Your Mattress May Be Harming Your Health

You might not know it, but the quality of your mattress can have a detrimental effect on your mental and physical health. In fact, it could be harming you. Let’s look at how the wrong mattress impacts your life.

How Your Mattress Impacts Your Health

We may not think about it, but we spend 33 percent of our lives sleeping, most often on the same mattress, day in and day out. Poor sleep caused by our mattresses can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health.

Here are some ways your mattress may be hurting you:

According to HuffPost, you may be allergic to your mattress and not even know it. Twenty million Americans are allergic to dust mites, which are especially harmful to people who have asthma. Your mattress collects dust mites unless you have an allergy-proof slipcover.

Self.com writes that saggy and lumpy mattresses, as well as those that are not supportive enough or too firm, can contribute to back, neck, or joint pain.

Elite Daily reports that an old mattress can increase your stress levels. One study showed that back pain from a mattress and irritability from lack of sleep increase stress.

If you suffer from insomnia or perpetual fatigue, that could be the fault of your mattress, according to OrthoMattress.com.

How to Know When It’s Time for a New Mattress

If your mattress is not new, how do you know it’s time for a new one? After all, many mattresses come with warranties that can last a decade or more. Here are some warning signs that you need a new mattress:

It’s lumpy, uneven, sagging, or has an impression of your body.

You can’t get comfortable and spend the night tossing and turning.

The boxspring is creaking.

Zenabode also mentions “roll together,” which is when you and your partner roll because the mattress is sagging due to an “uneven distribution of weight.”

They also state that if you sleep better on a bed that is not yours, like when you travel, your mattress is likely the culprit behind your sleep struggles.

Buying a New Mattress

How do you choose a new one? According to Good Housekeeping’s definitive guide to buying a mattress, you should look for:

The right support for your sleep style. The bounce, buoyancy, and firmness you prefer should be a consideration.

Which side or position you sleep on and your partner’s sleep habits will affect whether you should buy a foam mattress.

Allergies should be factored in because foam and latex are more resistant to dust mites and mold.

Back pain and health conditions play a role in determining mattress style. Learn how to choose the best mattress from Spine-Health.com.

Additionally, many mattresses come with trial periods, from 30 to 120 days, depending on the brand. You should also look for one with a warranty or a money-back guarantee in case it doesn’t work for you.

Proper Mattress Care

If you do have a good mattress, it’s important to maintain proper care of it to maximize its life. Sleep.org recommends these tips for proper mattress care:

Rotate your mattress if it has only one side that’s allowed on top, such as a pillow-top mattress. If not, flip it as well.

Keep your mattress clean and dry by regularly vacuuming it. If you spill something, clean it up right away and dry it to prevent mold.

Sprinkle baking soda on it to eliminate smells and odors.

The right mattress can dramatically improve your health if you are uncomfortable or lose sleep on your current mattress. Buy the right one to improve your health.