What are the disadvantages of an air bed?

Other Issues

It seems to me that an air bladder ... even one with many individual degrees of adjustability ... is a costly way to do what other materials and methods do more effectively, with more variability, and at a lower cost. An air bladder with 100 different support settings is competing with support methods (that have progressive support and resilience) that have thousands if not millions of degrees of microadjustability ... and this adjustability is automatic and doesn't require a manual adjustment. An air bladder with several zones of support on each side is competing with materials that through their comfort factor, resilience, and zoning schemes have thousands and millions of microzones.

One thing that I will say for an airbed is that for those that have individual zones with separately adjustable firmness settings for the center third of the mattress (which I would consider to be an important option in an airbed to offset the sagging that can happen under the hips/pelvis on softer settings) then the range of firmness (the airbed equivalent of ILD) between the zones can be greater than other types of zoning that you will commonly find and the middle of a mattress can be set to firmer levels and control how much the heavier parts of your body sink in relative to the zones in the upper and lower parts of the mattress (under the shoulders in particular) which can improve alignment. This type of more extreme differential though would only be necessary in more difficult circumstances or with more challenging body types and can be accomplished in other ways as well in other types of mattresses that have a zoned construction (engineering different zones with foams that have much different ILD's for example) using materials that don't have the inherent weaknesses of low compression modulus combined with low resiliency.

In a limited trial in a store you may find a setting that feels comfortable even with thinner comfort layers on top but how comfortable it will be when you get it home and it is exposed to the real world of your changing comfort and support needs over many nights and years is open to question. You may also find an airbed with thicker more active layers on top that feels wonderful in the store and feels wonderful when you get it home and sleep on it for a longer time but how much of that "perfection" are you crediting to the air bladder and how much of it is really coming from the thicker layers on top.

Granted it may take some research and effort to find a more "traditional bed" that has the comfort range (ability to relieve pressure in different positions) and the support range (ability to keep the spine aligned in different positions) that fits you but once you find this you have a mattress that adapts more naturally and "automatically" with thousands/millions of variations in support instead of 20 - 100 and thousands/millions of variations in microzoning instead of a few (usually 2 or 3) areas of individual macro zoning on each side.

Mechanical breakdown, leakage, mold issues, breathability, durability, noise, middle dividers, and ease of use are all issues that come up with airbeds and while they have been dealt with to varying degrees by different manufacturers, they are not all completely solved. Complex mechanical systems as a whole have issues that are not inherent in materials that do not need "mechanics" to function.

Having said all that, if you are looking seriously at an airbed, then there are many manufacturers that within the limitations of the system itself are producing airbed mattresses that have greater value and more features than the top 2 manufacturers (IMO). It may be surprising how many there are and the huge variability in prices may be more surprising yet. More expensive and even much much more expensive in airbeds doesn't always translate into better quality materials or better value. Take a close look at how much you are paying for a name, how much you are paying for the air bladder system, and how much you are paying for the quality of the materials above the air bladder system. Compare the features and construction of the air bladder system. Compare air bladder systems with similar comfort layers and similar features and quality to each other, and compare the zoning options and the side by side split options and you may be very surprised at the significant discrepancies in prices and features and value.

As obvious in the name, an air bed and an air mattress share similar features and designs. They are both inflated using air. When it comes to the difference between the two, an air bed is ideal for a wide range of purposes. On the flip side, an air mattress is commonly used with a hospital bed. With that being said, it primarily provides an ideal recovery environment for a bed-bound patient.

Moreover, an air bed is typically laid on the floor, while the air mattress is carefully organized with the hospital bed. The primary reason is to ensure a safe and comfortable lying place for a patient. Also, an air mattress features an alternating pressure mattress system that prevents bedsores and pressure ulcers. 

While an air bed is ideal for its versatility, it is undeniable that an air mattress is much needed for bedridden patients or people who need long hours of bed rest. So, if you or your loved one needs to recuperate from a medical condition, choosing an air mattress over an air bed is ideal. Find out why by continuing reading below. 

Why do hospitals use air mattresses?

Even though an air bed is designed to be used literally anywhere, it is so light that the air inside might have a hard time adjusting to the user’s weight. That’s one of the significant reasons why hospitals prefer air mattresses. For long-time care and recovery, an air mattress is second to none. 

Undeniably, hospitals generally prefer air mattresses since they are designed for medical assistance and care. On top of that, the benefits they can provide are outstanding and priceless. Discover some of the benefits of air mattresses below. 

• Air mattresses help with pressure sore prevention.

Hospitals use air mattresses since they are ideal for patients who spend long periods in beds. Even with long periods, air mattresses remain comfortable and safe for patients since they can adjust to patients’ weight. 

To be precise, air mattresses can alternate pressure points and prevent the pressure from focusing on one just area. Through that, patients can find their best comfort, regardless of their position. Hence, there’s no need to struggle to maintain just one position. 

• Air mattresses can improve blood circulation.

Surely, there is a lot of pressure on the skin when staying in bed for too long. It is a normal issue when staying in an ordinary bed. That is exactly what air mattresses can prevent. Once again, air mattresses can adjust to patients’ weight with moving air cells. 

Ultimately, the cells go to the regions where pressure ulcers are more likely to form. At the same time, the air movement of air mattresses can also improve blood circulation. Stimulating better blood flow can make patients feel much more comfortable. 

• Air mattresses feature low-air loss technology.

Hot temperatures can cause surfaces also to be hotter. Of course, hot surfaces are truly challenging to sleep on. The good thing is that air mattresses come with low-air loss technology. This technology describes the numerous holes in air mattresses. Primarily, the holes are highly beneficial in causing air leaks. That’s why their surfaces remain cool for peaceful sleeping. 

• Air mattresses are comfortable to use for patients.

Air mattresses work similarly to wheelchair cushions. In addition, they have airflow technology that makes them highly comfortable to use. As a matter of fact, they are named as the most hospital bed mattresses. Air mattresses are more comfortable to use than regular mattresses or inner-spring mattresses. Therefore, hospitals use them. 

• Air mattresses are convenient.

Frequent cleaning and maintenance are requirements to prolong the lifespan of air mattresses. Those tasks are hectic for heavy mattresses. The good thing is that it is not a problem with air mattresses. In fact, they are lightweight, which makes them easy to maintain. With that being said, air mattresses are highly convenient to use. That’s why they are popular in hospitals and home care. 

How to choose the best air mattress

The excellent adjustable firm supports are among the primary reasons air mattresses are popular. While most air mattresses in the market are great in quality, buying a low-quality one is still possible. That’s why it is important to know how to choose the best air mattress. See some of the essential factors to consider as a buying guide below. 

• Size

Like hospital beds, air mattresses are also available in a wide range of sizes. The best strategy in buying a hospital mattress is to match it to the size of the hospital bed. Ultimately, there’s no room for mistakes since they can risk safety and decrease comfort. 

• User mobility

User mobility is another vital factor to consider since it affects the comfort of using an air mattress. If the user has no mobility and is really required to stay in a hospital bed all day long, then it tells that the air mattress to be chosen must have the capacity to support a user all day long efficiently. 

• Is an air pump necessary?

An electric pump is frequently included with more expensive air mattresses. With an electric pump, you can speed up the inflating process and avoid the hassle of attempting to find a pump or pump component that fits your air mattress. The downside of air pumps is that they might be more difficult to pack and store. An air mattress that can be augmented by blowing into a tube is preferable if you intend to take it outside.

• Storage

When you deflate an air mattress, they can become cumbersome, heavy tarps that are annoying to fold and transport. However, you risk damaging them if you roll them up and stuff them into a closet. When purchasing an air mattress, check whether it has a storage bag and if the manufacturer provides instructions on how to fold it back up before storing it correctly. We check to determine if a storage bag is provided as part of our convenience test. Measuring each folded air mattress is important to determine how much closet space a model would use when not in use.

Final Thoughts 

The intellect expands when sleeping. And when you soundly sleep when you rest, you may enjoy yourself the most. We hope this theme will be useful to you when attempting to decide which air mattress would be most comfortable for your rest.

As previously noted, both air mattress and air bed have their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Now that you have properly analyzed both sides, choosing the ideal one is up to you. Here at AvaCare Medical, there are a plethora of choices you can choose from. Contact us at 1-877-813-7799 or email us at [email protected] and talk with one of our experts today!