Our brain’s ability to store memories and then recall them at a moment’s notice is one of the most remarkable capabilities of the human body. It gives us the ability to recall critical skills for survival, meaningful life moments, and both positive and negative experiences that guide our daily lives and shape our perspectives. As technological advances continue to revolutionize the way humans function, a great deal of scientific research has focused on finding ways to create products that replicate aspects of the human memory to enhance our daily lives; one of which is the creation of smarter sleep surfaces. What Is Memory Foam? Originally developed for NASA in the 1960s for airplane seats, memory foam is now found in many everyday products ranging from pillows and mattresses, to office supplies and footwear. Take a close look at your office chair – it is likely that it has a memory foam component. Or perhaps your feet are used to the comfort of memory foam slippers.
Although initially the cost of memory foam material was very expensive, advances in its production have reduced the cost, making it more accessible for widespread use. One Common Use of Memory Foam? And, one of the most common products boasting the benefit of this material is – you guessed it – your mattress. Among the many features of memory foam, its high-density foam composition is both highly soft and energy absorbent, making it an ideal surface for sleeping. Memory foam mattresses offer a few differences from standard mattresses, and should be considered as you explore options to find the best mattress to meet your sleep needs. The Benefits & Unique Facts Of Memory Foam Mattresses To help determine if a memory foam mattress is a good fit for your sleep needs, we’ve compiled a list of facts to highlight the unique qualities of this space-age sleep surface. Memory Foam Provides A True Body Fit Mattresses constructed of memory foam actively mold to your body in response to heat and pressure, allowing the surface to evenly distribute body weight when occupied and return to its original shape once pressure is removed.
Memory Foam Provides Temperature-Control Support According to WebMD, your body temperature can affect how well you sleep. Memory foam beds are manufactured using a temperature-sensitive material, which allows the mattress to adjust your body heat and weight -as your temperature increases, the mattress becomes softer to provide a good night’s sleep. Additionally, memory foam is able to retain heat, providing extra warmth for added comfort during cold months. Reversely, if you’re typically warm-blooded, you may want to consider a memory foam mattress with a cooling feature, such as the TEMPUR-Rhapsody™ Breeze, TEMPUR-Cloud® Luxe Breeze or the TEMPUR-Cloud® Supreme Breeze Memory Foam Provides Pain-Relief Comfort Memory foam bedding provides health benefits by relieving pain, body aches and soreness, as well as helping your body to recover more quickly from injuries. , this is achieved by the material’s ability to displace pressure from points of pain on your body.
Areas in pain have a slightly higher temperature than the rest of the body, and memory foam detects these differences and molds to the body accordingly by adding or reducing pressure to the area. Memory Foam is Allergy Friendly According to Environment, Health and Safety Online, a typical mattress that has been used for a few years, contains anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites inside. Memory foam mattresses, however, are composed of a polyurethane foam makeup, which is made of fibers that prevent allergy-causing dust mites from collecting within the bed. Unlike standard mattresses, memory foam’s dense composition prevents the accumulation of allergens over time. Memory Foam Provides Motion Transfer Resistance A logical option for couples, memory foam absorbs surface movement to reduce disturbances when a partner moves around in bed. This is good news for those who have partners who toss and turn, as disturbances are minimal. While sleep needs and preferences vary from person-to-person, memory foam beds offer a smart alternative to a standard mattress.
With the ability to provide natural pain support, as well as a molded fit specific to your body, memory foam beds are worthy of consideration when shopping for a new mattress. Craig McAndrews Craig McAndrews is the chief strategy officer for Mattress Firm, spearheading product development and merchandising strategy, both in-store and online. As a regular contributor to The Daily Doze, he shares insights on to how make the mattress buying process a little easier, and what is really important when it comes to selecting your sleep system. Craig’s career in the bedding industry initially began with Sealy’s Stearns & Foster, where he regularly worked with Mattress Firm, giving him the opportunity to witness the company’s special culture first hand. He soon joined the Mattress Firm team as a franchise owner, and played a part in the company’s expansion into Arizona. Since then, Craig has served in a variety of roles for Mattress Firm; and his passion for helping customers “Sleep Happy” and commitment to sharing his extensive industry knowledge with his teammates have garnered the respect and admiration of coworkers and peers alike.
Now as chief strategy officer, Craig constantly evaluates all elements of the in-store and online customer experience, while serving as an in-house expert to keep the company focused on its growth strategy. As a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, Craig knows that great leaders need to be great coaches, which is why one of his passion projects is an internal leadership series called “Coaches Corner.” In 2015, Craig received Mattress Firm’s highest employee honor, the Spirit of Life Award, for embodying the spirit of Mattress Firm in his day-to-day life – whether he’s finding a way to deliver a more dynamic guest experience or working alongside the next generation of leaders in the company, he is committed to helping improve lives one relationship at a time. Craig graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He lives in Houston with his wife April and their two sons Ben and Nate. Best Night’s Sleep: With Mattress Firm locations coast to coast, travel is a regular part of Craig’s responsibilities;