10 Health Benefits of an Adjustable Bed Base
Last Updated on November 10, 2024
by Marc Werner, Founder - GhostBed
Thinking about purchasing an adjustable bed base? There’s a reason our power base has been a best-seller since its launch in 2017!
With complete customization right at your fingertips, an adjustable bed can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It’ll help you relax, and it can also help with a variety of health issues. From helping to reduce snoring and acid reflux to relieving back pain, it’s amazing what an adjustable base can do.
1. Reduces Back Pain
If you’re one of the 39% of Americans who suffer from the disrupting symptoms of back pain, you know how challenging it can be to sleep. I know this all too well—I was an avid athlete when I was younger, and it finally caught up to me. I dealt with chronic back pain for years, and that’s what inspired me to create our mattresses and bases.
For me, our Adjustable Base has been life-changing. And most of our customers agree!
Here’s what works for me when it comes to relieving back pain with an adjustable base:
- For lower back pain: Try elevating your feet just slightly. I sleep at about a 7% incline every night, which takes the pressure off my lower back.
- For upper back & neck pain: Tightness in the upper back can radiate up to your neck. Elevating your head and torso reduces tension in your neck, while keeping your spine in a neutral position.
- For all-over pain: Try the zero gravity position, which is when you have both your legs and head elevated. This position helps distribute your weight evenly, which has a whole host of benefits. (It’s also quite relaxing!)
2. Alleviates Snoring
I’ve always been a snorer, so this is a big one for me. Luckily, it’s easy to address!
I’ve found that elevating my head at about a 7-8% incline really helps reduce my snoring. And that means better sleep for me and my wife!
There’s some actual science behind it, too: sleeping with your head elevated keeps your airways open, and stops the accumulation of mucus in your throat and nasal passages. While some people use pillows to prop up their head, an adjustable base makes this position a lot more comfortable.
We’ve made it easy with our Anti-Snore preset button, but you can also save a customized position to memory.
3. Lessens Acid Reflux and Heartburn
A lot of our customers also mention acid reflux as a concern. If acid reflux is keeping you up at night, an adjustable base may be the answer to your problems. With your upper body elevated, stomach acids won’t creep up your throat.
Tips for relieving acid reflux and heartburn with an adjustable base:
- Elevate your torso to about a 45-degree angle, or get into the zero gravity position. With your upper body elevated, stomach acids can’t easily travel back up your throat.
- Sleeping on your left side can help—it’s known as the ideal position for digestion!
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Shop Adjustable Base4. Eases Insomnia
Many of us are stressed these days. Insomnia is on the rise, with roughly 35 percent of Americans getting less than 7 hours of sleep a night, according to the CDC.
If you’ve tried everything under the sun to get the rest you need to no avail, why not consider an adjustable bed base as a solution? With complete customization at your fingertips, you can find the perfect position that helps you sleep.
Bonus: A lot of our customers also love the gentle massage feature on GhostBed’s Adjustable Base, as a way to relax at the end of the day.
5. Improves Digestion
If you’ve ever tried to go to bed right after having a snack, you know the drill. Sleeping flat can hinder your body's ability to process and digest food properly. With an adjustable bed base, you can raise your head slightly while you sleep on your left side, known as the ideal digestive position.
According to Healthline, sleeping this way can help you better digest your dinner (or that midnight snack). The theory here is that when we lie on our left side, the stomach and its gastric juices stay lower than the esophagus, which helps it do its job.
6. Encourages Independence
I’m certainly no spring chicken, and I’m no stranger to surgeries (I’ve had 3!). So I know how tough it can be when you’re dealing with mobility issues, whether you’re recovering or dealing with a long-term disability.
Many of our customers have trouble getting in and out of bed, and look to an adjustable base to help with this. With a power base, you can use the elevation to your advantage, steading and supporting yourself as needed.
Here’s how to easily get in and out of bed with an adjustable base:
- Raise the head of your adjustable bed so that you are in a seated position (with your legs straight in front of you).
- Raise your feet about 8 or 9 inches.
- Slowly swing both legs over the bed's edge.
- Steady your hands against the bottom half and upper edge of your mattress, and push yourself up out of bed.
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7. Relieves Arthritis Pain
Arthritis is another common ailment that we hear about. In addition to selecting the right mattress, using an adjustable base can really help. With independent head and foot adjustability, the GhostBed Adjustable Base lets you find the positions that work for you.
Ultimately, the position you choose will depend on your individual pain points. Elevating your torso can take the pressure off your lower back, while elevating your feet can help with any arthritis-induced swelling. A lot of our customers also say that the zero gravity position helps provide some relief.
8. Helps With Leg Swelling
If you’re dealing with swollen legs or feet, you probably already know the importance of elevating your lower half. You might prefer to get in a 15-minute session a few times per day, or you might choose to sleep with your legs elevated. Either way, an adjustable base makes that much easier. Forget the stacked pillows—simply use the “Legs Up” button on your remote and find the elevation that you like.
9. Eases Restless Legs Syndrome
Did you know that elevating your legs can also help with circulation? If you’ve been diagnosed with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), this can be a key to improved sleep. According to Healthline, the elevation allows gravity to help your blood flow up to your heart, which can reduce symptoms of RLS.
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How to address RLS with an adjustable bed base:
- Simply lift your legs to about a 45-degree angle at bedtime to cut down on nighttime shifting, twitching and moving.
Pro tip: Double down your efforts to alleviate RLS by coupling a weighted blanket with your adjustable bed base. Weighted blankets use deep touch pressure therapy, which triggers pressure points that help produce serotonin (the happy hormone) and melatonin (the sleep hormone).
10. Enhances Circulation
As I mentioned before, sleeping with a little elevation is known to improve your circulation. With the help of the adjustable bed base, you can fine-tune your sleeping position to help the blood flow throughout your body. And this has a ton of benefits, particularly as you age.
You might already be doing things during the day to help, such as staying active and hydrated. Why not use your time sleeping to help, too?
Are Adjustable Beds Worth it?
The real question is, how much do you value your health? Anything that can provide relief from frustrating medical conditions like back pain, arthritis or acid reflux without side effects is a smart investment in our eyes.
Of course, it's essential to talk with your health care provider about their recommendations when it comes to sleeping with a health condition. Our suggestions are just that and should not be considered medical advice.
When you're ready to shop, check out our award-winning GhostBed Adjustable Base. With independent head and foot adjustability, multiple preset positions and our whisper-quiet two-zone massage, it's affordable luxury at its finest.
Relax and put your feet up (literally) with the luxury GhostBed Adjustable Base. Enjoy independent head and foot adjustability, massage settings and more.
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Marc Werner
Founder - GhostBed
Marc has spent the last two decades designing & manufacturing mattresses and other sleep products, drawing on a lifetime of experience working with the material sciences. With several patents to his name, he works closely with the GhostBed team to create products with the perfect balance of comfort & support. Learn More
