Related to Sleep Disorders Memory Foam: Pros and Cons Considering a memory foam mattress or similar product? Read what sleep experts say about it. Few things feel as good as a good night's sleep. That's especially true if sleep seems to escape you, night after night after night. If you've heard about memory foam, you may wonder if it could improve the quality of yoursleep. Some people swear by it. Others are less enthusiastic. What exactly is memory foam? And what are its pros and cons? Here's information to help you decide whether memory foam is worth a try. What Is Memory Foam? First designed in the mid-1960s for NASA airplane seats, memory foam is made from a substance called viscoelastic. It is both highly energy absorbent and soft. Memory foam molds to the body in response to heat and pressure, evenly distributing body weight. It then returns to its original shape once you remove the pressure. In addition to protecting against impact, these properties make memory foam very comfortable.
After its "virgin flight" for NASA, memory foam made a foray into other applications. For example, it was used as cushioning in helmets and shoes. Medicine found a use for it in prosthetics and products to prevent pressure ulcers such as seating pads for people who are severely disabled. Then, memory foam really took off. It's now well known for its use in pillows, mattress pads, and mattresses, which come in different densities and depths. What Are the Benefits of Memory Foam? Could the special properties of memory foam enhance your sleep? Sleep specialist Donna L. Arand, PhD, says that objective studies supporting the claimed benefits of memory foam -- or the effects of any particular type of sleeping surface -- are lacking. This is true for a variety of reasons, she says. This type of sleep study can be expensive, if conducted independently. Or it is "chased" by a shadow of bias, if supported by industry. Also, some sleep technology, such as memory foam, is relatively new, so it hasn't been well studied.
But perhaps one of the more difficult stumbling blocks to testing the health benefits of mattresses such as memory foam is the subjective nature of sleep. It is simply difficult to measure. Sometimes the brain's electrical activity, measured with an electroencephalogram (EEG), and other findings recorded during a sleep test don't always match up perfectly with a person's subjective experience, says Arand, who is the clinical director of the Kettering Sleep Disorders Center in Dayton, Ohio. "They might say, ‘I had a great night's sleep,' but the EEG parameters might not really indicate that." Sleep is not only subjective, but preferences for sleep surfaces are individual, Arand says. "There's quite a bit of variability between individuals in terms of what type of surface -- whether it's firm, hard, or soft -- they prefer when they're sleeping," she says. "As far as we know, there is no rhyme or reason for that." Many of Arand's patients who use memory foam have offered unsolicited glowing reports like these about memory foam: "I'm sleeping great."
"Best sleep I've ever had." "I love going to bed at night." Arand says these anecdotal responses may be one-sided. That's because she and other staff don't ask all their patients about their sleep surfaces. "We may only be hearing the good stuff," Arand says. Kathy R. Gromer, MD, sleep specialist with the Minnesota Sleep Institute in Minneapolis, agrees that memory foam may improve sleep. "It can, if it relieves painful pressure points," she says. But Gromer adds that memory foam doesn't do anything for sleep apnea or other sleep-breathing disorders -- and sleep disorders are the primary complaint of most her patients. "When you lie on the memory foam, the heat from your body softens it in appropriate points," Arand says, "so this helps to support your body along the curves and natural lines of the body." Memory foam manufacturers claim this helps relieve pain and thereby promotes more restful sleep. And, though consumers often believe that very firm mattresses are best, more "giving" mattresses like these may lead to better sleep in people with back pain, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Although there aren't scientific data to support the hypothesis, Arand wonders whether memory foam sleep surfaces might be especially helpful for older people. For them, minimizing extra movement could reduce the number of times they awaken during the night. Being less aware of a bed partner's movements might be an extra benefit, she adds. "Without the coiled springs, you feel your sleep partner's movement less, and that might help, too." What Are the Disadvantages of Memory Foam? Gromer says that memory foam products may retain body heat, which could make them less comfortable in warm weather. However, Arand has not heard this complaint from her patients. "In our culture, most people can adjust their thermostats or blankets for the appropriate season," Arand says. When new, memory foam can produce an odd chemical smell -- a phenomenon called offgassing. To minimize this problem, the Sleep Products Safety Council, a sleep products trade group, recommends airing out the mattress or pad for at least 24 hours before putting sheets on it.
"If you follow directions, the smell dissipates quickly," Arand says, "But I've never heard of anyone having reactions to it." Are Memory Foam Products Safe for Young Children? "I would strongly recommend avoiding this and similar very soft materials for use in infants' beds," Gromer says. "That's because soft bedding traps [carbon dioxide] and increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths."In the world of memory foam manufacturing, there is a clear and noticeable difference between American made memory foam and Chinese memory foam. Quick Summary: American memory foam will last longer, as a result of almost always being made with 100% visco-elastic memory foam. Also, American made memory foam is produced in a vacuum, giving the product consistency of quality and support. Chinese manufacturers will often add clay fillers to their memory foam that cause it to break down quicker, forming depressions. In addition to this, there is speculation that certain Chinese foams contain carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
Therefore, Rocky Mountain Mattress carries only USA made memory foam. We have elected to carry Bayer Memory Foam and Foamex Memory Foam. Both memory foam brands are made here in the USA and have excellent reputations for producing quality memory foams that last.AMERICAN MEMORY FOAM MATTRESSES (the longer version) Mattress Density: You Get What You Pay For, Buyer Beware, and Higher—Not Always Better Density is an important word in the memory foam mattress world. Memory foam density is an important indicator of durability and performance quality. But a true measure of density depends on who is manufacturing the memory foam and their level of commitment to creating a consistent, quality product. Density numbers have a small window wherein lies the “sweet spot.” High density is generally equated with a quality product, however, there is such a thing as too much density. Two of the main complaints of memory foam mattress owners is the temperature of the foam during sleep or the slow rebound time when turning over—both arguably annoying factors in an interrupted sleep, and both the result of too much density.
Usually, mattresses are not a popular import item because of their bulk and the cost to transport them. The advent of memory foam eliminates those problems; its very nature allows for its extreme compression during shipping thus significantly cutting space and cost concerns. Currently, the U.S. is being inundated with Chinese memory foam that advertises “high quality” or at the very least, “adequate” density, but when put into use is turning up questionable characteristics. Some complaints include: slowness to rebound, increased (and unwanted) firmness as the room temperature decreases, hot spots after laying on it for a period of time, oily residue on the mattress surface, and the presence of chemical odors. The chemical smells are most concerning as there is very little regulation of purity or safety in the manufacturing of Chinese memory foam. The smells take a very long time to dissipate (if ever) and have various potentially harmful sources, one of which is the alleged use of pesticides used to kill insects.
There is great speculation that Chinese memory foams contain cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens), another possible odor source. Mattress industry insiders also trade concerns about reports that Chinese memory foam may contain lead, stone dust and clay fillers to fabricate the appearance of a higher density—which commands a higher price. The result of this “enhancement” is a quicker formation of depressions and a rapid breakdown of the foam. The inception of memory foam has a long tradition of bearing high standards as it was first developed for NASA and then used commercially, primarily in health institutions. For many years it was simply too expensive; the manufacturing process remained difficult and unreliable. Today, with our increased knowledge and technology, it has become more widely available. Buying American made memory foam is much safer than its imported counterparts because it is required to meet standardized quality control regulations. Most American memory foam is vacuum-produced, resulting in an even, quality consistency, and yielding a 100% pure visco-elastic foam without the questionable fillers used by other manufacturers.