The importance of sleeping well cannot be stressed enough. The health benefits of a good night's sleep range from having a healthy heart to improving the immune system and enhancing memory. And if you are not getting quality sleep for 7 to 8 hours every night, you are at risk of depression, stress and weight gain, among other things.
Apart from sleeping for an adequate amount of time, what you sleep on has the biggest impact on how well you sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 92% of people said that a comfortable mattress is needed for a good night's sleep. Added to that, research has found that a mattress can impact your sleep as your body can feel the many differences between a good versus a bad mattress. In fact, some studies have shown that people have reduced stress levels when they sleep on a new mattress.
So when do you know you are sleeping on a bad mattress and that it is time for a serious change in your bedroom and your life? Below is a list of tell-tale signs for how a mattress may be affecting your quality of sleep.
Pain and Aches
If you start waking up with constant pain in your neck, back and hip, or soreness in the joints, that is a huge warning sign that your current mattress is bad for you. This is because it puts undue stress on your body and doesn't provide the support needed to uphold and cradle the natural curvature of the body.
A worn out mattress is unable to support your body-weight, which makes it inadequate to support the natural alignment of your spine. This causes various parts of the body to be strained and gives way for pain and aches.
A mattress that sags will not be able to take your body-weight and provide little to no support as your body will sink into the dip of the mattress. On the other hand, a mattress that is too firm will apply excess pressure and strain on your body, resulting in stiffness and exhaustion.
The ideal mattress needs to be comfortable and be able to provide support for the different parts of the body so that it provides relief to pressure points. In this regard, Leesa has created one of the most adaptable, comfortable and supportive mattresses on the market. The brand focuses on the use of 3 layers of foam to achieve a Universal Adaptive Feel that is ideal for all sleep positions, weight and height. It is CertiPur certified, which means it doesn't contain the many chemicals found in other common brands. Not only do they allow for a 100 day free trial, they provide free shipment, a 10 year warranty and are pretty economical. The best part? They donate 1 mattress for every 10 mattresses they sell, having donated 30,000 mattresses to date.
Allergies
Some people may start developing allergies, chest tightness or a stuffy nose when they wake up, while others may witness a worsening of their asthma symptoms. And believe it or not, your mattress is the main culprit.
Mattresses tend to house really tiny, microscopic bugs called dust mites. The average mattress can have as many as 10 million dust mites living on its surface. And like every other living organism, they produce fecal matter – this causes breathing and sinus problems, sneezing, throat irritation, itchiness or watery eyes. This is because most people are allergic to dust mites and their feces.
While sleeping on an allergen free mattress cover or mattress topper helps reduce allergies caused by dust mites, replacing your mattress every 8 to 10 years is advisable by sleep and mattress experts. Added to that, make sure that you wash your sheets and pillowcase on a weekly basis.
Fatigue and Drowsiness
One of the most important reasons for getting a good night's sleep is to help improve your focus and concentration. Essentially, sleeping well helps you recharge for the next day and improves your productivity and performance levels. However, an old mattress can get in the way of all that.
People who continually struggle to sleep well will encounter mood changes and excessive fatigue and drowsiness. At this point, it won't matter how many hours of sleep you get, what matters is the quality of your sleep. Always remember, a continuously disrupted sleep cycle is your body's way of revolting against your mattress.
Old mattresses tend to have bacteria and other microbes that can potentially lead to serious sleep-disorders and prevent you from feeling well rested in the morning. This is can get in the way of leading a healthy life.
So if you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night and feeling extremely tired and exhausted, and feel more or less worn out during the day, you know you have to replace your mattress.
Reduced Libido
Studies have shown that poor quality sleep can translate to a reduced sex-drive. While this is true for both men and women, the incidence for a reduced libido from disturbed sleep is higher in men.
Having sleep problems can lead to low levels of testosterone in the body, which causes a reduction in sexual activity. This can result in emotional disconnect and heightened stress and anxiety between partners, which can hamper the quality of life of any couple.
Added to that, sleep has the ability to impact fertility as not getting enough sleep or quality sleep can lead to a reduced sperm count.
Ensuring quality sleep on a good mattress coupled with purchasing a mattress that maintains good air circulation can be beneficial in combating this problem.
Aging Mattress
The most obvious sign of a worn out mattress is that it sags. This is because your mattress has finally approached the point where it needs to retire, and you need to buy a new, better mattress.
Essentially, the sagging of a mattress means that it is unable to support your body and its weight. This is when there is a dip in the mattress, which doesn't allow a mattress to lend comfort to your body and its pressure points. This causes pain, tiredness and severely distubed sleep.
Sometimes, an old mattress can cause snoring problems due to lack of support. This is when your airways get blocked due to poor elevation of the mattress, which gives way to snoring.
Buying a good mattress
Depending on your preference, here are three basic mattress materials you can choose from:
- Innerspring Mattress - This contains steels coils that give it a great bounce. They have good air circulation and edge support. They have poor motion isolation and may not be the best option to relieve pain from pressure points.
- Memory Foam Mattress - These mold to your body shape, giving great support to pressure points. It is ideal for back and joint pain and lends fantastic motion isolation. However, it is not recommended for hot sleepers. It may also emit off-gassing chemical odors which can be tackled by airing out the mattress.
- Latex Mattress - Made from the sap of rubber trees, it is ideal for supporting the body curves and provides superior comfort. It is great for motion isolation and provides enhanced ventilation for humid climates. Added to that, it is also hypoallergenic.
Furthermore, it is very important to choose a mattress with the correct firmness to support your body. This should compliment your sleeping position and body weight. Lightweight people should sleep on a soft, medium-soft to medium mattress while heavier individuals should ideally sleep on a medium-firm to firm mattress.
Here is a basic guide based on your sleeping position:
- Back Sleepers - Medium to medium firm mattresses are ideal.
- Side Sleepers - Soft to medium firm mattresses are ideal.
- Stomach Sleepers - Medium firm to firm mattresses are ideal.
Conclusion
Next time you hesitate considering changing your mattress, be mindful that you cannot put a price tag on the quality of your sleep and in turn, your health.