Category Archives: In The News

MiSofa Sofa Beds at Dalzells

Now Stocking MiSofa Sofa Beds

MiSofa Retailer

We’re very proud to have added Furmanac’s MiSofa collection to our extensive range of sofa beds. MiSofa by Furmanac is the UK’s market leader in motion intelligence furniture.

A specialist mobility manufacturer, MiSofa, offer a fantastic range Sofa Beds providing exceptional value for money and great design.

MiSofa Sofa Beds are also available in a wide range of sizes, fabric finishes and mattress options. All of which boast the NBF Approved Mark (National Bed Federation) for manufacturing excellence. For added peace of mind, all MiSofa products come complete with a reassuring 1 Year Warranty as standard with the option to upgrade to a full 10 Year Guarantee.

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Kaymed Win NBF Award – “Highly Commended”

Kaymed Mattress Retailer Northern Ireland

Bed Manufacturer Of The Year – Highly Commended

We only learned after our visit to the NBF (National Bed Federation) Bed Show in Telford last month that Kaymed, one of our favourite brands, had been awarded ‘Highly Commended’ status in the ‘Bed Manufacturer of the Year’ category. Well done guys!

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Cian Healy Joins Kaymed/King Koil As Brand Ambassador

Cian Healey - New Brand Ambassador Kaymed - King Koil

Cian Healy – Brand Ambassador (King Koil & Kaymed)

Rugby Union super star Cian Healey has joined Kaymed Woolfson, the folks behind leading Irish Bed brands Kaymed and King Koil as a brand ambassador for their latest offering which has been targeted at those amongst us of more robust proportions that require greater support for a comfortable nights sleep and who as such would ordinarily go through beds a little quicker.

The Ireland, Leinster and Lions International who plays at Loose Head Prop fully understands the importance of sleep as a professional athlete with it forming an important constituent of his training regime. “Sleep is a critical component of my training regime that is always being emphasised  by the coaching staff. I have to report my sleep times every morning as a poor night’s sleep slows me down, affects my focus and prevents me giving my all in training”. Cian Continued “When I do enjoy seven hours sleep, it’s a world f difference as I am more alert and have more input into everything. It’s just polar opposites really”.  

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Sleeptember Stress Busters

Sleeptember Stress Busters

With the launch of Sleeptember the Sleep Council’s latest research found that 90% of people admit to suffering from some form of stress in their lives, with almost two out of five saying they are regularly, frequently or constantly stressed.

In Northern Ireland 88% of people say they suffer sleep problems when stressed (UK Highest) and 76% have suffered from a sleep disorder. A further 46% say they regularly, frequently or always are stressed.

With millions of people caught in a vicious cycle of stress and sleepless nights the month of September has been identified by health professionals as being one of the most stressful months for many.

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Royams Donna Riser Recliner Wins Which? Best Buy

Royams Donna Riser Recliner Chair - Which? Best Buy 2014

Royams Wins Which? Best Buy!

Lancashire based Royams has won the prestigious Which? accolade of Best Buy Riser Recliner 2014 in their recent awards. The coveted title was won after stringent independent testing and against fierce opposition from other leading Recliner Chair manufacturers including Sherborne Upholstery.

The Sherborne Donna Riser Recliner won the award having topped the scores in all the tested areas which included; Comfort, feeling secure, ease of use, speed of operation and back-up battery capacity. In addition to this recent award Royams Recliners have also been assessed as the ‘Safest Chair on the market’ by the UK Cabinet Makers Magazine having attained British Standard BS8474 by way Royams patented Protexa advanced safety system.

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Is lack of sleep affecting teens’ education?

 

Teens and sleep deprivation

A recent study by Boston College found that Sleep Deprivation plays an important role in lowering the achievement of schoolchildren. The research suggested the problem is more prevalent in more affluent countries, with sleep experts linking it to the use of mobile phones and computers in bedrooms late at night.

The BBC reported: ‘The international comparison, carried out by Boston College, found the United States to have the highest number of sleep-deprived students, with 73% of 9 and 10-year-olds and 80% of 13 and 14-year-olds identified by their teachers as being adversely affected…Other countries with the most sleep-deprived youngsters were New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Australia, England, Ireland and France.’

Young people need the right amount of sleep in order to function to the best of their ability. Other studies have shown that sleep patterns in young people are different from those of adults or younger children. This is something that many parents know all too well: that their teens stay up later and lie in bed for longer periods in the morning.  It is generally agreed that teens need about 8 – 9 hours of sleep each night to function best. However, many young people do not get this amount as they tend to go to sleep later at night and are up early for school during the week.

Exams, anxiety and sleep

As many parents know, exam time can be particularly stressful for teens. Feeling stressed and anxious can affect sleeping patterns so it is important that young people learn to establish a good sleeping pattern to help them deal with these times. Chad Minnich, of the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center said: I think we underestimate the impact of sleep. Our data show that across countries internationally, on average, children who have more sleep achieve higher in maths, science and reading. That is exactly what our data show.”  

It’s important that you help your teen to learn how to relax if they are experiencing anxiety or stress. An anxious young person will find it very difficult to relax and get a good night’s sleep. One way is to set aside some time each day, preferably before bedtime, to discuss the day and sort out any issues or problems they may be experiencing. Other ways that your teen can help themselves to get a good night’s sleep are listed below.

Self-help sleep tips for teens

  1. Establish a bedtime routine by going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.
  2. Try and wind down at night by doing a relaxing activity i.e. something that is not going to stimulate your brain, such as listening to calming music or reading a book.
  3. Incorporate some exercise into your routine earlier in the day.
  4. Avoid caffeine or high-sugar content drinks as they can lead to over stimulation.
  5. Create a relaxing sleep environment in your bedroom. Turn off game consoles, TVs, mobile phones or any other distracting technology devices.
  6. Ensure your bed is giving you the right support. Many teens quickly outgrow the bed they had when they were younger. Many now opt for a double-sized bed to give them extra room and space to stretch out on.

 What to do next

Dalzell’s is an accredited Sleep Council retailer which means our expert staff are on-hand to provide advice on sleep related issues. Visit us in-store to meet with the team where we’ll only be too happy to discuss your bedding requirements. Based in Markethill we’re located between Newry and Armagh, so ideally placed to welcome customers from Banbridge, Dungannon and Belfast.  With over 500 beds in stock, we’re confident you’ll find a new bed that suits your growing teen, or for any other member of the family. No time to visit? No problem. Call us on T: 028 3755 1260,  Email or view our great selection of beds and mattresses online at ArmaghBeds.com. Our bed and mattress brands include Respa, Sleeptight, King Koil, Kaymed, Staples and Myer’s, so there’s a style and design to meet everyone’s sleep needs. What’s more we provide a Free Collection and Recycling of Your Old Bed service and Free Delivery throughout Northern Ireland, and Counties Dublin, Louth and Monaghan.

 

Wake up to birdsong!

Make the Dawn Chorus Part of Your Daily Ritual

As International Dawn Chorus Day (Sunday 6 May) approaches, maybe it’s time to change those sleeping habits and wake up earlier.  Held annually on the first Sunday in May, International Dawn Chorus Day encourages people to rise early to listen to bird song.  Dawn Chorus Day is organised by The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country a UK Registered Charity and is now a worldwide celebration of ‘Nature’s Daily Miracle’.

Advantages of waking up early

  1. Harvard biologist Christoph Randler discovered in 2010 that early risers are more proactive. They were more likely to agree with statements like “I spend time identifying long-range goals for myself” and “I feel in charge of making things happen.”
  2. Sleep experts say that if you go to bed earlier and wake up earlier, your brain is charged and ready to work hard. You are at your efficient best and will get things done quicker and better.
  3. By waking up earlier you will have more time to add exercise into your daily routine. Adding regular moderate exercise to a daily routine means you are more likely to improve your sleeping patterns.
  4. Often late snoozers tend to skip breakfast. Dr Mark Pereira and colleagues at Harvard Medical School found that people who ate breakfast every day were a third less likely to be obese compared to those who skipped the meal.
  5. Studies have shown ‘morning people’ are often more positive, more optimistic and more likely to experience satisfaction in their lives.

 

How to get a good night’s sleep

If a great night’s sleep has eluded you of late,  The Sleep Council has produced the Good-Night Guide* detailing 7 practical steps to a good night’s sleep. It’s a new approach to helping problem sleepers, the idea being to build a strong association between your bed and sleep.

  1. Your bedroom – You need the right environment to get a good night’s sleep and that means a bedroom that’s pleasant, inviting and welcoming. In particular the foundation of good sleep is a comfortable bed. The right mattress can make the difference between a restorative night’s sleep and poor quality sleep resulting in tiredness and fatigue.
  2. Your lifestyle – establish a bedtime routine and maintain a regular sleep pattern. Switch off electrical equipment, dim the lights, get the right room temperature and avoid alcohol.
  3. Stress and worry – try and spend some time during the day to set aside your worries by writing things down to help clear the mind.
  4. Diet – avoid stimulants such as caffeine and cigarettes and try to get a balanced diet – avoiding sugary foods at night.
  5. Excercise – try and build some exercise into your daily routine. Exercise can help you enjoy better quality sleep and lower body temperature which also induces better sleep.
  6. Relaxation and other therapies – Relaxation exercises, such as light yoga stretches, help to relax the muscles. Or, relax by reading a book or listening to relaxing music.
  7. Hormonal balance – Changes in hormone levels as we age can cause sleep disturbances, and sleep disturbances can alter hormone levels, turning into a vicious cycle

Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council says: “A bedtime ritual teaches the brain to become familiar with sleep times and wake times. It programmes the brain and internal body clock to get used to a set routine.”

Maybe the 18th century proverb: ‘Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise’ has as much relevance today as it did back in the 1700s!  Or perhaps it’s a case of  ‘the early bird catching the worm‘.

What to do next

As a Sleep Council Certified Retailer our expert staff at Dalzell’s of Markethill are only to happy to advise on your bedding needs. With a huge selection of beds and mattresses in-store and online, we’re confident you’ll find the right bed for you. As a local, independent bedding retailer we value our customers, and are always willing to strike a deal. What’s more, with Free Delivery throughout our Free Delivery Zone of Northern Ireland, and Counties Dublin, Louth and Monaghan, there’s even more reason to choose Armagh Beds.com. Not sure what to do with your old bed? No problem. Dalzell’s has a Free Collection and Recycling of Your Old Bed service available to you too. So whether you’re in Belfast, Newry or Cookstown, Dalzell’s will be only too happy to deliver your new bed and mattress. Call us on T: 028 3755 1260, Email or visit in-store today for a great deal and excellent customer service.

*The Good-Night Guide is available, free of charge, from The Sleep Council in hard copy or as a downloadable resource.

Is snoring keeping you awake at night?

 

Have you ever lain awake at night or been disrupted from your sleep by a partner that snores? Perhaps you are the person that is snoring and it is affecting your partner’s sleeping pattern. Whichever way, snoring can have a significant impact on our ability to get a good night’s sleep and potentially affect our relationships. Help is at hand, however. Monday marked the start of National Stop Snoring Week, an annual event promoting general awareness that nobody need suffer as a result of snoring: it is a condition that can be treated.

What is snoring?

The British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association defines snoring as: ‘… a coarse sound made by vibrations of the soft palate and other tissues of the mouth, nose and throat (upper airway). It is caused by a partial blockage of the upper airway.’

Our chances of snoring can be increased by factors such as being overweight, alcohol, and smoking.  People with severe snoring may have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)a condition where the airways become temporarily blocked during sleep.

 

How many of us snore?*

  1. 41.5% of the UK adult population snore.
  2. There are approximately 15 million snorers in the UK.
  3. Snoring affects 30 million people in the UK.
  4. There are 10.4 million males and 4.5 million females who snore
  5. The ratio of male to female snorers is 2.3:1
  6. Figures from a recent survey found men are louder snorers than women.
  7. 58% of snorers are between 50-59 years of age.

* (Credit: British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association)

Snoring self-help tips:

There are a number of lifestyle changes and sleep hygiene tips that can help minimise snoring:

  1. Try and maintain a healthy diet and weight.
  2. Try to sleep on your side rather than your back.
  3. Avoid alcohol before going to bed.
  4. Quit or cut down on smoking.
  5. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine as this helps to promote sleep.
  6. Keep your nasal passages clear so that you breathe in through your nose rather than your mouth.
  7. Try and keep your bedroom at the right temperature – between 16 and 18 degrees centigrade.
  8. Keep your bedroom free from distractions – mobile phones, computers / laptops and the television can all contribute to sleep disruption.
  9. Make sure your bed is providing you with the right support. A bigger bed may help with less partner disturbance.
  10. Create a relaxing sleeping environment by keeping the bedroom uncluttered and not too bright at night.

What to do next:

As a Sleep Council Accredited Retailer, Dalzell’s is committed to providing our customers with expert advice and support on getting a good night’s sleep.  If you are concerned about you or your partner’s snoring it may be helpful to talk to your GP, pharmacist or other professional bodies, including the British  Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association.  Visit us in-store, call 028 3755 1260email or go online where you’ll find lots of information on getting a good night’s sleep, best buys and choosing the right bed for you. A short drive from Newry and located convenient to Lisburn and Belfast, we’re perfectly placed to accommodate your new bed purchase. What’s more, we provide a Free Collection and Recycling of Your Old Bed service and Free Delivery of your New Bed throughout our Free Delivery Zone, which extends across Northern Ireland, and Counties Louth, Monaghan and Dublin, in the rest of Ireland.

Do we need 8 hours sleep?

‘The Myth of the Eight Hour Sleep‘ recently featured on the BBC website looked at a study conducted by Thomas Wehr in the early 1990s, when a group of people had been ‘plunged’ into darkness for 14 hours every day for a month. Interestingly, this study found that the group had settled into a pattern of sleeping in the first four hours, awake for one or two hours, followed by a second four-hour sleep. This study appeared to question the need for us to have a straight-through eight hour sleep.

We all crave a good night’s sleep. That groggy feeling we have when we awake feeling that we haven’t had a good night’s sleep can often leave us feeling exhausted throughout the day. For those with small children, a night of uninterrupted sleep is something we dream about! So do we really need eight hours sleep?

According to a major report published  by The Sleep Council: A third of the population (33%) now get by on five to six hours sleep a night compared to 27% in 2010. And the majority of people (70%) sleep for seven hours or less.

How much sleep do we need?

Current NHS guidelines indicate that we don’t necessarily need eight hours sleep, but experts believe that most adults require between six and nine hours in order to feel refreshed and to function well both mentally and physically.

Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council said: “…One of the best ways to improve sleep is simply to take more exercise. For many of us, that plus a sensible, regular bedtime and a comfortable bed, are key to sleeping well.

“Improving ‘sleep hygiene’ by keeping electrical devices like TVs and laptops out of the bedroom, giving ourselves time to wind down before bed and keeping our bedroom dark and quiet can also help.

How do we sleep?

Sleep patterns are defined in stages and each stage of sleep plays a different part in preparing us for the day ahead. There are two main types of sleep:

  • Non-REM (NREM) sleep consists of four stages of sleep, each deeper than the last.
  • REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is when we do our most active dreaming.

Stage 1 This is when we start to feel drowsy and our eyes move slowly under the eyelids, muscle activity slows down, and we are easily awakened.

Stage 2 This is the first stage of deeper sleep. Our eye movement stops, heart rate slows, and body temperature decreases.

Stage 3 & 4 – It’s harder to wake from deep sleep and if you are you may feel groggy and disoriented for a while. In this deepest stage of sleep, our brain waves are extremely slow.

REM sleep  – Or Dream sleep is when we dream.

People will  go through each of the stages of sleep from one to four, then back down through stages three and two, before entering dream sleep.

What to do next

Is your bed preventing you from having a good night’s sleep? Why not take the Bed MOT and see if you’re due a new bed. Stocking an extensive range of bed brands including Staples, Respa, King Koil, Dorlux and Briody among others, Dalzell’s of Markethill are confident you’ll find a bed that’ll have you having sweet dreams in no time. What’s more, as a Sleep Council Retailer, you’re in good hands. Our staff are on hand to advise on the best bed and mattress to suit your sleeping style. Call us on T: 028 3755 1260, email or visit us in-store today for a great deal. Or why not view our great collection of divan beds and bed frames online at Armagh Beds.com. With Free Delivery and Free Collection and Recycling of Your Old Bed, throughout our Free Delivery Zone of Northern Ireland, and Counties Dublin, Louth and Monagahan in Ireland, Dalzell’s is the first choice for all your bedding needs.