How Does Sleeping on a Bad Mattress Affect Your Health?

It’s clear that an old, worn out mattress can cause you to lose sleep, but so can a mattress that’s new or perfectly reasonable for someone else. Maybe it just doesn’t suit your sleep position or work for your body type. Either way, a lack of sleep can cause lots of problematic health issues and exacerbate symptoms you might already be dealing with. Here are a few important reasons to prioritize your sleep for better health in 2020.

Fatigue

The first problem with a bad or old mattress is the fatigue that you’ll experience when you don’t get a quality 7-9 hours of sleep. The feeling of fatigue is common and well-understood by most of us for various reasons: parenthood, job stress, family issues, etc. Feeling exhausted can slow your reaction time, cause you to make bad decisions, and generally hurt your performance, whether it’s at work or at home. If you’re waking up tired on a regular basis, your bed could be a major factor.

Weakened immune system

Studies show us that sleep loss or deprivation can cause a weakened immune system, making you more likely to get sick if you’re exposed to something (like the cold virus) and making it harder to recover quickly.

Weight gain

When you get less than optimal sleep, your body’s ability to detect when you are full is distorted. When that happens, people often feel hungrier, which leads them to eat more than necessary and ultimately gain weight. Sub-optimal sleep is also associated with increases in the secretion of insulin — a hormone that regulates glucose processing and promotes fat storage — after a meal. Higher levels of insulin are associated with weight gain, which is also a risk factor for diabetes.

Cardiac problems

Lack of sleep has been associated with hypertension (high blood pressure), which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. One study showed that men with sleep apnea were 58% more likely to develop congestive heart failure than men without the breathing disorder.

Mood disorders

Poor quality sleep or insufficient sleep can also lead to elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, sleeplessness and stress can become a destructive cycle. Work on finding a sleep routine that helps you relax before bed and try to start winding down around the same time every night.

Body aches and pains

Back pain, neck stiffness, and shoulder aches are all common symptoms of a bed that’s not working for your body. You might be sleeping on a mattress that’s too soft or a mattress that’s too firm if you’re waking up sore.

Allergies or respiratory issues

Older mattresses have likely accumulated a decent amount of dust and dust mites. For those with sensitive sinuses, a response to this might manifest as allergy symptoms, like sneezing, headaches, or a stuffy head.

If you’re managing health issues and you think they might be related to how much sleep or the quality of sleep you get, it’s time to talk to the sleep experts at Mattress Man. We’ll help you find a mattress that makes the most of your sleep and puts you in position to get the best sleep possible.