From disrupting sleep to triggering allergies and long-term health issues, a few bedroom items are more harmful than they appear
A Harvard- and Stanford-educated gastroenterologist has revealed three toxic items in your bedroom that are severely affecting your health. According to California-based Dr. Saurabh Sethi, your bedroom – a space meant to provide comfort and relaxation – should give you uninterrupted sleep. However, there are various hidden risks that affect your overall well-being.
From disrupting sleep to triggering allergies and long-term health issues, the items that are more harmful than they appear include:
Old pillows
While pillows provide comfort during sleep, they are also exposed daily to a substantial amount of body oil, sweat, saliva, and skin dander. And hardly anyone cleans the pillows on a regular and effective basis, leading them to accumulate fungi, germs, dust mites, and other allergens over time.
These pillows then become a breeding ground for bacteria, especially when exposed to moisture from sweat and saliva. “These build-ups can negatively impact your skin, sinuses, and sleep quality. "Even if a pillow looks clean on the outside, its inner filling can deteriorate over time and become a breeding ground for microscopic irritants,” he said.
Dr Sethi advises replacing pillows every one to two years and washing them regularly. Using hypoallergenic materials or pillow covers that can be removed and washed may offer some protection, but replacement is still necessary for maintaining hygiene and neck support.
Synthetic air fresheners
It is extremely common to use air fresheners in the bedroom to make it smell fresh and cover unpleasant odours. However, these sprays – made with chemicals – can impact your health in the long run. Dr Sethi says these products are loaded with phthalates – chemicals associated with hormonal disruptions, reproductive harm, and asthma.
Many air fresheners also release volatile organic compounds known as VOCs – which cause respiratory issues and headaches, especially in closed spaces. Studies also say long-term use of air fresheners affects heart function, especially in those who are battling lung issues, while they can cause an imbalance of hormones which impacts reproductive health as well. There is also growing evidence that phthalates and aldehydes can cause cancer.
Worn-out mattresses
Despite being the most-used item in your bedroom, mattresses can be a cause of long-term sleeplessness, back issues, and even respiratory health problems.
Cautioning against it, Dr Sethi says that any mattress older than 7–10 years degrades over time – becoming a storehouse for dust, mites, mould, sweat, and dead skin. All of these severely impact sleep quality and even lead to chronic back pain or fatigue. Lack of proper support can also contribute to long-term posture and spinal issues. And so, it is important to invest in a new mattress, as it helps play a critical role in maintaining physical health and restorative sleep.
