Did you know that about 28% of adults receive less than six hours of sleep a night? Sleep is an important part of well being, though it is easy to overrate its importance and push it to the side when there are more important things to do. Part of ensuring a good sleep is having a decent mattress, and this is important for the young and old alike. In fact, one study found that women ages 50 to 79 don’t live as long as their peers if they receive less than six hours of sleep a night. Here are several options for mattresses you should be aware of.

1. Gel Mattress

Gel mattresses, also known as “memory foam,” were developed back in 1966 as a way to improve aircraft cushion safety for NASA. These mattresses soften in reaction to body heat and pressure, and mold to the shape of the body. Once pressure or heat is removed, they recover back to their original shape. Gel mattresses are denser than other materials, making them more supportive. Like other polyurethane products, though, memory foam can be combustible, and for this reason it usually contains the fire retardant PBDE. Tempurpedic mattresses use memory foam.

2. Latex Mattress

Not surprisingly, the important component of this type of mattress is latex. This allows for a dense mattress, and they can last for a very long time. Latex mattresses are supportive, and usually require a layer of memory foam or softer latex on top in order to give the overall bed a softer feel. Another benefit of latex: they are often 100% natural, making them more eco-friendly and potentially safer for those worried about the effect of potential chemicals used in mattress treatment. Organic latex is hypoallergenic, a good choice for adults or children with asthma or allergies.

3. Organic Mattress

We mentioned it above, but there are multiple types of organic mattresses besides latex. Did you know that 55% of the U.S. population has tested positive for at least one allergen? Organic mattresses are often more expensive than other options, but do offer substantial benefits. You are in close contact with your bed every day; how comfortable is it to realize that regular mattresses often contain dyes, flame retardants, and petroleum materials? You have several choices for materials, including cotton, latex, and wool. Wool, for its part, is naturally fire resistant. The Palo alto organic mattresses made with wool, for example, offers improved airflow.