By: Rachel Tice, LMT, 200-RYT

We spend around 30% of our lives in bed, meaning our mattress can have a big impact on our lives, including our health. But how can you be mindful of keeping your mattress in tip top shape to help keep you and your family healthy too? Here we will explore several ways you can be conscious of mattress health.  As we all know many things have an expiration date and some expiration dates will surprise you! But did you know that the mattress to your bed has a life span of 10 years! Yes, that is correct, 10 years! Some mattresses don’t last that long due to wear in the same place due to sleeping habits. It is suggested to rotate or flip and rotate your mattress (if it is not a pillow top) once a month. That’s a 180-degree rotation either clockwise, or counterclockwise if you cannot flip and rotate it. This allows for your mattress to have a more even wear by distributing the filling more evenly, allowing it to last the full intended 10 years or maybe even more. It also is a great way to help with spinal health it helps with better sleep and overall health.  

Not only is mattress rotation important for your physical health but the material your mattress is important as well! As previously mentioned, we spend a lot of time in bed and certain materials that it is made of could be potentially harmful or disturb our bodies’ temperature regulation. Modern mattress materials are made from things like synthetic latex, polyurethane foam, cotton, glute, and chemicals like flame retardants. Click here to read more on of the current materials used and why they are harmful. These modern materials used can also be known carcinogens (cancer causing) or even volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOCs are low water-soluble chemicals that can affect air quality and health due to their ability to easily evaporate, but not all VOCs are harmful. Click here for a list of harmful VOCs written by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).   

In addition to regular maintenance, and material awareness one must also consider the level of density of your mattress, which also plays a role in your postural and sleep health. In the EFFECT OF MATTRESSES AND PILLOW DESIGNS ON PROMOTING SLEEP QUALITY, SPINAL ALIGNMENT AND PAIN REDUCTION IN ADULTS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS OF CONTROLLED TRIALS (Fess, James, Myers, Murphy, Rooney, Taylor, Torii, 2015) demonstrates that a medium-firm mattress is optimal for best quality for reduced pain and sleep quality all while custom inflated mattresses are best for spinal health. There are many mattresses out there all varying in price, size, shape, density, and what it is made of. With a little knowledge and some active product research, this blog actively demonstrates how being mindful of mattress health can benefit you and your family.