5 Health Problems You'll Get With Your Mattress

Written by Posted On Wednesday, 19 April 2017 04:52

Your bed is your haven whenever you feel sick. The place you go to for rest and recuperation. So who would have thought that it could be the reason for your health issues? Below are four health problems that you may end up with while you were sleeping.

 

#1: Allergies (i.e. rhinitis, asthma, itchy/watery eyes, eczema, wheezing)

 

Beds are a dustmite's idea of heaven. Dust mites love to feed on dead skin cells. An average individual sheds 1.6 pounds of skin cells a year, most of which end up in our beds. Here's another icky but true fact: a used mattress can house a colony of up to 10 million dust mites! And their poop can cause allergic reactions such as coughing, wheezing (or breathing problems), a runny nose, and watery eyes. Dust mite droppings can also exacerbate asthma.

Your mattress can also be growing mold spores, especially if it's old and placed in a damp room that lacks sufficient ventilation. Most individuals are not affected by common mold spores. But an infestation can still cause allergic reactions in some individuals which can include coughing, eczema, and itchy eyes.

One way to avoid an infestation of mold spores and dust mites in your mattress is to make sure that your room is well-ventilated and the bed is vacuumed as well as air-dried. You can also opt to replace it.

 

#2: Back, Shoulder, and Neck Pain

 

New or old, a mattress that fails to provide adequate support to your body, particularly to your pressure points, can cause strain in your body resulting in back and/or neck pain. Nightly strains can turn into sleepless nights tossing and turning to find a comfortable position. Aside from extreme discomfort, you'll also end up fighting exhaustion. The best solution? Get a mattress that will give your body the support it needs.

 

#3: Infections and Pneumonia

 

Your mattress can also be a hotbed of bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. And exposure to bacteria can cause wound infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia. Even viruses can find its way to your bed which can give you a cold, the flu, nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Hygiene Doctor and Dettol Expert, Dr. Lisa Ackerly, recommends that you use a mattress protector to prevent the bacteria from getting into the mattress. Giving the mattress protector a regular wash in hot water will kill any bacteria and viruses in it.

 

#4: Obesity

 

How could your bed be making you fat? A bad mattress means that you don't get quality sleep. And what happens if you lack quality sleep? A study discovered that insufficient sleep triggers two responses in your brain - the desire to eat more as well as the desire for unhealthy foods. These two will eventually cause you to become overweight. And if you have weight problems, you may also find yourself facing sleep problems such as snoring. And the cycle goes on.

If you want to avoid this problem, you need to look for a mattress that meets your comfort and support needs. Once you find that perfect match, your sleep will get better, preventing you from gorging on unhealthy foods that will only lead to weight gain and more problems.

 

#5: Organ toxicity and increased cancer risk

 

Say what? As if the dust mites, mold spores, and bacteria weren't bad enough, you'll also need to be on the lookout for hazardous chemicals in your bed. Old mattresses, specifically those made before 2004, may contain Pentabde, a flame retardant that research has linked to problems with the liver, thyroid, and nervous system. Other flame retardants that may still be in use today include decabromodiphenyl oxide, antimony, and boric acid. The first two chemicals are believed to be carcinogens while boric acid has been found to increase the risk for reproductive problems. What exactly happens? A study states that these chemicals are slowly leaking out from your mattress and you're breathing them in night after night.

So, what can you do? If you can, invest in an organic wool or cotton mattress. If you can’t, you can invest in a non-toxic mattress topper to stop the chemicals from escaping into the air, keeping you from breathing them in while you sleep.

Did you know that your mattress can make you sick? Instead of being a haven to help you heal, your bed can be the reason for your health issues. Find out what your bed is doing to your health while you are sleeping.

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Agent Resource

Limited time offer - 50% off - click here

Realty Times

From buying and selling advice for consumers to money-making tips for Agents, our content, updated daily, has made Realty Times® a must-read, and see, for anyone involved in Real Estate.