Is Your Mattress Bad for Your Health? Here’s When You Should Shop for a Replacement

4 minute read

By Heather Fishel

You sleep on your mattress almost every single night, but how old is it? If you’re wondering what kind of health problems your old mattress could be causing, you can learn when it’s time to shop for a replacement with an online search.

Your mattress is one of the most-used pieces of furniture in your home, yet you probably can’t remember how long ago you replaced it. Even if you think you’re getting a good night’s rest, your mattress could have damaging effects on your health.

An Old Mattress Can Have a Negative Effect on Your Health

Your comfort while you sleep shapes everything from your mood in the morning to your breathing at night, and your mattress plays a significant role in determining how good a night’s sleep you really get.

An old mattress can cause some small or significant health changes. From aches and pains to illnesses and breathing trouble, the following are just a few ways your health can be negatively impacted by your old mattress:

Allergies

Did you know that old mattresses are full of dust mites? These microscopic creatures feed off dead human skin. Plus, they can make your mattress their home even if you try to keep it as clean as possible.

Dust mites in your mattress can cause allergies and allergic reactions, like coughing, sneezing, runny noses, and itchy eyes. If you already have asthma, you can also experience issues like shortness of breath, chest pain, and wheezing thanks to dust mites.

Back or Neck Pain

Over many years of use and many nights of sleep, your mattress can break down and begin losing its supportiveness. As a result, your spine may no longer be properly supported, which may put your head and neck in uncomfortable positions.

A mattress that’s too soft, too saggy, or too lumpy can put pressure on ligaments, the spine, and even tendons and muscles. This lack of support can cause pain every morning when you wake up.

Joint Pain

If your mattress is putting too much pressure on your body and your joints, you could wake up with joint pain. Your mattress needs to have the right amount of give and firmness to support your body weight while gently cushioning areas like joints.

Snoring

If you or your partner have been struggling with snoring and breathing issues while you sleep, your mattress could be the culprit. An old mattress can actually cause snoring. If your mattress no longer supports your body properly, it can put tension on your airways and cause tissues to sink down, blocking your breathing.

Immune System

Your old mattress can even make you sick. A worn-out mattress can lead to a weakened immune system by disrupting your sleep. The worse you’re sleeping at night, the worse you’ll feel each morning when you wake up.

As a result, your immune system can grow increasingly weaker. If you aren’t sleeping well, you’ll become more prone to developing colds and other illnesses, including more severe ailments. 

How to Find a Better Mattress

Generally speaking, you should replace your mattress every seven years. So if you’re ready to shop for a newer model that’ll restore your sleep and health, you can start the search today. The following are a few tips to help you find a mattress that’s perfect both for your health and your wallet:

Find Mattress Savings on Holiday Weekends

Lastly, if you’re shopping for a new mattress, don’t forget to shop on holiday weekends. Holidays like Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Black Friday are huge savings weekends for mattresses. Widespread mattress sales can be found both in-store and online during these times of the year.

You can save anywhere from 10 to 20 percent if you shop for a mattress during a holiday weekend. Mattresses see their biggest markdowns on holidays, so you’ll want to make sure you’re shopping when deals are available.

Invest in a Rejuvenated You

A mattress may be a silent contributor to a series of health problems if it is kept beyond its normal lifespan. Regularly evaluating the state of your mattress is crucial in maintaining optimal health and well-being. While purchasing a replacement may seem daunting, it is a worthwhile investment considering the profound impact a mattress has on our sleep quality and, subsequently, our overall health.

With an online search, you can not only find compelling research on this subject, but also find an affordable new mattress. By prioritizing your sleep environment, you can take one step closer to waking up feeling revitalized, rejuvenated, and ready to face the day ahead.

Heather Fishel

Contributor