Could Your Mattress Be Making You Sick?

If you’ve noticed a gradual or sudden increase in muscle pain, back problems, asthma, allergies, and general tiredness throughout the day, there is a potential that the cause of these problems may be the mattress that you spend 8 hours on every night. It’s interesting how we often give so little thought to something so important to our life: sleep. Your mattress has a huge impact on the way you sleep, and can in turn cause a number of health problems if not properly maintained. Sleeping on a mattress that is worn out or improperly taken care of can make existing health conditions worse and potentially cause new symptoms to arise. Could your mattress be making you sick?

Symptoms To Look Out For When Asking Could Your Mattress Be Making You Sick:

• Sore back/neck
• Breathing problems in the night or morning
• Allergies (itchy eyes, stuffy nose, etc.)
• Irritability and mood swings
• Difficulty staying awake during the day

If you’ve experienced any of the above symptoms, it’s time to take a good look at your mattress to determine if it may be the cause of your ailments.

Sore Back/Neck

A mattress can cause you to have a sore back or neck for a number of different reasons. Primarily, over time a mattress will wear out and no longer provide proper spinal support. A good mattress should align your legs, hips, spine, and head in a way that does not stress any individual joint too much. When a mattress wears out, it is no longer able to align these essential bodily components and can cause problems throughout the day.

A sore back or neck caused by an old and unsupportive mattress can be very painful and may even lead to more serious physical problems later down the line. Check if your mattress has any lumps or low points, as these can be a sign of deteriorating structural support within the mattress.

A visit to a chiropractor or orthopedic doctor should be enough to determine if there is any misalignment within your spine, and they may be able to provide advice about choosing a mattress style to support your particular body shape. A lot of health issues start in the spine, so it’s crucial to identify and eliminate anything that is causing spine/back discomfort.

Allergy Symptoms

Mattresses, much like anything else, have the potential to gather allergens that can trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. The main difference between a mattress and anything else that can gather allergens is that we spend upwards of 8 hours a night in direct contact with our mattresses. While it’s impossible to totally eliminate all allergens from the surface of your mattress, there are a few things you can do to help.

Hypoallergenic Mattress Covers

One simple solution to help reduce the number of potential allergens that you are exposed to overnight is to use a hypoallergenic mattress cover. It could very well be the material of the mattress itself that you are allergic to, and using a hypoallergenic mattress cover negates this risk. When used in conjunction with hypoallergenic pillow covers, it’s possible to see an immediate reduction in allergy symptoms.

Routine Cleaning

Another way to help clear up allergy symptoms associated with your mattress is to make sure to routinely clean the mattress and all bedding. Many people go too long without cleaning their mattresses, and this can contribute to the number of allergens present in your bed. Vacuum the surface of the mattress thoroughly, and use only hypoallergenic soap to clean your pillowcases and bedding.

Sleeplessness/Irritability/Difficulty Staying Awake

Not getting enough sleep, or not getting enough healthy sleep, can cause major problems during the day. When your mattress is worn out and uncomfortable, it can cause you to experience irritability and problems staying awake during the day.

The biggest reason that many people dismiss their mattress as the cause of irritability or drowsiness is that it’s possible to sleep for a full eight hours and still experience these symptoms. Not all sleep is good sleep, and a mattress that is not properly supportive will not allow your body to fall into deep sleep cycles. These cycles are critical in getting the sleep that is both restorative and leaves you feeling awake in the morning.

If you wake up every morning feeling drowsy, it’s entirely possible that it’s because of your mattress. When your body doesn’t get the sleep that it needs, it can result in mood swings throughout the day. These aren’t fun for the person experiencing them, let alone the people they interact with. In addition to mood swings, lack of proper sleep can cause lower performance in the workplace. Sleep is incredibly important to your overall wellbeing, so making sure you have a comfortable mattress should be a top priority.

When it comes to the question could your mattress be making you sick we hope this article helps you decide and fix the issue.