According to research conducted at Oklahoma State University, people sleep better, suffer less back pain and experience fewer symptoms of stress when sleeping on new beds. In the study, healthy subjects recorded back discomfort and sleep quality upon waking in their own beds for 28 consecutive days and then upon waking on a new mattress set for 28 consecutive days. Researchers found that the comfort and support of the sleep surface is related to problems of sleep quality and efficiency. Specifically, they found that replacing old mattresses with new, medium-firm mattresses reduced clinically diagnosed back pain, shoulder pain and spine stiffness and positively affected sleep quality.

It's something you spend a third of your life on. But for many of us, it's hard to know when to get a new mattress. And much like an old chair or favorite pair of shoes, you might think your old mattress is still providing comfort long after it's lost the ability to offer proper support.

Here are some signs that you may need a new mattress, according to the Better Sleep Council.

1. You wake up with stiffness, numbness, or aches and pains.
2. You had a better night's sleep somewhere other than your own bed (such as a hotel).
3. Your mattress shows visible signs of overuse (it sags, has lumps, the interior is exposed, etc.)
4. Your mattress is over 5 years old*

*Keep in mind that people's bodies change over time, and the need for good comfort and support only increases with age. That's why it's a good idea to compare the mattress and foundation you are sleeping on now to newer models every 5-7 years.

Ask the store where you purchased your new mattress to pick it up when they deliver a new set. Many retailers today offer this service as a part of the purchase price or for a nominal fee.

Call your local municipality, sanitation department or garbage collector. They usually have provisions for picking up larger items, but you may need to make arrangements in advance.

Sources:
Oklahoma State University, Bert Jacobson - Lead Researcher. Published in the 2009 Journal of Chiropractic Medicine.

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