A Comfortable Mattress for a Large Woman with Bulging Discs on a Budget.A mattress that’s old or worn out can do more than leave you tossing and turning throughout the night.Like light bulbs or batteries, mattresses tend to be the kind of thing that we don’t give much thought to as long as they’re doing their job. But when the light or a battery stops working, you know right away and replace it ASAP.But unless a mattress pops a spring or breaks somehow, most of us will keep using it long after it probably should have been replaced. Which can spell bad news for your health—and your ability to get a decent night’s rest.Here’s what you need to know about how an old mattress could affect your health, and how you can cope. A good mattress can give you years of comfortable sleep—but there’s no magic number as to exactly how many.Typically, manufacturers recommend replacing your mattress every eight years. But according to Consumer Reports, a mattress that’s well cared for could easily last a decade.
(Unless you’re over 40. By that age, your body tolerates less pressure, which means you might need a new mattress after five to seven years.)To ensure that your mattress lives a long, happy life, experts recommend giving it a little TLC. Some tips:Still, even with the utmost care and attention, your mattress will eventually start to wear out. And when that happens, some not-so-great stuff is likely to follow.Since you spend about a third of your life in bed, you better believe that over time, your mattress starts to collect loads of dead skin and body oils. Who loves to snack on that stuff? In fact, the typical used mattress can house as many as 10 million of the microscopic bugs, according to Ohio State University experts. And since even dust mites poop, that stuff is in your bed, too.Mercifully, the little buggers are invisible—and most of us seem to get along with them just fine. But if you suffer from allergies, sleeping on a too-old mattress can pose a problem. Dust mite allergies can cause sneezing, runny noses, itchiness, watery eyes, coughing, and sinus pressure.
It gets worse if you have asthma, which can be exacerbated by dust mites. Then, you could be at risk for difficulty breathing, chest tightness, or even trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath.Of course, even a mattress that’s a few months old can have dust mites, just not (nearly) as many as what would be in an older mattress. And since you can’t buy a new mattress every year (though wouldn’t it be great if you could?), it makes sense to take other steps to keep your sleeping space as dust mite-free as possible. As a mattress ages and begins to wear out, it starts to sag in the middle. So rather than sleeping on a flat, comfortable surface, you end up sleeping on one that’s awkwardly curved in the middle. In fact, one prominent spine expert compared it to sleeping in a hole.Which sounds pretty unpleasant, right? Chiropractors agree that sleeping on an old mattress is a recipe for chronic back pain. That can mean tossing and turning through the night to find a more comfortable sleeping position, or simply waking up the next morning feeling stiff and sore.
Over time, the pain itself can make it harder to nod off and stay asleep, which can create a vicious cycle of discomfort and exhaustion. In fact, two-thirds of Americans say that their pain causes sleep problems, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Doesn’t sound so fun.Fortunately, strategically placed pillows can help you find short-term relief: Place them under your knees if you sleep on your back, or between your knees if you sleep on your side.That can help release some of the pressure on your back for the time being. But the better, more permanent solution, experts say, is to get a new mattress.The best way to get rid of the problems caused by an old, worn-out mattress is simple: Replace it with a new one. But with so many options to choose from, how are you supposed to know which sleep surface is the best one for you? Here’s a quick breakdown of the basics:The best way to tell which new mattress will work best for you? If you’re hitting the store, be sure to spend at least 10 minutes laying on the surface.
And remember to bring your pillow, which will help to replicate your true sleeping environment as closely as possible.Of course, you’ll get an even better idea of how comfortable a mattress really is if you can sleep on it for a full night—or for several full nights. And not to toot our own horn or anything, but did you know that Amerisleep offers a 90-day sleep trial? Seriously—you can sleep on one of our mattresses for three months, and if for any reason it isn’t comfortable, you can return it. Once you’ve waved buh bye to dust mites and back pain with a new mattress, you still have to get rid of the old one. Which, thankfully, is pretty easy. There are over 50 mattress-recycling facilities in North America, and their numbers are growing all the time.Did you sleep better after getting a new mattress? Is your current mattress impacting how you sleep right now?Consumers have been hit with a campaign to replace your mattress every eight years. But is this campaign a true message to promote better health or a stealthy way to get a little more of your money?
The CampaignIn the last few years advertising spots on TV and the radio have bombarded consumers with the "if it's over eight, it's time to replace" mantra concerning their mattresses. The advertisement claims that the mattress doubles in weight every eight years due mainly to dust mites and other contamination caused by pets and people sleeping on the bed. Some consumers seem to believe it. Facebook and other social media posts show people asking if they should replace their mattress or being concerned with the age of the mattress they are sleeping on. But is it a health hazard? Does the average person need to shell out hundreds to thousands of dollars every few years for a new mattress set. The answer is mostly: No. What They ClaimThe companies claiming that you must replace your mattress mainly cite health reasons. They say that due to sweat and moisture, a mattress will double in weight every eight years. The thought is that all the sweat and skin flakes create a great place for the dust mites to live.
Because so many people have allergies to dust mites, you may be risking your healthy by not replacing your mattress. Do Mattresses Get Dust Mites?Yes, most mattresses contain dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic organisms that feed on dust and particles that naturally occur where people and pets live. According to Mayo Clinic, dust mites thrive in environments of 70 degrees or higher (the temperature of most homes) and eat the shed skin of people. They are a relative of ticks and spiders. The only evidence that you may have of dust mites is allergy symptoms or feeling like you have a cold. Only an allergist can determine if you are allergic to dust mites or if they are causing an allergy. So mattresses may be the perfect place for dust mites to live. We spend many hours a day in bed, and naturally sweat and shed skin cells. But is it a problem that can be prevented of remedied? Does the mattress really double in weight? , experts believe that the idea of your mattress doubling in weight every eight years is exaggerated.
Experts say this it is not mathematically possible. While mattresses can and do contain dust mites and possibly gain some weight from the absorption of fluids, they are not likely to be gaining weight at that rate. So what can you do about preventing or reducing the amount of dust mites in your mattress? A simple and inexpensive solution is to use a high quality mattress cover. Quality mattress cover extends the life of your mattressA simple and inexpensive solution to stopping or preventing the spread of dust mites is to use a high quality mattress cover on your mattress. Ideally the cover should be waterproof and should be placed directly over your bare mattress. From there you can add your sheets and other bedding. If you use memory foam or an egg crate pad, be sure that the mattress pad covers this as well. Dust mites can live in that foam as well. A waterproof mattress pad acts as a shield, preventing the skin flakes and moisture from your body from penetrating the actual mattress itself, preserving your mattress and your health.
Even if your mattress is older, you can add a mattress cover to prevent any further accumulation of moisture or dust mites in the mattress. It will also provide a barrier between you and the mattress, preventing you from breathing in the dust mite allergens. How do you know it is time to replace your mattress?There are times when a mattress does need to be replaced but it is likely to last longer than eight years. For one thing, experts recommend checking the mattress label. If it has a 10, 20 or 30 year warranty, with proper care you are likely to get about that amount of time out of the mattress. You also want to think about comfort. Are their pressure points? Is it less comfortable than it used to be? Would adding a memory foam pad or egg crate pad alleviate some of these problems? If you are like most consumers and watching your money, adding a pad may give you few more years out of the mattress. You should also visually inspect it. If it is dirty or soiled it may be time to consider replacing it.
Putting a mattress cover on at the start of the use of your mattress may help to eliminate these problems with your next mattress. Picking Out A MattressWhen picking out a mattress, many people have very particular ideas about how it should feel. It is important to get one that is comfortable to you. Consider the quality as well. Watch out for pillow top mattresses that are not able to be flipped over. They are likely to wear down and become less comfortable over time. Don't feel the pressure to buy an expensive mattress. Look for quality and durability. Check a less biased source such as consumer reports to find the right balance of quality and affordability. Other TipsRemember that the biggest point that the "replace after eight" campaign is making is that your mattress will be overloaded with sweat and dust mites. But you can prevent or eliminate this problem by simply adding a quality, waterproof mattress pad. In order to get the most life out of your mattress and to reduce allergies wash all of the bedding and the mattress pad regularly.