From getting back pains to waking up exhausted, sleeping on the wrong mattress can have long and short term negative effects on your body. A lot of people rely on their mattress’ warranty as a guide to determine if it needs replacement. But it is important to know that your mattress’ comfort ingredient does not depend on it.
Here are tell-tale signs that you are sleeping on the wrong mattress:
1. You wake up exhausted
If you’re not getting the right amount of sleep, you’ll surely get exhausted in the morning. If you are having restless nights or you sleep better anywhere else except your bed, you should consider replacing your mattress.
2. You wake up with a runny nose
If you are waking up with a stuffy nose, it might be because dust mites have already started to lurk in your bed. Dust-mite allergy symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and an itchy mouth or throat. Getting an allergen-blocking mattress could also help aside from washing your pillowcases and sheets at least once a week.
3. Your skin doesn’t look good
Poor quality of sleep induces stress-related hormones called cortisol. An increase of this hormone causes loss of skin firmness and elasticity, dull skin, and itchy skin conditions such as eczema. So if your skin doesn’t look good, better trade off your mattress.
4. You wake up sore
Waking up stiff? Chances are, you need to replace your mattress. Old mattresses tend to lose the ability to support your body. Once the comfort zone has matted down, you’ll experience pressure points because of sleeping directly on the springs. Also, sleeping on a mattress that is the wrong firmness for your body can create significant pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. Ough, right?
5. You hammock into the mattress
If you feel like your mattress is swinging you, even when there is no noticeable sag, your mattress may have a softened core. A wrong mattress cannot keep its firmness and won’t hold its shape for such a long time. When it has already reached its level of wear, it can affect your sleep and your emotions.
6. Your mattress cannot retain the right temperature for you
Sleeping hot or cold? Temperature can be one of those sleeping factors that cannot be perfected, yet with the right support from your mattress, you can avoid tossing and turning and getting uncomfortable while in bed. If your mattress cannot retain the right temperature for you, then you are sleeping on the wrong one. Spring mattresses, as well as memory foam or hybrid mattresses, can do a good job of keeping the coolness in any type of climate and retain the least heat but it is important to choose one that has a breathable top layer.
Feature image courtesy of Bowerman Interior Planner
A version of this story first appeared on Cromly
