Tag Archives: Allergens

Is the Cold Keeping you Awake at Night?

How does the cold affect sleep?

With the snow still lying on the ground and the freezing temperatures set to continue it’s no wonder we’re all retreating to our bedrooms to snuggle up and keep warm. Research* has shown that, similar to animals, humans have their own kind of hibernation during the winter months with adults five times more likely to spend more time in bed during the winter months than summer.

If we get too cold at night, we get restless, our sleep patterns are interrupted and we lose out on our sleep. Essential to our health and well-being, sleep plays a significant role in brain development.  After just one night without sleep our concentration levels lessen considerably. For a restful night’s sleep our core temperature should only be half a degree less than during the day.  So what can we do to make sure we stay warm at night without overheating?

The Sleep Council has produced this really useful guide on keeping warm. Their simple and easy tips will ensure you avoid the chill at night but don’t overheat either.

 

Top tips on keeping warm 

  1. Wear night clothes such as pyjamas or a large T-shirt to keep you warm. Natural fibres such as wool, cotton or silk will keep you warmer than synthetic materials.
  2. Have a warm bath just before you go to bed. This will gently warm and relax you to help you feel sleepy.
  3. Have a warming, milky drink.
  4. Try to take some exercise which will get the circulation going to help keep the body warm – but don’t do vigorous exercise too close to bed time as you may feel too invigorated to sleep.
  5. Keep the bedroom warm, but not too hot, and free from draughts.
  6. Look for a mattress which has a “warm” side for use during the winter. A soft sleeping surface is a better insulator than a flat one. Use a fleecy underblanket to retain the heat.
  7. Choose a duvet with a high tog rating or use several layers of bedding rather than one single layer. Layers will trap warm air and are easily removed if you get too hot.
  8. A hot water bottle is an ideal way to keep warm once in bed. Make sure it has a cover on it to avoid scalding and also so that it won’t feel cold in the middle of the night.
  9. Electric blankets are ideal. Underblankets will warm the bed up before you retire for the night, while overblankets maintain a constant temperature throughout the night.

Choosing the right duvet

A duvet’s warmth is rated by its tog rating and can extend from a lightweight summer version of between 3.0 – 4.5 tog through to a warmer, cosier autumn or winter duvet with a tog rating of between 9 and 13.5. Seasonal duvets are increasingly popular as they can be quickly adjusted to the temperature dipping: this added flexibility is a hit with many in these cold winter months.

Maybe you or your partner struggle to keep warm with one or other taking control of the duvet – a duvet one size up may be the ideal solution to keeping you both cosy. The Bedroom Couture White Goose Feather & Down 5′ Duvet is a great choice. With its 85% White Goose Feather and 15% White Goose Down filling, this Luxurious Duvet provides Even Distribution for all over Warmth and Comfort.

For those that need an anti-allergy duvet, try the Bedroom Couture Microfibre 5′ Duvet. With its Microfibre Fabric Cover providing a Super Soft Feel and Superior Drape, this Ultrafine Spiral Hollow Fibre filled Duvet  is  available in a 13.5 Tog and is Non-Allergenic and Machine Washable for added convenience.

What to do next?

At Armagh Beds.com we retail an extensive collection of duvets in a range of sizes including Single Duvets, Double Duvets and King Size Duvets. With more than 55 years of  bedding expertise you can count on Dalzell’s to deliver! Located in Markethill on the main A28, just 45 miles from Belfast, we’re just a short drive away from Portadown and Lisburn. Of course you can always place your order online, over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email.  However you decide to shop with us you can be assured of Expert AdviceA Great Deal and Free Delivery of your Bedding, Bed or Mattress throughout N. Ireland and Counties Monaghan, Louth and Dublin City, with highly competitive rates available across the rest of the UK and Ireland.

*From the HiberNation survey of 1,000 adults, undertaken by the Better Sleep Council of America, published in autumn 1998.

Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don’t Let The Bedbugs Bite

Dust Mites and Allergies 

How many of us as children remember hearing the rhyme ‘Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don’t Let The Bedbugs Bite’ before bedtime? No surprise when we  consider that the average person shares a bed with over two million house dust mites. According to the national charity, Allergy UK, the bedroom is the most allergic room in the house.

77% of those with an indoor allergy suffer in the bedroom, but 41% recognise their symptoms are actually made worse by that room.

The Bed MOT

Of course, proper care will keep your bed in good condition for longer. However, with the Sleep Council and scientific research now recommending that we change our beds every seven years, it’s worth making time to take the Bed MOT (Mattress Obsolescence Test) to ensure that your bed and mattress meets the health and wellness needs of you, your partner and your family.

Pillow and Mattress Protection 

Important too is the quality and care of your bedding. Whilst many pillows are fully washable it is advisable to replace them every two years. Pillows that have become lumpy or discoloured will no longer provide proper support and could contain high levels of dust mites and skin; a nuisance for allergy sufferers.  Other simple ways of ensuring your bed and mattress stay fresh and allergy free is by using mattress protectors and pillow protectors. Designed to protect your mattress and pillows against soiling and general wear and tear, these protectors will keep your bedding and bed fresher and cleaner for longer.  For allergy sufferers in particular, there is a huge array of anti-allergy, natural protectors available. Breathable and waterproof, mattress and pillow protectors can help keep your new bed allergen-free, or prevent existing allergens from being present in older bedding.

What to do now…

At Dalzell’s of Markethill we want to make sure that you are getting the maximum benefit from your bed and bedding.  With a great selection of pillow protectors and mattress protectors online you are assured of making the right choice for your individual comfort and support needs. Or, you can Visit in-store today at Dalzells, your local Bedding Experts in N. Ireland. Located in Markethill, with plenty of free on-street parking and just off the A28 between Armagh and Newry, we’re a short 15 minute drive from Portadown, 20 minutes from Dungannon and Banbridge. You can of course always place your order and gain expert advice from our experienced team over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email.  Whatever way you shop with us you can be assured of A Great Deal and Expert Advice. What’s more we offer a Free Delivery and Recycling Service across Northern Ireland and Counties Louth, Monaghan and Dublin, with competitive rates across the rest of the UK and Ireland.