It's estimated that as much as 70-80% of the population suffers from some kind of back pain - whether it's from their work or an injury, or another reason that they may not be aware of yet. What a lot of people don't know is that helping to reduce back pain can be as simple as changing their mattress. There are four things that those with back pain should remember about back pain and mattresses.

Do you struggle with back, shoulder or neck pain?

If so, you could be making your problems worse every single time you go to bed. Cheap or old mattresses can actually increase back, neck or shoulder pain. And, sleeping on an old mattress can actually bring on back or neck pain to previously healthy people.

On average, you spend 24 years of your life in bed which is more than you spend in the office or in the car. Isn’t it time you changed your mattress to ensure that you remain healthy?

What do you think makes the best mattress? Is luxurious comfort the most important factor, or are you more concerned with support for your back? Perhaps you have special requirements to look for?

Vote for your choice in our poll. And if you can't find your preference in the options offered, add your own suggestions.

What sort of mattress is on your bed?

Gone are the days when all mattresses were the same. In the 21st century, there are traditional mattresses, mattresses designed to support you if you have back problems and even mattresses that were first used by the American space agency, NASA.

Before you buy a mattress, read our useful guide to the six main types of mattress on the market today.

Are you looking for a new bed or mattress?

If so, the chances are that you will be considering a Silentnight mattress. Britain's most well known supplier of bedroom furniture, Silentnight manufactured an astonishing 40 million beds in the first 60 years of their history.

The Lancashire based company are the UK's largest manufacturer of branded beds. The company makes approximately 1,800 beds every day and a Silentnight bed is sold every 60 seconds. If you lay all the beds that the company has sold over the last five years end to end, you'd get all the way to Rome and back.

Mattresses tend to have manufacturer’s warranties of between one and five years but can last much longer, as long as they are cared for and care instructions are followed.

But even the most cared for mattress looses its ability to support you. The tell-tell signs are obvious when you think about it. We have gathered some tips that may help you.

Shopping for a mattress or a bed can be daunting enough, trying to find the right style or softness. As with everything in life, it can be complicated with phrases and terms which may make sense to furniture sales staff, but is complete gobbledygook to the average shopper.

Here are some handy definitions for what the most popular jargon means: