If you constantly wake up with a stiff, sore back, you may wonder if your mattress is the culprit. If your mattress is old, isn't a good match for your body, or is otherwise not ideal for supporting your favorite sleep position, it could be contributing to back pain.
If you feel you're sinking into your mattress and your spine is not able to maintain a neutral position, it might be the reason behind your back issues. A mattress that is too soft for you can start hurting your spine sooner than you realize. A mattress that is too hard causes joint pressure.
Typically, manufacturers recommend replacing your mattress every eight years. But according to Consumer Reports, a mattress that's well cared for could easily last a decade. (Unless you're over 40. By that age, your body tolerates less pressure, which means you might need a new mattress after five to seven years.)
According to the Sleep Council, older mattresses—typically 10 years or older—provide a breeding ground for a variety of bacteria, including staphylococcus, enterococcus, norovirus, and, in rare cases, MRSA. Mold can also be an issue if your room gets humid.
In our 20s and 30s, “normal” back pain often can be attributed to factors of daily life, such as sitting too long, picking up children, or overdoing it while exercising. In our 40s and older, work injuries and the beginnings of arthritis and degenerative conditions are more common.
“Red flags” include pain that lasts more than 6 weeks; pain in persons younger than 18 years or older than 50 years; pain that radiates below the knee; a history of major trauma; constitutional symptoms; atypical pain (eg, that which occurs at night or that is unrelenting); the presence of a severe or rapidly ...
According to Dr. Ilacqua, most people start noticing back pain between the ages of 40 and 60. However, there isn't necessarily cause for concern if it starts younger — some people begin to feel the effects of an aging spine as young as 30.
Consumer Reports magazine recommends replacement every 7 to 10 years. This may be a shock to many people who have purchased a mattress with a 20-year warranty.
A sagging mattress can lead to uneven spinal support, which may cause pressure to build up in your back and neck as you sleep. Seeing permanent body indentations in the mattress is a clear sign that it needs replacing.
Generally speaking, you should replace your mattress if one or more of the following apply: It's 6-8+ years old. It's negatively affecting your sleep. It's noticeably saggy or damaged in certain areas.
Top Signs You Need a New One. The typical life span of a mattress is seven to 10 years. During that time, your mattress is collecting things like dust mites and skin cells at night.
Mattresses can last around a decade with proper care, but most mattress companies recommend getting a new mattress every eight years. If you are in your 40's or older, changing your mattresses every five to seven years is advisable since your body tolerates less pressure during sleep.
Morning back pain can stem from a problem with sleeping posture, mattress, or pillows. However, a hurting back in the morning can also indicate a problem, such as degenerative disk disease or fibromyalgia. Waking up with back pain can slow down a person's start on the day.
The main cause of back pain in bed is poor posture, either from how a person sits at work or how they sleep at night. Between the vertebrae in the spine are intervertebral discs, which rehydrate at night (this is why we are taller in the morning, and part of the reason that the elderly lose height as they get older).
Sweat And Body Oil
Everyone sweats and releases natural body oils as they sleep. Sweat stains won't show up immediately, but, over time, your sweat and oils will accumulate and form unsightly stains. Accumulated sweat also forms the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, causing strange odors on top of the staining.
A mattress develops yellow spots gradually, and several reasons for it. And you cannot control or prevent it. Sweat, urine, vomit, sebum, and age can cause these yellow marks.
The sweat, urine, and oils on your mattress can all create excess moisture and this is all that mould and mildew need to grow. Similar to other yellow stains, mould can look like small yellow spots covering a specific area of the mattress.
With mattress structures sagging and dipping, your body and pressure points cannot be fully cradled with an old mattress. Regularly sleeping with such a lack of support has the potential to strain your neck and back. It can also disturb a good night's sleep.
Tossing, turning, and shifting all through the night may be indications that your body is looking for a comfortable sleeping position—with no success. If there are no cozy, supportive corners to be found, you're likely due for a change of mattress.
Check to see the mattress has Oeko-Tex certification, and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification. Oeko-Tex Standard 100 ensures that there are no harmful chemicals in your mattress, and GOTS is a certification for the outside covering, letting you know that the cotton cover is certified organic.
Acute low back pain is most often caused by a sudden injury to the muscles and ligaments supporting the back. The pain may be caused by muscle spasms or a strain or tear in the muscles and ligaments. Causes of sudden low back pain include: Compression fractures to the spine from osteoporosis.
A common cause of back pain among older adults is due to osteoarthritis in the facet joints, which are located along the back of your spine. The arthritis causes the breakdown of your cartilage, which allows your bones to rub together, causing pain and inflammation.
As your spine ages, you may start feeling some aches and pains. Degenerative changes in discs and joints, spinal and spondylolisthesis are the three most common reasons.