How Your Mattress Can Affect Your Health

Is your mattress more than 7 years old? If so, it is time to get a new one. Over time, mattresses sag, develop lumps, and are no longer comfortable to sleep on.

Getting a good night’s rest is essential to your well-being, so you should get a new mattress when it is time. Common signs that you need a new mattress are the age of the mattress, noisy springs, and pain when waking up in the morning.

What happens if you keep sleeping on your old mattress? Keep reading to learn more about the health effects of sleeping on a bad mattress.

Drowsiness

It’s probably no surprise that one of the most common health effects of having a bad mattress is drowsiness. If your mattress is uncomfortable, you are more likely to toss and turn through the night. This will lead to not getting enough sleep.

The most common symptom of drowsiness is feeling tired throughout the day. It is normal to feel tired at certain points in the day, such as after lunch, but you shouldn’t be tired all day. If you are, it’s time to invest in a good mattress.

Back Pain

Do you wake up in the morning with back pain? If so, your mattress could be to blame. While there are many different causes of back pain, a bad mattress is one of them.

When you sleep at night, you need a mattress that supports your spine. The spine naturally curves, and if a mattress doesn’t adhere to those curves, there will be extra pressure on your tendons and ligaments.

As mattresses age, they no longer provide as much support as they once were able to. Getting a new mattress could help solve the pain you are having in your back. Try to get a new mattress made of memory foam to support your spine.

Neck Pain 

In addition to causing back pain, a bad mattress can also cause neck pain. When you sleep at night, you need a flat surface to support your head. If your mattress is old, there may be lumps or sags that affect the position of your head.

While having a good pillow can help prevent back pain, there will still be problems if your mattress is old.

Allergies

Did you know that having an old mattress can make your allergies worse? Mattresses are home to common allergens such as dead skin cells, mold, and dust mites. If you are allergic to these allergens, you may experience sneezing, runny nose, and asthma.

No matter how clean your house is, you still may have dust mites on your bed. If washing your sheets every day isn’t helping your allergies, your best bet is to buy a new mattress.

Obesity 

There is a strong connection between not getting enough sleep and obesity. People that do not get enough rest at night are more likely to overeat and be less active during the day than someone with a full 7-8 hours of rest.

If you find yourself sleeping less, exercising less, and eating more, it’s time to make some lifestyle changes. To prevent weight gain, get a new mattress, exercise every day, and maintain a healthy diet.

Obesity is an especially common problem in children and teens that aren’t getting enough rest. If you have a child that isn’t getting enough rest, be sure to take the right measures to fix the problem.

Heart Problems

Did you know that not getting enough rest can lead to diabetes and heart disease? When you sleep, your blood pressure is lower, and your body can relax. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t have enough time to recover from the day.

Not getting enough sleep now and then won’t cause heart problems, but if it is an ongoing issue, you could be at an increased risk. Be sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep every day to let your body relax.

Joint Pain

Sleeping on an old mattress can lead to joint pain. When you sleep on a saggy, lumpy mattress, your joints won’t be supported where they need support. The most common joints to experience pain are the knees, hips, and shoulders.

The position that you sleep in will also have a huge impact on whether you have pain. If your mattress is too firm and you sleep on your side, you may wake up with aching hips.

If you find yourself waking up with joint pain, it is a sign that you need a new mattress. Try to find one that is not as firm as your current mattress.

Memory Problems

While the link between sleep and memory is not completely understood, it is a known fact that a lack of sleep can affect your memory and learning abilities. When you don’t get enough rest, you are unable to concentrate during the day.

Not being able to concentrate leads to less of an ability to form memories and learn new things. Also, sleeping at night allows you to solidify memories in your brain. If you don’t get that essential rest, your brain won’t form as many memories.

Weak Immune System

Several different studies prove you are more likely to get sick when you do not get enough rest. When you sleep, your body produces an important protein called cytokines.

These proteins help prevent you from getting sick and help heal your body when you are sick. If you don’t get enough rest, you are more likely to catch viruses or a cold. You also will have a more difficult time recovering from those viruses.

If you find yourself getting sick often and you aren’t sure why, try getting a new mattress. A new mattress can also help with allergies, which also make you feel sick.

Is Your Mattress Causing Any of These Negative Health Effects?

Is your mattress 7 years old, causing pain in the morning, or sagging? If so, it is time to invest in a new mattress. Sleeping on a bad mattress can cause health effects ranging from drowsiness to heart problems.

Are you ready to start sleeping better? Check out our online inventory of new mattresses to start getting a better night’s rest!