Is Sleeping on A Mattress on The Floor Bad For You?

While Western civilization has made sleeping in a bed normal, this doesn’t mean that a big part of the world’s population sleeps this way. In fact, there’s actually a large number of people who utilize other methods for their nightly rest.

Because we have improved our quality of life, we now have comfortable mattresses to sleep on.

Amazingly, however, sleeping on the wrong mattress material can actually have a negative impact on your body. An alternative to sleeping on a bed that could hurt your health is putting the mattress on the floor and sleeping this way. In fact, there are many Asian countries where this is a cultural norm.

Let’s take a look at sleeping on a mattress on the floor and discuss the pros and cons.

Advantages

One of the most significant advantages to putting your mattress on the floor to sleep on is an improvement in blood circulation. This is also a benefit that’s seen in people who choose to sleep without a pillow.

Another advantage of sleeping on your mattress on the floor is a lowered risk of developing scoliosis, a health condition with the most significant symptom being an unnatural curve in the spine. In fact, there are a lot of people with issues like this who started sleeping on the floor and noticed a definite difference straight away.

Another advantage of sleeping on the floor is the alignment of your spine. When you lie on the right material in the right position, your body is correctly aligned while you’re asleep which means you won’t suffer from neck and spine issues. Another reason why alignment is essential is that your blood flow won’t be inhibited, allowing for proper circulation.

Being close to the floor when you sleep also means that you’re lower down, which is where the colder air is located. When you are asleep, your body temperature rises, and if it gets too hot, then you’re going to have trouble sleeping – especially if you’re sleeping in a room that’s hot too. Being closer to the cool air will help prevent you from sweating throughout the night, as well as improve your blood circulation.

Sleeping on the floor will also encourage a sense of change in you. It will create the satisfaction of having changed an aspect of your lifestyle, which may motivate you to begin making changes in other parts of your life as well.

Disadvantages

One of the most significant disadvantages to sleeping on the floor is the fact that this is where dust gathers. If you’re going to commit to sleeping on the floor, you also have to be prepared to clean the room regularly, especially the floor if you want to avoid allergic reactions and even respiratory issues. Inhaling things like dirt and dust can have a long-term effect on your general health. To prevent this, try raising your mattress just above floor level, although it’s still a good idea to clean the surface of the floor as much as possible.

When you don’t have a room that has good air flow, and you place your mattress on the floor, you will end up overheating and not being able to sleep very well. This is because there is no space between the mattress and the floor which means any heat you omit during your sleep will become trapped in the mattress. This could even cause the mattress to grow a layer of mold inside, which of course can lead to issues with your respiratory system, as well as allergic reactions too.

Another issue that can result from placing your mattress on the floor is beg bugs. Bed bugs can become a real problem when they are able to multiply and spread within the mattress. This is another reason to raise your mattress off the floor slightly – just make sure that none of your bedding is hanging off the sides. If you’re not going to use your mattress for a while, it’s also recommended that you invest in a mattress encasement. This will protect it from things like bed bugs while you’re not using it.

If you are sleeping on a mattress on the floor in the middle of winter, this can also have adverse effects on your health. Sleeping on a surface that’s too cold night after night can inhibit your blood circulation and even lead to issues like hypothermia. It’s vital if you’re sleeping on the floor to make sure you’re warm enough and use enough bedding to prevent getting too cold.

If you’re someone who spends most of the night sleeping on your side, then you’re going to find sleeping on the floor uncomfortable. The increased level of pressure from the mattress now being on the floor can cause your shoulders and hips to become uncomfortable and suffer as a result. If you’re thinking of sleeping on the floor, the best positions are on your stomach or your back.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, if you’re thinking about putting your mattress on the floor to sleep on, the reality is that it’s just going to take a bit of time to get used to. You may very well find it uncomfortable initially.

However, because so many people around the world choose to sleep like this, there are definitely benefits both to your health and the quality of your sleep. This means that it could end up being a permanent, positive change.

Remember, there’s no harm in trying out a new way of sleeping like this – you can also revert back to the old way if it’s not working out.