and cuddly. However, duvets with high-quality functional fibres are now able to imitate almost all the characteristics of down as well. Fibrefill with what is known as a thermophysiological effect is considered ideal. Sounds complicated, but it’s not. It means nothing more than that the fibres ensure comfortable sleeping conditions and temperature compensation. There are fibres for the cold winter months that keep you comfortably warm, and fibres for the summer that actually have a scientifically proven cooling effect. When accumulated body heat can be dissipated from the body quickly and effectively, that is also good for restful sleep. Studies have shown that a temperature of 28 to 33 degrees Celsius under the duvet is ideal.

The size of the duvet is also important. It should envelop the entire body all night, protecting it against detrimental draughts. Tall and large individuals should therefore definitely have an oversize blanket. Even though the filling weight of the winter duvet is greater than that for the summer, it should be comfortably lightweight.

Checklist

• People come in all shapes and sizes, and so duvets need to be offered in various sizes as well. Suppliers should have certain standard sizes in stock. As an approximate recommendation, the duvet ought to be about 20 cm longer than your body height. However, personal well-being is decisive in the end.
• The personal need for warmth is definitely important for well-being. Thus the duvet has to take this into account. Temperature regulating duvets are ideal, ensuring that a balanced climate is maintained under the covers. A temperature of about 28°C – 33°C on the body is recommended. The choice of an ideal summer or winter duvet also depends on personal heat sensitivity.
• Nothing is more unpleasant while sleeping than a sudden cold draught on the warm body. This promotes muscle tension and can quickly lead to back pain. Make sure the duvet always conforms closely to your body and the mattress. Stitching with for example a circumferential border seam is helpful for that.
• The stitching should be chosen so the fill is kept even across the entire area. Stitching that is too large (>40 x 45 cm) or not enclosed can allow the fill to shift so it is no longer adequately and evenly distributed.
• Since the body releases moisture during the night, the requirements in this regard are similar to those for a mattress. The moisture is absorbed by the duvet and subsequently released by it, so the duvet should be cleaned once in a while. Washability or cleanability is therefore highly recommended.
• Naturally all of the materials have to be absolutely safe. Look for corresponding certification. The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for example is a good indication.

Minimum requirements

• Suitable dimensions
• Balanced sleeping conditions
• Comfortable adaptation to the body
• Shifting of material (fill) is prevented
• Washability/cleanability
• Safe materials, non-toxic to humans

Products in this sector with the AGR seal of approval

• Duvets with Aerelle Cool Night
• Duvets with Climarelle

Manufacturer

ADVANSA Marketing GmbH*
Frielinghauser Str. 5
59071 Hamm
GERMANY
Phone +49 2388/84 05 012
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.sleep-comfort.co.uk
www.advansa.com