Is Your Mattress As Worn Out As You Feel?

5 Shocking ways your mattress affects your sleep and health.

How long have you had your current mattress? Does it cause discomfort and inability to sleep well each night? One of the primary reasons for poor sleep is your mattress. Very few people realize how important it is to invest in a good mattress. Think of it like this; on average, we spend 649,401 hours of our lives sleeping. Would you invest that much time into something that causes you discomfort and sleepiness? Adults need an average of 7-8 hours of quality sleep at night. If you’re not getting that much sleep as a result of an old mattress, you may begin to see the surprising effects it has on your health.

Here are 5 shocking ways your mattress affects your health and sleep:

Wear and Tear

Like all things, a mattress begins to wear out as they age. You may have noticed lumps form on your bed, it sagging in the middle, or constant creaking when you move. This worn out mattress can leave you with poor support for your back. It will have you tossing and turning all night and your body aching in the morning.

Stress and Exhaustion

If you’re feeling tired and unrested after your full night of sleep, your mattress is most likely at fault. As your mattress ages, it causes your sleep quality to deteriorate, and you become exhausted. Studies show that by sleeping on a new mattress, stress levels lower significantly. In general, a mattress that is older than eight years should be replaced for better sleep quality and to help reduce stress.

Allergies

When you’ve had your mattress for several years, over time, it collects your body oils and dead skin, which in return can attract tiny bugs or dust mites. Allergies can then start to become a problem, causing sneezing, sore throat or a runny nose. A quality mattress protector and frequently washed bedding can help prevent dust mites and allergies.

Back Pain

You’ll be able to tell if your back pain a result of your mattress if it is causing you pain throughout the night and first thing in the morning. Two-thirds of Americans say their back pain causes sleeping problems. Constant back pain can affect you not only physically, but emotionally as well. Your mood will change, it can cause stress, and it can have a negative impact on your daily activities.

Finding the perfect mattress may be difficult, as everyone has a different preference. In general, you want something not too stiff, so you are comfortable, but not too soft as it can affect your posture. You should test your mattress out to ensure it’s comfortable and provides the proper spine and neck support.

Insomnia

Most who suffer from insomnia wake up still feeling very tired, have reduced energy levels throughout the day. If you are sleeping on a mattress that is uncomfortable and preventing you from having a quality sleep, it could cause you to experience insomnia. Besides lack of sleep and chronic tiredness, insomnia can cause job or school performance to suffer, seriously impair driving making you a high risk for accidents on the road, contribute to mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, and put you at serious risk for long-term conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease.