A Memory Keeping For Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam pillows/mattresses are always known for providing best support and pressure relief. At least the experience of using them makes us feel very comfortable. The main reason memory foam mattresses have become so popular is because of their comfort factor. But making the right choice for a mattress can be quite tricky and confusing. Within the same family people’s need for a kind of mattress may quite vary for a goodnight’s sleep. Generally I noticed in the market the choices for mattresses mostly narrows down to two types — memory foam or latex mattresses. Hence here in this article I am going to discuss all the pros and cons of memory foam mattresses. In my next write-up I will discuss about latex mattresses.
When it comes to buying mattresses always know your requirements. First do a small research on the different types of mattresses available in the market. When looking for a new mattress, choose a mattress based on your physical properties & posture, health concerns and your sleep requirements. Choose the one that is not just comfortable to feel but the one which gives good support to your spine and lower back. Do not just buy any mattress blindly without digging out some valid facts. Because a mattress feels good when you lie on it for few minutes it in the showroom need not be a suitable option for you. Remember, you and your family members have to sleep on it for the next couple of years, so choose wisely. Ensure that you check all the important points that are of utmost concern to you when zeroing in on a mattress. This way you will have no doubts about the mattress meeting your important requirements.
When trying to know more about memory foam bedding, I cam across this interesting piece of information that not many of us know about. The memory foam material was first discovered by NASA. They used them in the 1960’s for NASA’s spaceship seats, seat-belts and helmets. The purpose was to strengthen and protect themselves against the high impact. The credit goes to NASA’s engineers for them being the first in discovering and developing memory foam to absorb turbulence. This improved the safety of the astronauts in the space craft. Here memory foam played an important role because it’s unique feature protected the astronauts from extreme high known/unknown impacts when travelling into space. Discovering and designing into a bed/mattress phenomenon took it’s first flight in the 2000’s. In today’s era memory foam is used in pillows, cushions, bean bags, sofas, mattress to medical bracing and seating pads. They come in various different depths and densities.
Now coming back, here are few beneficial and harmful key points on memory foam mattresses. The main characteristic of foam mattress is it’s feature to conform to our body shape. This will reduce pressure to the spine. This will in-turn relieving pain, body ache and soreness prevailing in other parts of the body. A best quality memory foam is the one which can
1. mould according to body heat and pressure.
2. evenly spread the weight over the surface of the mattress.
3. return back to it’s original form once the weight is taken off the mattress.
Now let’s look into the different advantages and disadvantages of using memory foam.
Memory Foam Advantages
- It provides very less strain to the critical pain points in the body and as a result one can sleep in complete comfort.
- As per Kathy R. Gromer, MD, sleep specialist of the Minnesota Sleep Institute, Minneapolis, the memory foam can improve sleep by relieving painful pressure points in our body.
- If one is suffering from arthritis, spinal injuries or joint pains, a memory foam mattress can truly make a huge difference by improving their quality of sleep.
- If you are an athlete or live an active lifestyle, physical recovery is very important and much of it happens during sleep. The contouring characteristics of memory foam mattress can help immensely in recovery by providing extensive support to the muscles and joints. One may find themselves less sore in the morning after a good restful sleep in an ideal sleeping environment.
- Memory foam bedding unlike spring mattresses holds well thus reducing motion transfer which means sleepers will realize their partner’s movement less often promoting sound sleep.
- Memory foam provides anti-microbial protection as it is highly resistant to dirt, fungus, dust & other common bacteria making it best choice for people who have asthma and other respiratory allergies.
- Because of it’s body hug factor, memory foam mattresses can provide comfort for all kind of sleepers. There are side sleepers, stomach sleepers and back sleepers and for all these sleeping positions memory foam mattresses provide utmost comfort since the gaps are filled in regardless of how one sleeps.
Memory Foam Disadvantages
There are also negatives in opting for memory foam mattresses the biggest being the health concerns which I am pointing out below.
- There are health risks associated with carcinogens off-gassing from some memory foams. One of these carcinogens being Benzene which can cause cancer as per the research and lab studies conducted by American Cancer Society.
Benzene is one of the harmful chemical found in some memory foam mattresses. When sleeping on the memory foam, if you smell a strong chemical then you are inhaling toxic volatile compounds termed as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). They enter our body through inhalation when VOC gas is released from products upon usage. Systematic exposures to (VOCs) can have serious implications on health. If the usage prolongs for a long time it can reach an organ or tissue where an organ specific toxic effect can occur.
- Then there is the problem of smell emanating because of the chemical infused materials in the bedding. The smell may dissipate over a period of time but that does not mean there will be no absolute health consequences down the line.
- Memory Foam will be cozy initially as it contours your body shape, but at a later point of time memory foam mattress have serious dips and sags, and the foam eventually might not bounce back. The dips created over the mattress cause body aches and severe back pain because the body does not get the support it needs, eventually leading to chronic back pain. Due to which the mattress needs to be replaced prematurely much before the assured guaranteed period and that is money down the drain.
- Kathy R. Gromer, MD, sleep specialist of the Minnesota Sleep Institute, Minneapolis, points out that memory foam doesn’t do anything for sleep apnea or sleep disorders which are the primary complaint of most her patients.
- When new, memory foam can produce an odd chemical smell — a phenomenon called off gassing. So there is a high possibility of initial odour being present in the mattress material which which can be released through the finished mattress as a product. Airing out the mattress for at least 24 hours before putting sheets on it should help dissipate smell. But if frequently repeated this can get really cumbersome.
- Now coming to the negative side of the heating product of the memory foam excessive heat retention is caused in memory foam bedding due to the increased sink-age and the body hugging factor.
Finally from the inputs I gathered on memory foam I could conclude that memory foams can be great for some products like pillow, seat cushions etc. When it comes to the mattress due to the inclusion of artificial chemicals while making these memory foams and the health risks associated with it, it may not be an ideal choice as a mattress. It is worth exploring few other types of mattresses before making a sound choice for a good silent comfort sleep.
Curious to know what you guys think about memory foam mattresses. Would love to hear your thoughts.
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