Dr. Thanuja Hamilton gets asked the same question time and time again from her sleep-deprived patients.
What bed do you recommend?
It's not a bad question. But it doesn't have an easy answer – especially given the plethora of bedding options.
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Hamilton, a sleep medicine specialist and a contributor to ahealthierphilly at PhillyVoice, will discuss the latest innovative mattresses and sleep accessories at the upcoming B. PHL Innovation Fest in Philadelphia. The three-day festival runs from October 15-17.
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Sleep "affects everything we do – from our health to our mood to our performance," said Hamilton, who runs Advocare Sleep Physicians of South Jersey. "To get a good night's sleep, the foundation is one of the most important things."
Her event, dubbed "Sleep Innovations – Find the Mattress of Your Dreams," takes places Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 10:20 a.m. inside the University City Science Center. She'll highlight the various types of mattresses and new sleep accessories while also reviewing the importance of sleep.
There are a lot of options to sort through. Standard mattresses. Memory foams. Adjustable bases. Heating and cooling systems.
Selecting a mattress ultimately comes down to personal preference, Hamilton said. When patients inquire about the best mattresses, she guides them through various factors impacting their decisions.
Do they sleep on their sides or back? Do they share the bed? How heavy are they? Do they have pain issues? Do they tend to get hot or cold at night?
All of that – and more – plays a role in determining the best foundation, Hamilton said. And finding the right mattress is important to one's health.
"When you're not getting enough good sleep, studies have shown that it increases the risk of depression and anxiety," Hamilton said. "It can affect your mood. It increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease."
Hamilton has been practicing as a board-certified sleep medicine specialist for seven years. She sits on the New Jersey Sleep Society board and also serves as medical director for sleep labs at Jefferson Health and Virtua Health systems.
"I have the privilege of making people feel better," Hamilton said. "That's areally neat experience, to come in here and hear that people got their lives back ... that they're now able to enjoy a richer life because they're sleeping better and that they have more energy. "
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