There’s nothing better than relaxing in bed after a long, tiresome day.
How do you feel when you wake up? If the answer is anything but refreshed, it’s time to reconsider your sleeping habits. Because our beds have such a large effect on our sleep, this is the first place to start. A dirty mattress may do more than just keep you tossing and turning during the night, which can be bad news for your health—and your ability to get a good night’s sleep, all of which can have an impact on your health.
Continue reading to learn how your mattress might be damaging your health and what you can do about it.
Since you spend nearly a third of your life in bed, your mattress progressively becomes infested with bed bugs and dust mites. These tiny critters feed on body oils and dead skin cells released by your body.
According to Ohio State University scientists, a normal worn mattress can harbor up to 10 million of the tiny bugs. And, because dust mites defecate, their excrement is also in your bed.
The process sounds gross, and it is. Fortunately, the tiny buggers are invisible—and most of us appear to get along just well with them. However, if you have allergies, sleeping on an dirty mattress might be problematic. Allergies to dust mites can result in sneezing, runny noses, itching, watery eyes, coughing, and sinus discomfort.
It gets worse if you have asthma, which dust mites can aggravate. Then you may experience difficulties breathing, chest tightness, or even problems sleeping as a result of shortness of breath.
Signs and Effects of a Dirty Mattress:
1. Dust Mites
Dust mites flourish on old and dirty beds, along with dead skin, sweat, grime, and dust. The frequent exposure might have an impact on your sleep quality. Continued exposure to these annoying mites may cause lung and throat difficulties.
Dust mite allergy symptoms induced by nasal passage irritation include:
• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Eyes that are itchy, red, or watery
• Congestion in the nose
• Itchy nose, mouth roof, or throat
• Postnasal dripping
• Cough
• Pain and facial pressure
• Under-eye swollen, blue-colored skin
• Frequent upward rubbing of the nose in a kid
If your dust mite allergy contributes to your asthma, you may also suffer the following symptoms:
• Having trouble breathing
• Tightness or discomfort in the chest
• When exhaling, there is an audible whistling or wheezing sound.
• Sleeping difficulties caused by shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing
• Coughing or wheezing fits exacerbated by a respiratory illness such as a cold or the flu
Dust mite allergies can be minor to severe. A mild case of dust mite allergies may produce a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing on occasion. In extreme situations, the problem may be chronic, causing continuous sneezing, coughing, congestion, face pressure, an eczema flare-up, or a severe asthma attack.
2. Mold and Fungus
Because we sleep on our mattresses every night, it’s natural for them to accumulate germs and harmful organisms. We sweat into our sheets while sleeping, producing a humid atmosphere. Mold spores flourish in this environment, going unnoticed deep beneath the mattresses.
Mold allergies can cause coughing, itchy eyes, and other unpleasant symptoms. Mold allergies are connected to asthma in some people, and exposure causes restricted breathing and other airway problems. You may solve this issue by utilizing an air purifier.
3. Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a serious problem. Cimex lectularius is the less appealing scientific name for them. Your mattress provides a great habitat for dust mites and bed bugs as it matures. Although these tiny insects normally just cause unpleasant bites, getting rid of them without tossing out your mattress is nearly hard.
Bed bugs may be identified by reddish patches on your bed linens, minute red bites on your skin, and, of course, the perpetrators themselves, who like to congregate around the mattress seams. To avoid bed bugs, it’s important to get a new mattress and wash your linens on a regular basis.
4. Sleep Deprivation
Do you long for the nights when you slept like a baby? And now you’re having trouble sleeping, tossing and turning. This might be an indication of a faulty mattress. Although it may not be causing you discomfort, poor sleep quality can lead to a variety of health issues and leave us feeling unpleasant throughout the day. If your mattress isn’t making you feel energized, it should be replaced. Simple.
Sleep deprivation happens when you can’t find a comfortable posture owing to the discomfort of an old or dirty mattress. Sleep deprivation can also contribute to obesity, which opens the door to a whole new set of health problems [7]. A weaker immune system is another long-term impact of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can cause tiredness in the morning, impaired mental performance, weariness, and other symptoms.
5. You’re Experiencing Aches and Pains
Can a mattress cause back pain? Sure thing! If you wake up every morning with chronic neck and back ache, it’s possible that your mattress is exhibiting symptoms of wear. Your mattress may progressively lose the structure, firmness, and supporting features that provide you the restful night’s sleep you need after many years of regular usage.
Summary:
Quality sleep has extraordinary restorative effects. During sleep, your body works hard to heal tissue damage, eliminate toxins, and create new brain pathways. Restorative sleep fosters good emotional control and allows your brain to process information more efficiently.
Lack of sleep caused by a dirty mattress not only makes you tired and cranky the next day, but it may also be a factor in a number of health issues.
Studies have connected poor sleep to memory and concentration problems, weakened immune system functioning, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. A mattress that fails to provide adequate support or pressure relief may also contribute to aches and pains the next day. This may be especially important for individuals who live with chronic pain.
We have also published an article on whether your Sofas & Mattress are really clean in our previous articles.
