Did you know that the kind of mattress on which you sleep has devastating effects on your health? One of the things to look out for is a mattress that’s overly worn out. This may not only cause a lack of sleep but also leave you with sore joints. Also important is how clean the mattress is. If you suffer from allergies, the situation could be made worse when you sleep on a dusty mattress. It is for these reasons that you must pay close attention to the kind of mattress you sleep on. 

The following are 7 effects of sleeping on a bad mattress: 

1. Dust Mites: As you sleep on the mattress, your body sheds off some of the dead skin cells. This creates a perfect environment in which dust mites thrive. Although invisible, the effects of dust mites can be felt in the form of worsening allergies. Dust mites may either cause or worsen the symptoms of asthma. If you have skin conditions such as eczema, worsen it. 

 2. Body Pain: By and large, a malformed mattress may cause pain in the lower back. The same is true for allergies, which lead to pain in the back and other parts of the body due to a bad-sleeping posture. Given that you are unlikely to get enough sleep on a bad mattress, some of the pain in the body could be due to sleep deprivation. That’s especially true when the mattress you sleep on is old and deformed.  

3. Deformation: After sleeping on a mattress for a while, it gets deformed. While the lack of shape is usually restricted to the mattress, it could also affect the shape of the bed. The tale-tell signs of a deformed mattress include dips in the places where you sleep. What that says is that the mattress is worn out and needs to be replaced as soon as possible. As such, you may opt for a new one or get a replacement under warranty. 

 4. Hygiene: As a mattress gets old, it becomes unhygienic. Think of the number of times you spent the whole night sweating. The sweat usually accumulates in the mattress causing the build-up of mold. When the mold matures, it produces spores, which may lead to a number of health issues including allergies. Solutions may include buying a special mattress protector to prevent your sweat from soaking up the mattress.

 5. Allergies: Allergic reactions may result from the effects of dust mites as well as the spores produced by mold. If you have asthma, the presence of any of these conditions can make it worse. Also, worn out mattresses tend to release part of the materials used to make them. Examples include older mattresses manufactured using hypoallergenic material. If you continue sleeping in such a mattress, you will never be able to get rid of these allergies. That’s why you should consider buying a new mattress and using a mattress protector. 

 6. Joint Soreness: The softness or hardness of a mattress you use may vary depending on your personal preferences. Generally, the mattress shouldn’t be too stiff. When it is soft, a mattress is able to support your weight while giving you the comfort you deserve. Compared to their softer counterpart, a stiff mattress is likely to leave you with sore joints when you wake up in the morning. This is because of the extra pressure it imposes on your joints. 

 7. Lack of Sleep: Sleeping in a bad mattress causes poor sleep. Since you are hardly getting any rest, it will be hard for you to go through the four sleep cycles. The first three stages of sleep are characterized by non-rapid eye movements. In the fourth and last stage, your eyes go through a series of rapid eye movements. As such, you supposed to go through all of these stages without skipping any. If you don’t, you are unlikely to wake up fresh and even risk developing health issues such as heart disease. 

 As you can see, the type of mattress you sleep on has a huge bearing on your comfort and whether you wake up fresh. If you really care for your health, you should consider replacing your old mattress with a brand new one, soon!