A mattress is a big investment. As humans, we require six to eight hours of sleep in order to function optimally. Your mattress will greatly impact the quality of sleep you get. And since we spend about one-third of our lives sleeping, the mattress we’re sleeping on is an important thing to consider. With the prices of some mattresses, it is very tempting to go for the cheapest one that has the features you’re looking for. But this is definitely the wrong approach, because a bad cheap mattress can have lasting and devastating effects.

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Choosing a Mattress

Choosing a mattress can be a little tricky with so many options on the market. And after you’ve shopped around they all sort of seem to gel together and things get confusing. If this sounds familiar to you, try taking a Mattress Quiz to help you narrow down your choices and focus on your body’s needs. Side sleepers have different needs than stomach sleepers. Heavier people require different support than others. If you sleep hot, you may want to invest in a mattress with cooling technology, as sweat and body oils can negatively impact a mattress.

Sleep Quality Matters

It’s important to understand that the amount of sleep you get is just as important as the quality of the sleep. A restless sleep for 10 hours is not going to leave anyone feeling refreshed and well rested, but a seven hour sleep that was peaceful and restorative. Unfortunately, a cheap mattress is more likely to be less supportive and result in you feeling groggy and sleepy throughout your day. If you’re lucky a cheap mattress will start off well, but they typically degrade quickly, causing you to be back in the hunt for a good quality mattress that supports a restorative and peaceful sleep.

Reduced Life Span

Most mattresses have a life span of seven to ten years. But cheap and poorly constructed mattresses tend not to age well. There’s no guarantee of quality and there may be other issues, including bed bugs, mites and faulty springs. It doesn’t feel good to spend hard earned money on something that should last for years and it only lasts for a significantly shorter time period. Poor quality materials will also amount to more tears and the overall degradation of the mattress.

Poor Health Outcomes

A bad mattress can also lead to poor health outcomes. Supporting proper spinal alignment can amount to easier and greater mobility. The whole purpose of sleep is to allow the body to repair itself, build the immune system and consolidate and arrange thoughts, memory and information. Poor sleep interrupts the natural rhythms of the body and will manifest outwardly in time. You might even be surprised to learn that a poor quality cheap mattress can also lead to weight gain and increased allergies.

Purchasing a cheap and poorly made mattress can have disastrous consequences on such a necessary part of life. Not only will it leave you tired and unrested, it will also be a waste of money. Most people use a mattress for about 10 years, but a cheap mattress tends to need replacing far more often, which will ultimately lead to spending more than necessary on this staple furnishing.