While the adverse effects of losing out on quality sleep for a day or two are not of major concern, the results experienced in the long run are truly of concern. Long-term sleep deprivation or lack of quality sleep can take a severe toll on your health and create a wide range of serious health problems.
Naturally, you should be well-acquainted with the various side effects of using a bad mattress and use this write-up as a mattress buying guide to get a brand new one. In this write-up, we will enlist 10 concerning and potentially serious health side effects of sleeping on a bad mattress. So let's begin.
Fatigue and drowsiness
This is probably the most obvious side effect of being sleep-deprived. Having even one bad night of sleep will leave you feeling drowsy, tired, and sipping endless cups of coffee. If your mattress is giving you a hard time falling asleep, it could totally mess up your entire day.
It should be noted that it's okay to feel drowsy in the late afternoon or evening but feeling extremely sleepy is not fine and a sign that you aren't catching up on quality sleep.
This is a clear indication that you need a new mattress ASAP!
Back pain
Back pain is one of the most common issues when one sleeps on a bad mattress. Many people wake up to a sharp pain in the back and the mattress is usually responsible for it. The back pain can be attributed to a lack of firm support or the fact that a bad mattress forces you to sleep in an uncomfortable posture, leading to stress in your back while you sleep. Not to mention, all the stretching and twisting in your bed to attain a comfortable posture can also lead to injury.
As such, a mattress for sleep with the perfect blend of soft and firm can be amazing for your back and keep back pain at bay. This write-up also highlights the importance of a mattress for sleeping well through these pointers.
Compromises your immune system
It is common knowledge that not getting enough sleep can result in a higher risk of getting sick too often. This can be attributed to the fact that a lack of sleep can have a negative impact on your immune system and make you sick.
When you sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines. Cytokines naturally elevate during an illness and help fight infections. Without adequate sleep, your body doesn't produce enough cytokines, and your ability to fight an infection takes a nosedive. Consequently, your immune system is not as strong when you're sleep-deprived.
Unhealthy weight gain
When you don't get enough sleep, you feel drained out, low on energy, and tired all the time, and, as a result, you tend to eat compulsively. Having hunger pangs during the day despite not doing enough activity or waking up in the middle of the night to have a snack are indications of sleep deprivation or lack of quality sleep.
When this goes on for a long period of time, the risk of developing obesity increases. So if you're looking to maintain good health and not gain all those unhealthy weight, a new mattress is the way to go.
Respiratory problems
Old mattresses are prone to having populations of dust mites and bed bugs within them. These tiny creatures can lead to a wide range of respiratory issues such as asthma and other respiratory problems. Not to mention, they can also have an adverse effect on your skin and lead to conditions such as rashes, redness, boils, and eczema.
Cognitive issues
Have you ever had a seriously unproductive day at work because of not being able to sleep properly last night? While having trouble recalling or registering information is common after missing out on sleep for a night or two, the long-term effects are of serious concern.
Prolonged loss of sound sleep causes a gradual decline in cognitive abilities, and are more likely to develop dementia in later stages of life.
Increased signs of aging
Poor quality of sleep increases the magnitude of free radicals in the brain, leading to more stress and prominent signs of aging. In addition, lack of sleep is also associated with a negative impact on the skin. All of this adds up to early signs of aging. Dark circles, stretchy skin, baggy eyes, and the like are common visible signs of aging that you can avoid by getting a good mattress for sleep.
Weakened musculoskeletal system
Resting your joints on a poor-quality mattress can lead to pain, numbness, and soreness of joints. A firm that is too firm can affect your joints, spinal cord, and tailbone, causing pain and a range of problems. This can be attributed to the lack of support or cushioning that such mattresses don't bring.
Consider getting a softer mattress that makes your joints feel relaxed.
Risk of developing cardiovascular issues
Many studies have established that good sleep is directly associated with heart health. The risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and blood pressure fluctuations increases with inadequate sleep due to uneven blood circulation and fatigue.
The onset of lower energy levels, unhealthy food habits, and higher stress levels due to lack of sleep can affect your cardiovascular health badly. A good mattress more or less solves all the problems.
Lower sex drive
Bad sleep habits can affect your bedroom in more ways than you can imagine. Low quality of sleep is associated with lower libido and poor sexual performance, particularly for men. Problems such as erectile dysfunction, poor testosterone levels, lower sperm count, and stamina are common problems affecting men (and women, for that matter).
As such, getting a new mattress can bring back the spice to your bedroom.
Conclusion
This technically serves as a mattress buying guide. Which health problem(s) due to lack of sleep surprised you? It is quite evident that missing out on proper sleep can damage you in different ways.
The good news?
Keeping these issues at bay isn't really a challenge. UrbanBed offers a wide range of high-quality and comfortable mattresses that are ideal for your need for good health and sound sleep.
Reach out to our experts to discuss your requirement for a mattress for sleep that suits your lifestyle and you can rest assured that we will have the perfect product for you!