Can a bad mattress affect your sleep? What are the signs that you’re sleeping on a bad mattress? Read on to find out what an unsupportive mattress can do to your sleep and how you can fix the problem.
Your sleep quality can impact various aspects of your health and well-being. Ideally, a good mattress offers the best body support, weight distribution, and pressure relief. Without these aspects, your body will lack the support it needs to do some functions and repairs that only happen during sleep. An old and saggy mattress can even cause sleep deprivation, which may have many health implications.
Although it is important, the quality of your mattress is often overlooked, considering how it can influence your night’s rest. Here are some signs that you have a bad mattress.
Signs of a Bad Mattress
You experience body pains
Do you wake up with back pain and sore muscles? If so, it’s worth checking the quality of your mattress. Waking up with back pain can be caused by an unmatched mattress type for your sleeping position. It may also be an indication that your mattress layers are already breaking down and not offering the right support and pressure relief. A mattress topper may add some cushioning to your saggy mattress. However, this is not a permanent fix since you may still feel some irregularities in your bed.
You don't feel refreshed when you sleep
Have you been tossing and turning a lot lately? A bad mattress makes it hard to find a comfortable sleeping position. This causes sleep deprivation or restless nights, even if you complete a full eight hours of sleep. If your bed doesn’t make you feel refreshed anymore, it’s time to switch to a better mattress.
You find it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep
You’ve tried to tweak your bedtime routine, added some aromatherapy candles, and put on some sleeping music, but if you still can’t condition your body into a restful state, the culprit might be your mattress. A bad bed may not give you the right comfort to properly snooze. In this case, it is best to find a mattress that better supports your sleep requirements.
You sweat a lot during sleep
Considering the hot weather in Singapore, it can be challenging to find the best mattress to give you a cool rest. While we love the support and comfort of a memory foam mattress, its ability to absorb temperature to contour your body causes hot and sweaty nights. The best solution? Look for a mattress with the comfortable qualities of memory foam and the support of pocketed coils to give your mattress some breathing space. Mattresses with latex layers and cooling gel foam also provide a cooler sleep sensation.
You suffer from allergy symptoms
As a mattress ages, it accumulates dirt, dust mites, dead skin cells, mould, and various impurities that not only affect its quality but also cause various health issues, especially for people with asthma and allergies. If you’re constantly sneezing, experiencing congestion, or experiencing eye, throat, or skin irritations, your mattress might be to blame.
An easy way to protect your mattress from these nasty elements is by getting a mattress protector. It’s also important to deep clean your mattress to tackle impurities that can cause your allergies. The best and most permanent solution is to change your mattress.
Your mattress is already old
Depending on its type, a mattress can live for at least 7 years. While some mattresses, like memory foam, high-end hybrid models, and latex varieties, can last longer, they still receive constant wear and tear, which deteriorates their quality. Some clear signs of mattress aging are sagging, squeaking sounds from your mattress springs, uneven support, and overall discomfort. These may be caused by improper care or unhealthy sleep hygiene, or they might be because of the original quality of your bed.
What Can a Bad Mattress Do to Your Health?
Studies show that quality sleep can significantly enhance your body's functions and improve your overall health. A quality mattress offers many restorative benefits in addition to providing you with the best night’s rest. On the other hand, a bad mattress can cause various health issues like back and muscle pains, drowsiness, sleep deprivation, improper blood flow, obesity, allergies, a weakening of your immune system, memory issues, and heart conditions.
Sleep deprivation does not only lead to a lack of energy but also causes many health complications. The most straightforward way to address this is to look for the right mattress with the best qualities for your sleep requirements.
Can You Fix a Bad Mattress?
When buying a new mattress, we highly recommend investing in a mattress protector to guard your new mattress up front. This is also helpful for mattress types with warranties. Changing your pillows can help you compensate for your bed while you look for a better mattress.
Another effective way to preserve your mattress is to use a mattress topper. Depending on the type, a mattress topper can work as an additional cushion for your sagging mattress. This can also work as a breathable layer for your sleep solution. However, both the mattress protector and topper can only do so much to preserve your mattress. A mattress that is not right for your sleeping needs is still detrimental to your health.
Is it Time to Replace Your Mattress?
Despite your best efforts to prolong the quality of your mattress, your sleep solution will eventually lose its ability to provide you with the right support and comfort. If your mattress is older than 7 or is already affecting your sleep, it is best to invest in a new mattress with the right body support, sleep comfort, and breathability to ensure restorative sleep.
What to Look for in a New Mattress?
When buying a new mattress in Singapore, look for a material or combination of materials that will support your sleeping position, body weight, posture, firmness preference, and other special requirements. It is also worth choosing a bed base to give your new mattress a reliable foundation.
Note: Poor sleep quality can be a result of other factors, including some medical issues. It is best to seek medical advice to determine the root of your sleeping problems.
This guide is made for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional with regards to your sleep health.