The findings, obtained by mattress retailer Sleepy’s, showed a quarter of Australian adults wake up on the wrong side of the bed at least once a week due to night-time discomfort, while a whopping 73 per cent get less than eight hours of slumber each night.

More than one in five (21 per cent) admitted to calling in sick to work because of a poor night’s kip, and 30 per cent have cancelled plans with friends and family due to lack of sleep.

With the biggest cause of sleepless nights revealed to be neck and back pain (35 per cent), chances are your mattress could be the culprit.

“The right mattress can make all the difference not just to the amount of sleep you are getting but to the quality of that sleep”, Sleepy’s product development manager and mattress expert, Melissa Martin told news.com.au.

Here’s five tips for choosing the best bed, from the experts themselves:

1) Correct spinal alignment in bed is critical to getting a good night’s rest. Make sure your hips and shoulders are supported by the mattress to give you the perfect position to rest all night and not get woken by discomfort.

2) Find a mattress that helps you regulate your temperature. A breathable bamboo top panel or a gel infused visco mattress will help maintain your optimum sleeping temperature, allowing you to sleep well.

3) Get a bed that’s right for your age bracket. Your mattress needs will vary depending on what life stage you’re in. Someone very young will need a mattress that will last for several years and support them through critical growth periods whereas someone in their sixties or seventies may require a mattress to help alleviate arthritic/joint pain.

4) Don’t be tempted to choose the cheapest mattress out there. The benefits of sleep are extensive, so view it as an investment in your health and well-being.

5) Embrace new technology. Mattress design has come on leaps and bounds over the years and there’s something to suit every need. Visit a mattress expert and allow them to advise you on your perfect match.

Herald Sun 25/9/13