Are you starting to get that “sinking feeling” that something is wrong with your existing mattress? Well, mate, nothing lasts forever.
The right type of mattress has a reliable firmness level and quality that must help with sleep issues. So, yes, in more ways than one, a sagging mattress is an unhealthy choice. And we’re here to tell you why.
Identifying a Sagging Mattress
Due to wear and tear, beds – whether memory foam or spring mattresses – lose some support eventually. Under normal conditions, it’s replaced every 6 to 8 years.
- Latex mattress: 15 to 25 years
- Memory foam mattress: 8-10 years
- Hybrid mattress: 7 to 10 years
- Innerspring mattress: 5 to 7 years
You usually notice dents forming in the center of your bed, signaling a saggy mattress that a mattress protector cannot cure. The sagging area is typically in the middle instead of the bed’s sides. It is a result of the sleeper’s normal positioning and body impression. It is almost impossible to avoid indentation and sagging once an old mattress starts to give in – unless you plan to sleep on the side of the bed every night.
But what if your mattress is experiencing premature sagging and it only has been with you for less than 5 years? If you have all the indicators that you purchased a poor quality mattress, you should look for better mattress manufacturers than take advantage of those mattress warranties.
Back Pain
You’re probably starting to wake up feeling stiff and sore in all the worst places. Maybe some lower back pain? While there can be more than one reason for backaches, a sagging mattress may cause or aggravate health conditions.
Sleeping on your back may prove difficult with soft, sagging mattresses as the body will sink and put the spine in an unnatural and curved position.
A good mattress for back pain is a firm mattress with good comfort layers that should be able to provide proper support. Ideally, it allows correct spinal alignment and pressure relief for your body’s pressure points while accommodating your sleeping position.
But even good-quality mattresses lose some of their support technology over time. Because of the uneven distribution of support and pressure, a sagging mattress puts your body in an awkward position (literally) when you go to bed.
Neck Pain
When your back gets compromised, your neck may soon follow. And if you sleep on your side and get a sore neck, it can be because of your neck and shoulder position overnight.
You see, it’s all connected. Since neck pain is connected to the shoulders, you’ll surely need a reliable mattress to partner up with.
Side-sleepers need thicker pillows too. Any of these should serve as extra support for the neck.
All sleeping positions have their fair share of affected pressure points. But side sleepers have the most pressure points, as this position tends to concentrate weight and pressure in one area – leading to sleep discomfort.
Dirt Accumulation and Bug Infestation
A saggy mattress is a sign of an old mattress. And let’s face it, over the years, there has been an unavoidable build-up of dust, sweat, oils, and dirt that leaves your bed unhygienic no matter how often you change the sheets. The accumulation of all these things can become the breeding ground for unwanted mites and bed bugs that can cause bites and itches on your skin.
These are not the types of bed buddies you want to share your mattress with – and this is not even considering the build-up of fungi growing in old mattresses from accumulated moisture over time. Good luck trying to get all of that out of your mattress!
We guess there are just some things that even flipping your mattress can’t do. Once your bed starts sagging, it may be a sign that this is the right time to switch it out for a new one – a clean and bug-free mattress.
Bad Sleep Quality
A sagging mattress leads to a detrimental chain of events for your health and sleep quality. Because of the discomfort from not just one area of the mattress you feel at night due to a sinking mattress, you are more prone to waking in the middle of the night, disrupting your sleep, and leaving you exhausted in the morning.
A good night’s sleep is a vital part of normal bodily functions, and getting low-quality sleep as a result of several factors, including a sagging mattress and the body pain resulting from it, not only affects your sleep experience but also makes you more tired when you wake up the next day. So don’t endure sleeping on your sagging mattress. Find the right mattress for you, and you’ll wake up feeling good as new.
What to Lookout for
When you start to realise that your bed has a sagging problem, it’s most recommended that you switch it out for a new bed. Old mattresses can only last so long before they wear out too much.
But if buying a new mattress set is too pricey at the moment (or you’re just really attached to your old mattress for some reason), there are a couple of things you might want to check or try before shopping for a new one.
Check Your Bed Slats and Box Springs
If your bed frame has bed slats for support, check for any loose or broken slats. This can cause uneven weight distribution throughout the mattress when you sleep, putting more pressure on certain parts of the bed, which can cause it to sink. It doesn’t cost much to fix, so repair them if needed. If the sagging problem isn’t too bad just yet, you might be able to save your bed.
Also, ensure that the distance between bed slats isn’t too far apart, no more than 63.5 mm. Wide gaps between planks can cause sinking and uneven stress on the mattress and your body through the night (and they don’t make for the most silent bed bases either).
If your bed uses a box spring, it isn’t as easy as replacing a slat of wood. Usually, when it comes to broken or worn-out box springs, it is a sign that you need to toss the whole thing. It may cost more, but not as much as switching it all out for a new mattress set.