3 Reasons You Need a New Mattress

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3 Reasons You Need a New Mattress… and What to Do with Your Old One

Guest post by Dylan Foster:

We all have a sleepless night from time to time. From stressors weighing on the mind to discomfort or pain plaguing the body, there are many reasons sleep escapes us. However, when sleep evades you on a regular basis, you may have a more serious problem.

According to statistics, roughly 70 million adults in the United States suffer from a sleep disorder such as insomnia, sleep apnea, periodic limb movement, REM sleep behavior, and hypersomnia.

The reasons behind sleep disorders and how it may impact your health

In some cases, these disorders and other sleep disruptions come from some kind of biological factor, but many have to do with the environment. In fact, the biggest culprit in sleeping difficulties could be right in your own bedroom.

While we should change our mattresses at least every eight to 10 years, many people can’t remember how long they’ve been sleeping on the same bed. Why is mattress upkeep important? Believe it or not, our mattresses actually play a big role in our overall health.

If you’ve been tossing and turning at night or yawning during the day, your mattress could be to blame.

Fact is, wear and tear on mattresses and the presence of allergens and bacteria can affect how well we sleep, which in turn can lead to pain, exhaustion, and frequent illness.

Simply learning to care for our mattresses can help us stay well rested, which means we’ll be happier and healthier.

Here are three ways your old mattress could be impacting your overall health and well-being:

1. Joint Pain

An old mattress has lost a lot of its firmness and support, which can lead to pain in the joints and connective tissues. On top of that, if you are already dealing with arthritis and you purchase a bed that is too soft you can inflame your already aching joints. Look for a supportive memory foam bed that has some give — it’s a great option for people who suffer from joint pain. Also, consider picking up a therapeutic pillow if you suffer from back or neck pain.

2. Exhaustion

If you have trouble staying awake during the day — or frequently move around in a foggy, groggy cloud — your mattress could be preventing you from getting good sleep. High-quality sleep means a cycle lasting for about 90 minutes. If you are uncomfortable, tossing and turning, or even waking up without actually realizing it, your cycle gets disrupted. An old, uncomfortable mattress means you aren’t getting the rest you need to function properly during the day.

3. Frequent Illness

Sleep is your body’s natural recovery mode. It’s essential for healing from illnesses and injuries, from the flu to a broken bone. In fact, rest is the only cure for the common cold. If your mattress is preventing you from resting, that means it is also preventing your body from recovering.

Disposing of Your Old Mattress

When you’re ready to replace your mattress, you’ll want to give some consideration about what to do with your old one. Tossing away an old mattress has a detrimental impact on the health of our environment and community. Mattresses can be reused, but they are not biodegradable, so they sit in landfills without ever breaking down.

They are, however, easily recyclable, from the foam padding to the steel springs to the wooden frames. In fact, up to 80 percent of the mattress can be reused or even upcycled to create art, furniture or other new products. If you decide to buy a new mattress, consider sending your old one to a recycling center.

If you’ve ever spent a night staring at the ceiling, you already know that the next day will arrive with you feeling tired, cranky, and a little dazed.

If you are regularly missing out on seven to nine hours of recommended sleep, then it might be time to take a long hard look at your mattress. Both your mind and body will thank you. 🙏

Dylan Foster

Dylan Foster is a writer at healthwellwise.com. He enjoys writing about topics related to how our homes affect our health and happiness. When he isn’t writing for the website, he works as an office assistant and enjoys hiking local trails with his dog, Samson.