Sleep expert Eduard Estivill has issued a stark warning about the cleanliness and potential health risks of old mattresses, urging people to replace them regularly to improve their overall well-being. The 76-year-old, one of Spain’s top sleep medicine specialists, emphasized in a TikTok post that mattresses should be changed every five years, as what’s hidden inside may be far from as clean as it seems.
Estivill’s advice comes from decades of experience in sleep disorders and his reputation as an author of influential books such as Go to Sleep, Child, and The Tokei Method. “The mattress should be changed every 5 years,” Estivill said. “If we could see what’s inside, we’d run away.”
He added, “We don’t give it importance when it’s the place where we spend most of our lives.” His comments aim to raise awareness about the often-overlooked role that a clean mattress plays in ensuring proper sleep and overall health. Estivill, a Barcelona native, explained that a good-quality mattress is not a luxury, but rather a necessity for essential health benefits.
As reported by lavanguardia, “We shouldn’t mind spending money on it,” he stated. “You have to change it at least every five years.” According to Estivill, the cost of investing in a quality mattress is justified by the health advantages it offers, including improved sleep quality and reduced risk of neck and back pain. He broke down the cost, suggesting that even a mattress priced at 3,000 euros (around $3,200) works out to only about one euro a day—a small price to pay for better sleep.
Supporting Estivill’s claim, recent studies on mattress quality highlight its importance, particularly for individuals suffering from back pain. Experts recommend a medium-firm mattress for those dealing with non-specific low back pain, as it offers significant advantages in spinal alignment and sleep quality.
Research also underscores the role of mattresses in regulating temperature. The use of high-thermal-capacity mattresses (HHCM) can help maintain an optimal skin temperature, reducing core body temperature fluctuations and promoting deeper, more restorative sleep. The study suggests that this temperature regulation leads to improved sleep continuity, helping people achieve longer periods of slow-wave sleep, the most restorative phase of rest.
In light of these findings, Estivill’s message is clear: investing in a high-quality mattress is crucial for health, and the benefits far outweigh the cost. By replacing mattresses regularly, individuals can improve their sleep quality, avoid health issues, and enjoy better rest for years to come.