By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    alzheimer’s disease
    Anavex Life Sciences’ Anavex 2-73 Could Slow Alzheimer’s
    June 14, 2024
    medicare shift
    From Volume To Value: The Medicare Shift To Value-Based Care
    August 20, 2024
    Physicians
    Why Recruiting Physicians is More Challenging than Hiring Other Professionals
    December 17, 2024
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The Divide in the ACO Debate – Beltway Rhetoric versus Marketplace Cynicism
    February 3, 2012
    Patient Engagement Matters
    February 6, 2013
    future of healthcare survey heathcare reform
    The Future of Healthcare Survey: Does it include Doctors?
    March 2, 2012
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Bedroom Blues? 5 Ways a Bad Mattress Can Impact Your Health
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Orthopaedics > Bedroom Blues? 5 Ways a Bad Mattress Can Impact Your Health
OrthopaedicsSpecialties

Bedroom Blues? 5 Ways a Bad Mattress Can Impact Your Health

James Wilson
James Wilson
Share
7 Min Read
bad mattress causing health issues
Shutterstock Photo License - By fizkes
SHARE

When was the last time you replaced your mattress? If it’s been a while, your old mattress could be negatively impacting your health. You might find that choosing a new mattress can reduce chronic pain.

Over time, your mattress wears down and becomes vulnerable to toxins. These toxins amass from body sweat, dust mites, bed bugs, and other pathogens that live in your mattress. Your mattress could be doing more harm than good.

If you think your mattress might be ruining your beauty sleep, read on for five ways a lousy mattress can impact your mental and physical health. 

More Read

How a Common Diagnosis Makes the Miles Disappear
New Blood Cholesterol Guidelines
Neuroscientists Discover Roots of Empathy: What Part of the Brain Helps Us Feel for Others?
Do it like Disney: Developing Orthopedic Centers of Excellence
Who Can Receive Free HPV Vaccines to Combat Cervical Cancer?

Difficulty breathing and chest tightness

Though your mattress might look okay to the naked eye, you could be counting wolves in sheeps’ clothing. Many of the risks associated with an old mattress are invisible. For example, the sweat from your body helps release airborne pathogens, known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into the air. When you breathe them in, they enter your lungs and might cause health problems. These health risks could even be present with certain memory foam mattresses.

An old mattress can also become dusty, and where there is dust, you’ll likely find dust mites or tiny bugs. Dead skin cells attract dust mites, which live in your mattress. These creepy crawlies are a common cause of allergies and breathing difficulties. 

Your eyes may become itchy and watery from the dust in your mattress. If you have asthma, your symptoms may become worse. Does your bed have a musty smell? There might be a strain of mold known as mildew hiding inside your mattress and triggering your respiratory problems.

Like the dust itself, nasty bed-dwelling bugs and their feces are capable of causing respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pressure, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and sinus infection.

If you are experiencing any of the above, you may want to consider replacing your mattress with a certified organic mattress from Essentia. These eco-friendly mattresses are made with non-toxic, vegan, organic materials, so they’re sure to leave your lungs in peace while you catch your Zs. 

Back/joint pain

Mattresses stretch out and lose their shape over time, decreasing the amount of support under the back. If your mattress wears out and you don’t replace it, you can develop back pain. But how can you tell if your bed is to blame? 

If you frequently wake up with back pain that resolves quickly, it’s time to replace your mattress. The mattress you sleep on should support the contour of your spine. A mattress that is too soft or firm can affect the spine’s alignment. 

A marshmallow mattress may cause uneven positioning. If your mattress caves in the middle, your body will not align properly, and you may wake up aching and sore. On the other hand, a concrete block of a mattress may put excessive pressure on your joints, causing pain and stiffness.

Lack of sleep

Do you toss and turn all night? That could be another indication your mattress isn’t right for you. An uncomfortable mattress will keep you changing positions from dusk until dawn, costing you REM sleep and zombifying you for the next day.

A bad mattress can also cause your body to tense up. When your body relaxes, you sleep better. When the body is tense, it anticipates a threat. Your muscles seize up, making it difficult to sleep.

Numerous health problems can arise from lack of sleep, such as heart disease, obesity, poor concentration, diabetes, eating disorders, lower immunity, and other ailments. Replacing your mattress will help alleviate poor sleep hygiene.

Skin irritations and night sweats

If you wake up in the morning with itchy bumps or dehydrated skin, your mattress could be at fault. Studies show that sleep deprivation can cause an increase in cortisol levels. As a result, you can develop skin conditions.

How does this pertain to your mattress? If your mattress is keeping you awake at night, it’s responsible for how your body copes with that sleep loss. As far as night sweats go, your body releases extra water at night. Sweating moistens your mattress and eventually leads to mildew, which can further irritate the skin and lungs.

Skin reactions, such as eczema, rashes, and wrinkles, can develop from the old sweat and mildew in your mattress. And if you find little bites on your skin upon waking, you could even have bed bugs. That alone should have you rushing to the nearest bedding supply store. 

Depression, mood swings, and lack of concentration

There can be many causes for depression, but did you know your mattress may contribute? A worn-out sagging mattress can cause many restless nights. People who do not sleep well are prone to depression and low self-esteem. 

Little to no sleep may also lead to mood swings, memory loss, exhaustion, and lack of motivation. You lose mental clarity when you are sleepy. After all, it’s hard to concentrate when you’re busy fighting to keep your head out of your lunch. 

Anxiety is another common side effect of sleep deprivation and often leads to changes in blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, and stress tolerance threshold. It may seem hard to believe, but a bad mattress could be the culprit behind all of these symptoms simultaneously. 

Wrap up

Sleeping on an old mattress can be detrimental to your health. Respiratory difficulties, back and joint pain, lack of sleep, and psychological problems are among the most common health issues that result from a spent mattress. Consider replacing your mattress if you’re having sleep troubles. Sleep tight, and don’t let the bedbugs bite. 

TAGGED:back painchoosing right mattressfoam mattresshealth risks
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By James Wilson
James is a freelance writer and blogger. He loves to write on wellness, tech and E-Health.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Health Tips For Women
Top 5 Health Tips For Women Over 45
Women Health
July 7, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

HIV
NewsSpecialties

Aggressive New HIV Strain In West Africa Develops Into AIDS More Rapidly

December 3, 2013
questions patients ask dentists
Dental healthSpecialties

Questions That Dentists Should Expect From Patients

May 30, 2024
rare diseases
eHealthSpecialtiesTechnology

Hacking the Diagnosis of Rare Diseases

December 19, 2013
GeriatricsHome HealthWellness

Living Alone When You’ve Been Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s

November 26, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?