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."AccesswireJuly 4, 2015 10 Point Comparison Reveals PROS and CONS of Budget-Friendly and Luxury Gel Memory Foam MattressesChicago, IL. / ACCESSWIRE / July 3, 2015 / "Compared to first generation temper foam developed in the 1960s, modern-day memory foam is available in a variety of firmness levels, springs back faster, heats up less, and lasts longer. However, even some of today’s so-called best memory foam mattresses from renowned manufacturers are far from flawless" cautions Belinda Palmer, a spokeswoman for Bedroom Solutions.This Top 10 Memory Foam Mattress Review and Comparison was recently published to educate consumers on the Pros and Cons of popular mattresses, so that they can quickly recognize a low-quality mattress.
The above review compares mattresses based on features like (1) density/firmness, (2) thickness of gel memory foam layers, (3) heat retention, (4) CertiPUR-US safety certifications, (5) motion transfer between partners, (6) suitability to different sleeping positions, (7) hypoallergenic properties, (8) price, (9) user reviews, and (10) warranty period.Visit http://Bedroom.Solutions/Memory-Foam-Mattresses/ to learn about above features of the best budget-friendly memory foam mattresses in today’s marketplace.Popular mattress brands like Simmons Beautyrest, Serta iComfort, and Tempur-Pedic occupy the list of best luxury memory foam mattresses while less well-known brands like Perfect Cloud Ultra Plush, Ultimate Dreams, Sleep Innovations, Signature Sleep, Classic Brands, Amerisleep, Dynasty Mattress, and Lucid make up the list of best budget-friendly mattresses. "The decision-making process that goes into selecting a mattress can be exhausting" exclaims Palmer. "The first hurdle is choosing between memory foam, latex, inner spring, water, and air mattresses" she adds.
The Memory Foam vs Latex vs Inner Spring vs Adjustable Air Mattress Comparison was recently published by Bedroom Solutions to help people get through this initial hurdle.The above comparison looks at various aspects of the 4 mattress types such as: (1) support on pressure points and alignment of the spine, (2) motion transfer between partners, (3) mattress sagging, (4) the need to rotate/flip mattresses, (5) how hot or cool it sleeps, (6) suitability to use on adjustable beds, (7) off gassing odor, (8) weight, (9) lifespan, and (10) cost. The comparison clearly shows that memory foam and latex are superior to others in most aspects."Once the consumer makes the above decision, he or she still needs to decide whether to buy a (1) soft, medium, or firm mattress, (2) thin (6" – 8") or thick (10", 12" or 14") mattress, (3) full, queen, or king size, and (4) whether to buy online or at the local mattress retailer" elaborates Palmer.Once the consumer is convinced that he/she needs a memory foam mattress
, several additional factors need to be considered to ensure that an uncomfortable mattress is not purchased. "While memory foam is superior to other types in many aspects, especially, older-generation memory foam can have a few drawbacks” explains Palmer. “As a result, some of the cheap memory foam mattresses (1) emit strong chemical odors, (2) heat up too much, (3) are too soft or too firm, (4) fail to expand back to correct thickness after being shrink wrapped, (5) sag prematurely, and have (6) excessively soft edges" she adds.Over the last four decades memory foam has been around, manufacturers have recognized these flaws and come up with effective solutions. One such solution worth mentioning is how the ‘sleeping hot’ problem has been handled. Foam mattresses are inherently good at absorbing body heat, but poor at releasing it out. This has been successfully addressed in newer generation memory foam thanks to ‘open-cell’ technology, invention of gel memory foam mattresses, strategic placement of grooves that bring out hot air, use of air-infused memory foam, and even using bamboo-made mattress covers that allow mattresses to efficiently ‘breathe’, in turn allowing mattresses to stay cool.