Sleep is the best meditation, only if you take requisite hours of sleep in a relaxing environment with a darkroom, quiet surrounding and comfortable bed.
A bed feels comfortable because of the mattress you sleep on. Right? So, it becomes a necessity to buy a perfect mattress. Did you know the cognitive problems you face during the daytime, thinking that the cause is lack of sleep, the reason behind it can be your bed?
After reading this article, you may find out the reason for your insufficient sleep. This article will discuss how an old mattress affects your sleep and how you can avoid it.
9 Signs of an old mattress
Your body needs sleep to function rightly. For which you have to sleep on a comfortable mattress. And if your mattress shows you the symptoms of its ageing, then prefer to buy a new one. Now, how will you get to know that your mattress is getting older?
Let us help you!
1. Mattress age
We call a mattress an old one when you use it for years without replacement. Commonly, it can not last for more than ten years.
2. Sagging
If your mattress starts bending down from the middle, it stops bearing your weight. You may feel pressure on your back because the bed stops giving you spinal support.
Sagging is also known as deformation as it keeps your body in an uneven shape the whole night. You may also experience neck pain. Aches and pains are because your muscles and joints were in a stressful position for an extended period.
So, if the portion you sleep on dips down, it is time to replace your bed.
3. Excessive heat
The airflow capability of a mattress decreases over time. And as the bed soaks, half of the heat retained from your body, mattresses wear out in time and lead to uncomfortable sleep.
The reason for you being sweaty may not be an illness, but your mattress, as the integrity of ageing mattresses degrades.
The waterproof mattress protector prevents this problem. So, if you plan to change your bed because of its excessive heat production, you can go for a waterproof one.
4. Less supportive
A good mattress supports every part of your body evenly. But, if you are experiencing joint soreness, then your mattress has to be replaced.
The mattress layers work together, and a single structural error may cause you pain and discomfort.
5. Dust mites
More of the air spaces in mattresses give the invitation to dust mites. Therefore, there are more chances of it attacking spring mattresses.
The dust mites are attracted to the dead skin cells; they feed on your skin cells and use beds to pee on them.
They keep on multiplying, and over time you need to change your old mattress. Because it may cause skin rashes, asthma, tightening of the chest and many more allergies.
6. Allergies
Other than dust mites, you can be prey for other allergies. Mould, mildew, pet dander, dust and pollens grow on beds over time because of the dried cells, body fluids and residence of dust mites on your mattress.
To alleviate allergies, you need to change your mattress as soon as possible.
7. Malfunction
On hearing squeaks and creaks while transferring a motion or even sitting on the bed, the mattress is simply asking you to replace it.
These sounds disturb your nap and keep you tired all day long. Please consider buying a new mattress as the noise from the bed is a warning that it is not supporting your spine.
8. Odour
The mattress can become smelly in time because of your bodily secretions or moisture under the bed.
Sleeping on such an unpleasant mattress can be unhealthy for you. It can cause allergies, rashes, runny nose, asthma and more.
9. Poor sleep
All the above points including, sagging, odour, heat retention, noise and allergies, make you turn here and there while sleeping, and you may often wake up in between.
It results in poor sleep and an unhealthy body.
12 Effects An Old Mattress Has On Your Health
Mostly, people don’t change their mattresses until they feel uncomfortable using them. But you must change them as soon as their warranty expires.
An old mattress affects your sleep and health treacherously. Do you want to know how badly your mattress can affect you if you do not change it on time? Read on!
1. Drowsy, Groggy and Tired
Feeling sleepy in the daytime is normal, but if you feel drowsy to the extreme, the reason is your old mattress.
If you do not take sufficient hours of sleep, then it is obvious to feel drowsy and tired at work and school. And also face difficulty in waking up early.
Even if you have had enough sleep, you may feel groggy because of the mattress you use.
2. Memory issues, Productivity and Creativity
If you are sleep-deprived, you will lose the ability to create and recall memories, as night is the time when your body forms memories.
Because of a bad mattress, you may face difficulty in remembering things. And a ‘beauty sleep’ improves memory, productivity and creativity in you because of which you give excellent performance at work and school.
3. Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Restful sleep provides calmness and a peaceful mind which decreases the stress level. By choosing a suitable mattress, you can reduce your stress and anxiety.
A long-term of these psychological problems may turn into depression. Mental health problems will also affect your physical and emotional health.
4. Moodiness
All the above effects of the old mattress will anyhow affect your mood. Mood swings will result in fights, hard days at work and school and negativity around you.
5. Insomnia and sleep disturbances
The body will not get the time to repair itself if you do not sleep. Sleeping for a day or two will cause health problems, especially mental health problems, but sleep deprivation may cause insomnia.
If you are sure that the reason for disturbances in sleep is a mattress, please consider changing it.
Lack of sleep weakens your immune system causing other health issues which may worsen later.
6. Back pain
Your mattress can be the culprit of your backache. Over time it loses its ability to give you spinal support. Continuing to sleep on an old mattress can worsen the pain.
The pain extends to the neck and spine. If you have chronic symptoms of pain, then consider switching to an S-shaped mattress.
7. Heart conditions
You may not know this; insufficient sleep may affect your cardiac conditions. You are putting your heart at risk.
The heart’s functional capability is low at night, but if you stay awake, your heart has to work harder.
Your stress level will not decrease if you do not sleep, increasing the risk of a heart attack.
8. Obesity
A disturbing sleep causes tiredness and lack of energy, leading to overeating.
And if you keep on eating without any physical work, it results in obesity. If you change your mattress, it will bring changes to your lifestyle and eating habits.
9. Premature ageing
An old mattress will keep you awake, and on waking up, you will find bags under your eyes.
The more you sleep, you will look younger.
10. Lung and throat irritation
Older mattresses mostly have dust mites on them, which increases the risk of lung and throat irritations.
Dust mites may cause asthma, eczema and sore throat. Even change your pillows if they are getting old.
11. Reduced libido
Lack of sleep negatively affects your sex drive. It is common in both men and women.
12. Snoring
The reason for snoring can be your mattress. Uneven support of the mattress results in blockage of breathing passageways.
Snoring can be dangerous if you do not take note of it.
FAQ’s
Q1. How can you avoid sticking bacteria on your mattress?
To avoid bacterias, keep cleaning your mattress with the help of a vacuum cleaner, mist the bed with a disinfectant cleaner and let it dry. There are many more tricks to keep it clean. Also, you can protect the mattress and pillow from bacteria and other microorganisms with allergen-proof covers.
Q2. How to prolong the life expectancy of the mattress?
Rotate your mattress every 3 to 6 months. Avoid building up moisture and dust on the bed by opening up windows for some time and cleaning it regularly. Keep your mattress upright, and do not jump on the bed. Remove bedsheets to let the mattress get some air.
Q3. How often should you replace your mattress?
Manufacturers suggest replacing the mattress within seven years, but it also depends on the warranty period of your buying type. Usually, a mattress wears out within 6-8 years.
Conclusion
An old mattress poorly affects your sleep and health. Therefore it is necessary not to avoid the malfunction of the bed and replace it on time.
Lack of sleep affects the body psychologically and physically, also increases body pain and breathing problems.
We hope this article helped you to understand the importance of a mattress for your sufficient sleep. Do share your experience of reading this article in the comment section below.
