4 Negative Effects an Old Mattress Can Have on Your Health

Your health and wellness should always be one of your top priorities. However, it does seem that now more than ever—given the uncertainty of the times we’re currently living in—personal and public health has especially become the focus of everyone’s efforts and anxieties.

Consistent hand washing and social distancing are undoubtedly the most important safety measures you should be taking right now, but that doesn’t mean we can overlook other crucial aspects of creating a healthy and sanitary environment. One of the most important factors of your overall health and wellness? Your mattress!

Especially in the healthcare industry, it’s particularly important that essential workers and sick individuals have a reliable, hygienic mattress to lay their head on at the end of the day. Below are just a few of the reasons you can’t afford to wait when you need a mattress replacement.

1) Dust mites and bed bugs trigger allergies and respiratory problems.

These microscopic pests may be hardly visible to the eye, but you’re sure to notice the impact they have on your health. Dust mites and bed bugs both tend to infest older, dirtier mattresses, causing symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itchiness, sinus pressure, and even lung damage in severe cases.

Both insects can also trigger flare ups in people with existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, causing chest tightness and difficulty breathing (both symptoms of significant concern during the coronavirus pandemic). Additionally, allergic reactions and bed bug bites can lead to skin problems, like rash or eczema.

2) Accumulation of dirt and debris on your mattress can lead to fungal growth.

Over years of use, bacteria, dirt, and airborne particles settle and build up on your mattress. In fact, it is this unsanitary accumulation that usually attracts those bed bugs and dust mites. Every day we unknowingly track more and more contaminates like pet dander, skin cells, sweat, bodily bacteria and oils, food, cosmetics, and even chemicals onto our mattresses.

Concentrated fungal spores can lead to mold growth on your mattress. As you breathe in these particles, you become vulnerable to respiratory issues, allergies, and even more serious infections.

3) Old mattresses often cause back pain.

As they age, mattresses start to sag or cave in toward the middle. This deteriorating condition offers you less comfort and support, leading to stiffness and chronic pain in your back, neck and shoulders.

The more your mattress sags, the more uneven the surface becomes and the more you’ll feel the frame as you sleep. The pressure on your body, particularly your back, increases as a result. Lack of mattress support can even cause spine misalignment, which causes more pain as well as headaches.

4) Your quality of sleep decreases with an older mattress, leaving you susceptible to a whole host of other health problems.

The less comfortable you are at night, the more you’ll toss and turn and interrupt your sleep. Sleep deprivation is the source of a lot of negative health effects, many of which you may not even realize are related to it.

Poor sleep—in terms of both quality and quantity—can cause higher stress levels and symptoms of depression and anxiety. It also weakens your immune system, making you more vulnerable to illness, and can even put you at a higher risk for heart disease. During a time when your immune health is exceptionally important, you can’t allow something as easily fixed as an old mattress to be a threat.

At Replacement Mattress, we offer wholesale mattress production for a wide variety of commercial and public organizations, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and more. Protect yourself, your patients, and your residents in the fight against this global pandemic by ensuring your mattress is safe and sanitary. You’ll continue to experience the health and economic benefits for years to come.

Contact our team today to discuss the needs of your facility, so we can design a replacement mattress that puts your mind and body at ease!