Given that we spend one-third of our lives sleeping (or, at least, trying to do so), it is amazing that most of us don’t really think about what we are sleeping on. Our mattress is a huge part of our everyday lives. As such, a good mattress allows us to enjoy a restful and invigorating sleep, setting us up for a productive and active day. A bad one, on the other hand, can come with a variety of health problems, both physical and mental.

Body Pains and Aches

If you have been experiencing chronic body pains, especially in your back, your mattress could be to blame. Poor spine support and alignment while you sleep can lead to recurring pain throughout the day. If it builds up into a chronic condition, it can also make it harder for you to fall asleep at night. Thus creating a cycle of poor sleep and exhaustion.

A common sign of mattress-related pain is if the ache is present when you wake up but goes away after some stretching. Restless sleep filled with tossing and turning is another sign. As your body wakes up in pain throughout the night and needs to adjust positions. If this matches your experience. It is probably time to get a new mattress designed to prevent back pain – here are the best ones on the market. While you can buy a mattress online, it’s usually a good idea to try one out in a store first to make sure it’s comfortable. Keep in mind that despite raving reviews, an inner coil mattress is one of the worst items you can put in the bedroom. The hidden metal coils create an electromagnetic field, interrupting your brain’s ability to stay rested for an extended period. This can hinder your efforts to get a good night’s sleep. Avoid these types of mattresses and opt for a memory foam model instead.

Tiredness

A bad mattress may be the reason you are tired all the time. When a mattress is uncomfortable, it becomes difficult to get relaxed enough to fall asleep on it. Fatigue can then have additional negative effects on your mental health and your everyday life, from poor performance at work to an inability to go out and socialize with friends and family.

Illness

An old mattress is filled with a variety of contaminants that could be making you sick. According to CNN, mattresses are often covered in dust mite feces, dead skin, mold, and sweat, leaving behind various types of potentially harmful bacteria.

ince you can’t throw your mattress into the washing machine, you need to keep it as clean as you can. Ways to keep your mattress fresh include vacuuming (a handheld mattress vacuum might come in handy), deodorizing with baking soda, and airing it out regularly. Prevent mold and fungus by investing in a dehumidifier, and wash and change your bedding often.

The Environment

It’s not all about your personal health. Mattresses can affect the health of the planet as well, with 20 million of them ending up in landfills or incinerators every year. Whenever you choose to buy a new mattress, recycle your old one. About 80 percent of the components of a mattress are recyclable but not biodegradable, so when you recycle, you are doing the planet a big favor.

You can take apart the mattress yourself and look for recycling centers for recyclable parts like foam padding, cotton, steel springs, and wooden frames. An easier option is to use a dedicated mattress recycling service.

It’s time we all started focusing more on our mattresses and asking more of them. Most of these health concerns can develop into long-term chronic problems if ignored, so a lumpy, old, dirty, or just plain low-quality mattress is simply never worth it.

If you feel like your mattress may not be doing you much good, then it’s time to recycle it and move on to a model that will make you feel amazing in the morning. Mattresses can seem expensive, but a high-quality mattress is an investment in your health and well-being, which will last you for years to come. More importantly, it will make you wake up every morning with a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

I would like to thank Jason Lewis from www.strongwell.org for writing this guest article. He can be reached at info@strongwell.org.