The rule of thumb: replace a mattress every 7 to 10 years. Phones get upgraded every couple of years. Wardrobes get refreshed every season. Yet the one thing people lie on for roughly a third of their lives often goes unchanged for fifteen years. The mattress deserves better attention than it gets.
Research published in Applied Ergonomics found that people who moved from old mattresses to new ones reported less back pain and better sleep quality. Body weight, sleeping position , and daily care all shift the timeline, and India’s humidity can speed up wear in poorly ventilated rooms. The science backs this up. A tired mattress can quietly drag down an entire day, and over the years, an entire lifestyle. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, G Shankar Ramm, managing director at Peps Industries, shared signs you need a new one. Restful nights in a hotel or at a relative’s home point to the bed at home as the problem. “The best mattress is not the firmest or the most expensive. Breathable materials help in warm climates, and a trial period is worth looking for, since a few nights in a showroom rarely tell the full story. A mattress should be seen as health infrastructure, not a luxury. Quality sleep shapes energy, focus, and mood in ways few other purchases can match. A bed that is past seven years and leaves its owner tired each morning may already be signalling that a change is due.
It is the one that keeps the spine in a neutral line for the sleeper’s body and position,” said Ramm.
