Endless nights of tossing and turning, or perhaps excessive snoring and getting up in the morning like you had no rest at all, can signal a sleep disorder. There could be many reasons for poor sleep quality like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia.

Hereditary or physical factors can play a role in sleep disorders, as can environmental issues. Poor sleep quality must be investigated at the onset because your overall physical, mental and emotional health will be negatively impacted.

Sleep Changes Over Time

The mechanics of sleeping is not obvious at times. Your body changes over time and so do your sleep needs. I remember using my favourite pillow for years very comfortably until that changed. Then, I suddenly felt that the extra firm mattress type I had loved over the years was not so comfortable anymore. As we age, our body shape changes. Additionally, some of us might be suffering from sports or other injuries, develop arthritis in our hips, knees, shoulders, or neck making it sometimes difficult to sleep.

When I realized that despite my efforts to manage the pain from my changing body, I was still not getting the proper sleep and that only made my symptoms worse. I made a checklist of everything I was doing, and it finally dawned on me that I always felt worse in the morning. My neck would be very stiff, my shoulders sore and tender, and my hips burning with pain and inflammation. I often wondered if I ran marathons in my sleep.

Finding the Culprit

Further investigations proved that my extra firm mattress, although only a few years old was not helping my symptoms. Furthermore, my pillow was no longer giving me the support my neck, head and shoulders now needed with all those sore areas from years of playing tennis!

In some cases, you should always look for sagging areas on your mattress as these will certainly cause more aches and pains. When our body is not properly supported while we sleep, even if you are the best physical shape, your body will let you know.

Symptoms of not sleeping on a properly supportive mattress will include body pains that will cause insomnia as we toss and turn to find the best spot, as well as snoring and sleep apnea if our neck and upper body is not comfortably cradled. Sleep apnea, however, may require further intervention when not resolved with a new mattress and pillow.

Poor quality sleep will add to our stress levels and the cycle begins, so before you throw out your exercise routine or other healthy habits you think are not working on your sleep issues, consider updating your mattress and pillow to something your body needs! It has been a game-changer for me as I educated myself on what my body needs to get the best sleep, and found the mattress and pillow that have alleviated many of my sleep issues. Get some mattress shopping therapy!

Gerry, Your Sleep Expert