It's annoying when people tell you "don't do this, don't do that," but oftentimes they have a point.
The most important thing in life is good health.
There are so many things to consider to keep your mind and body healthy, so sometimes the culprit of your sickness may be something you've never considered before.
Something like your mattress...
Be honest, how often do you clean your mattress? Probably not often at all.
You can load a bunch of fitted sheets in your washing machine, but not your mattress, which means it's not getting the deep clean it deserves.
On average, we get seven to eight hours of sleep every day, which means we spend a good chunk of our lives sleeping.
And if you've been sleeping on the same mattress for many years now, you may be at risk of developing a lot of health problems.
The Lurking Dangers
Over time, our mattresses become a haven for dead skin cells, sweat, natural body oils, and dust.
Doesn't sound that bad, right. I mean if your mattress doesn't smell, you should be good?
Well, not exactly.
These seemingly clean, but actually dirty, environments attract dust mites, which can cause allergies or make your existing allergy or asthma even worse.
Also, the more moisture is in your mattress, the more likely it is that mold will form.
This is why some people say to never make your bed right after you wake up. You should wait at least an hour, letting the warm area cool down, before it attracts dust mites and other pesky bugs, like bed bugs.
Once mold starts to grow in or on your mattress, you're at risk of developing breathing and other health problems.
If you already have a compromised immune system, your symptoms could possibly be fatal.
An old mattress can also make you experience back pain, neck pain, and increase your stress levels, according to an article by Reader's Digest.
"Neck and low back pain is a common complaint due to the lack of support from an old mattress," Todd Goldman, an experienced chiropractor, said.
The older your mattress is, the less it will be able to support your spine and muscles in general.
And when you're in pain or experience discomfort, you're more likely to feel stressed. As we all know, more stress means less sleep.
But, arguably, that's not the worst of it...
Sleep deprivation can lead to memory loss, putting you at risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.
How Old Is Your Mattress?
Now that you know the health risks, ask yourself, "How old is my mattress?"
If your mattress is more than eight years old, it might be time to get a new one.
Mattresses are pricey, but your health is priceless.
Share this article to inform your friends!
[H/T: Reader's Digest]
