A report by Travelodge, conducted in association with the Sleep Council, has looked at the state of mattresses in 2,000 homes across the country.
It found a quarter of Britons reported that they wake up feeling achy and experience back pain most mornings.
Research has found not getting enough sleep can increase blood sugar levels - increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Sleep is also essential to maintain a heart health.
People who don't sleep enough are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease—regardless of age, weight, smoking and exercise habits.
Researchers who analysed 3,000 adults over the age of 45 found that those who slept fewer than six hours per night were about twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack as people who slept six to eight hours per night.
“The results from the Travelodge UK Mattress census are alarming,” said Lisa Artis from The Sleep Council.
“Although we spend one third of our life sleeping, millions of Britons don’t understand the importance of a good quality mattress and are jeopardising a good night’s sleep.
“This in return is fuelling health problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
“In addition, old mattresses don’t just lack support, they also become packed with dead skin cells, making them a breeding ground for house dust mites and bacteria.
"We urge Britons to make their bed a priority and invest in a good quality mattress. It’s the most important purchase your will make, so make it a good one every seven years.”
Shakila Ahmed, from Travelodge said: “Our bed should be the most important piece of furniture that we own as it’s a key contributor to our wellbeing.”
The company has compiled the five key warning signs that their mattress needs changing at home.
You’re in pain
Over time, your once-flat mattress starts to sag in the middle. This creates an uneven sleep surface, which makes it much more likely you’ll end up with back pain or muscle aches after getting some shuteye.
Lumpy, sagging mattresses don’t offer enough support for your spine and with a bad mattress, you’re exposing your body to eight or more hours of that each day! It can become a vicious cycle. Your mattress causes pain, and your pain makes it harder to sleep.
You toss and turn all night
Many people toss and turn as their bodies search to find the most comfortable position on their mattresses. Lumpy, uneven spots can make this an endless task. It can take hours for your body to find the 'sweet spot' in an old mattress, and when you move the slightest bit in your sleep, it starts all over again.
You wake up and can’t go back to sleep
The combination of inadequate support, pressure on your shoulders and hips, and a sagging surface can make falling back asleep impossible. even if your body is running on empty.
You wake up tired all the time
If you are allowing yourself seven to eight hours of sleep, you shouldn’t feel wiped out when you wake up in the morning.
If that’s the case, your mattress could be to blame. It might be too soft, firm, or uneven, causing your body to constantly readjust throughout the night.
You’re experiencing allergy symptoms
Over time, your mattress collects dead skin, body oils and dust mites. A single mattress can hold up to 10 million of these microscopic critters which feed on the skin and oils. This can result in sneezing, itching, watery eyes, runny noses, and coughing.
SOURCE: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/780003/heart-disease-symptoms-mattress-sleep-link
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