This Article is a Guest Post.
Your mattress is a fundamental part of your daily life. You spend a third of your time sleeping and the quality of mattress you have can contribute to your wellbeing. It is with no secret that when you enjoy restful sleep, you enhance your emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. This is why sleeping on a quality mattress is always recommended.
As a mattress gets old and worn out, it subjects you to different health issues. While some mattresses may not display physical wear and tear features, you should be aware possible mattress allergy symptoms. Similarly, know the lifespan of your mattresses. Roughly, a mattress can last 8 years after which, it is considered old and possess different health risks including
- Body Aches and Pain
Body aches and pain are often the first signs of sleeping on an old mattress. After years of use, mattresses including those from the best brands will ultimately lose their oomph. This is because the overall mattress structure will start to sag, weaken and lack the needed support for your body. Eventually, it strains your neck, back, and other parts of the body causing aches and pain.
- Poor Posture
An old mattress causes poor sleep posture. This leads to different physical health issues. This is because you sleep in an awkward position throughout the night. In the long, you suffer from;
- Back pain.
- Spine issues because the mattress forces you to curve, sink and sleep in very awkward angles. Generally, it is healthy to sleep on a flat surface for a restful and healthy sleep.
- Allergies
An old mattress subjects you to different allergies. Hygienic issues are common with old mattresses. This is because of plague, moulds and bacterial growth. A build-up of old skin over the years, body oils and sweats on the mattress provide an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria, fungus and moulds. With time dust mites, fungi and pathogenic bacteria camp causing health problems such as;
- Skin infections.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Staphylococcus, enterococcus and norovirus cause viral infections and allergic reactions.
- Itchy eyes.
- Eczema.
- Coughing and wheezing.
- Watery eyes and sinus pressure among other related conditions.
If you have asthma, sleeping on an old mattress can worsen your condition and especially if dust mites have camped therein. Often, dust mites dirt and sweat that accumulate in old mattresses pile allergens that trigger asthma attacks. This further disrupts circadian rhythms from normal functioning and making it impossible for you to sleep.
An old mattress is equally highly susceptible to other tiny organisms. Bedbugs, moulds and other organisms can be a headache. They climb to your bed causing major discomforts as you sleep, allergies and respiratory conditions.
Remember, allergens are a real threat to kids, old and sick people such as those with asthma. If your immunity system is weak, an old mattress will put you at risk of many other respiratory conditions including lung infections and chronic nasal congestion.
Therefore, whenever you get constant pimples, running nose, sneezing, pimples and nasal congestion when you sleep, chances are high your old mattress has accumulated allergens. Your mattress could also be home to dust mites.
- Mood Swings
An old mattress can cause sleep deprivation. This is the inability of the body to control emotions. If you lack quality sleep, you will find that you are irritated most of the day. Mood swings lead to unproductivity. If this continues for a long time, your body and health will be affected. Frustration at home or work due to poor sleep can lead to cognitive impairment.
- Anxiety
Stress from poor sleep can cause tension and anxiety. Going to bed knowing that you will start coughing uncontrollably, suffer skin irritation from bedbug bites or experience back pain due to poor posture can cause anxiety. It becomes difficult to control your stress levels. Remember, sound, proper and quality sleep relaxes your body and allows you to unwind after a stressful day. Without that, you suffer from tension, anxiety, stress and in the long run, you will feel depressed.
- Neck Pain and Injuries
Sleeping on an old mattress causes neck pain and in some cases, serious neck injuries. This is because it doesn’t provide the needed support to align your body and neck for quality sleep.
- Stress
Sleeping on old mattress subjects you to stress. This is attributed to poor quality and quantity sleep. The discomforts that come with sleeping in an awkward position increase your stress levels. This includes mood swings, body aches and pains, poor concentration and underperformance. If you are a sports person, without proper sleep, your body undergoes a lot of stress. As such, you will not get enough energy to participate in different sporting activities.
Therefore, if your mattress is old, you need to replace it. If not, you are creating a stress cycle that could easily generate more health problems such as chronic anxiety and depression.
- Impaired Memory
You can suffer impaired memory by sleeping on an old mattress. Normally, you are supposed to enjoy 7 to 9 hours of comfortable sleep. Without this, memory consolidation does not take place. An old mattress is not comfortable and it doesn’t provide an optimal or ideal environment for quality sleep. The REM sleep stage is specifically tailored to help the brain to function well and retain information.
Consequently, without quality sleep on a good mattress, you are more likely to suffer from impaired memory.
- Sores
An old mattress also subjects you to soreness in different parts of the body. This is common and worse on pressure points. You cannot enjoy restful sleep or sleep in your favourite position if your mattress is old. What’s more, it causes poor neck, back and spine alignment making your body sore. Regardless of your sleeping position, an old mattress will cause a lot of pain that extends too many parts of the body. Even if you have the right supportive pillow, an old mattress exposes you to soreness and constant body aches.
- Insomnia
Insomnia is common if you have an old mattress. This is because often, it has dust mites that grow and thrive therein due to dirt, dust, sweat and skin shed. The mites bite affecting the quality of your sleep. What’s more, you may experience a series of throat and lung issues on an old mattress. This means whenever you think of bedtime, you think of bites from pesky mites and bouts of cough, allergies, coils and bumps.
When you dread going to bed or when your sleep is interrupted by such fears, you are more likely to suffer from insomnia. You will also feel fatigued, tired and restless throughout the day.
- Affects your Metabolism
Good quality and quantity sleep help you to lose weight. However, sleeping on an old mattress means low quality and quantity sleep and it affects your metabolism. You feel metabolically groggy when you do not get a restful sleep. As a result, your body’s natural ability to get sufficient insulin is affected. In the end, the body stores more fat.
A point to note is that insulin plays a major metabolic function. It breaks down sugars and starches into energy. Without enough insulin, fats, starches and sugars remain in the bloodstream. They are not broken down. Fat on fats makes you obese. Several studies show that many people who sleep on a bad mattress cut down their hours of sleep. This further affects hormone leptin and ghrelin causing different metabolic issues.
- Heart Disease
Having an old mattress means you cannot enjoy quality sleep on your left. You will sleep in an awkward position which is not safe or healthy for the heart. Proper blood circulation to the heart is interrupted if your mattress is not in the best condition. What’s more, it prevents good sleep which is essential for good heart health.
An old mattress also leads to long term sleep deprivation and puts extra strain on your heart. It triggers high blood pressure and more chemicals that cause inflammation and heart conditions.
- Sleep Apnea
An old mattress is not ideal for sleep because it causes sleep Apnea. It worsens snoring because it no longer offers the support that the body needs to enjoy quality rest. An old mattress is flat, saggy and does not align to the natural contour of your body. It obstructs proper blood flow when you fall asleep. In severe cases, you can suffer from obstructive sleep Apnea that interrupts your breathing because of blocked airways. Sleep Apnea also causes;
- Daytime sleepiness.
- Moodiness.
- Irritability.
- Chronic snoring.
If left untreated or if you continue to sleep on an old mattress, you are at risk of long term health issues including;
- Heart disease/attack.
- Depression.
- Stroke.
- High blood pressure.
- Sleep Deprivation
The discomforts of a mattress cause sleep deprivation in the long run. When you experience back pain, soreness and anxiety, you will not be able to sleep well. It leads to sleep deprivation which also leads to a series of other health problems including a weak immunity system, poor mental functioning, mood swings, and obesity.
In a nutshell, an old mattress can cause physical, emotional and mental issues. For your general wellbeing, you need to invest in a good and new mattress. Even when you are on a tight budget, sleep deprivation comes with more avoidable costs. You can always plan and budget towards a new mattress to prevent the serious effects of sleeping on an old mattress.
This Article is a Guest Post.
