Mattress Maintenance, Restful Sleep: How a Mattress Affects Your Health

Ms. Susan Treadway, an addict in recovery, authored the following guest post. She uses a holistic approach to sobriety to stay on a successful path and believes adopting even a few holistic methods can help anyone struggling with addiction.

Susan wants everyone to know that you don’t have to be a hippie to embrace holistic wellness – this concept is simply about focusing on your entire sense of well-being rather than just one part. She hopes her website, rehabholistics.com, will inspire anyone who has struggled with addiction to incorporate holistic practices into their own self-care routine.

People who struggle with allergies, chronic sleep problems and back pain are often at a loss as to the cause or what to do about it, especially when common explanations like pollen, caffeine or muscle fatigue prove inadequate. The mattresses we sleep on are often overlooked unless they’re clearly uncomfortable or in a state of advanced disrepair and decay. But the quality of your mattress can have a profound effect on many aspects of your health because sound, restful sleep – 7 to 9 hours a night – is invaluable to your physical and mental well-being. It’s simply hard to function if you’re constantly tired, in discomfort, or just feeling out of sorts.

Stress

We all face stress at work and in our personal lives, and our ability to cope with it depends to a great degree on how well-rested we are. Our brains aren’t able to “recharge” properly when we don’t get enough sleep at night, meaning it’s tough to focus on problems, come up with solutions and generally function after a night (or several nights) of sleeplessness. In other words, we may lose sleep at night when we’re feeling stressed, but without a good night of shut-eye, we keep ourselves in a vicious cycle of overwhelm.

Believe it or not, your mattress plays a critical role in the quality of sleep you get each night, so it’s important that you have one that’s suitable for your height; if you’re taller than 5-foot-5, for example, you’ll be cramped sleeping on a full-sized mattress, and should opt for at least a queen model (or a king if you sleep with a partner). It’s also important to have one that’s clean and doesn’t have lumps or sags. A good rule of thumb is to consider replacing your mattress if it’s 7-10 years old, because after that point, it generally begins to lose its shape and isn’t able to provide the proper support. If you wake up feeling groggy or in pain, or if you feel like you’re sinking too far into your mattress, those are indicators your mattress may be keeping you from sleeping soundly. If you’re concerned, consider researching different mattress options to prepare to replace it.

Allergies

If you or a family member is susceptible to allergens and household pollutants, you need to be very careful with your mattress. Dust mites and other tiny pests can leave you with persistent illnesses and feeling worn out, so be sure to give your mattress a frequent airing out. Pull back the bed clothing and let it breathe a while, and consider getting a mattress protector (wash it frequently), which will give you an extra barrier between you and the mattress. Turning a mattress about four times a year will help it to settle evenly and will help ensure you have a comfortable sleeping surface.

Insomnia

People suffer from insomnia for a wide variety of reasons. Anxiety, stress, depression, anger, trauma, grief and more are all frequently to blame for chronic insomnia, as are poor eating and drinking habits (eating late in the evening, drinking too much caffeine, etc.). A poor mattress can contribute to stress, anxiety, depression and more. If your mattress has lumps, tears, creaking springs or uneven wear, you may have found the cause of your sleeping problem. A new mattress may be the solution.

Remember, you can only buy so much time when it comes to making a mattress last. At some point, they become an obstacle to restful sleep and good health, a major contributing factor to fatigue, illness and back pain. Excessive wear and tear and infestation by allergens are signs that yours is ready for the recycling facility. It’s an important investment, and the tendency to think of it as something that should last you a long time is understandable. But considering the 365-day-a-year wear and tear it gets, it makes perfect sense to get rid of one that’s outlived its usefulness, especially if it’s causing you problems.

Rest well tonight!

Eric