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."This was a somewhat difficult page for me to put together for a couple of reasons. The first is that everyone is different. For instance, take two people who are the same height, weigh the same and suffer the same aches and pains first thing in the morning. One might like a medium density memory foam mattress, and the other might like a higher density. The second reason is that the technology available on the market these days can also complicate matters. When memory foam first came to the market it was unusual to find various densities that offered additional features such as temperature control or ease of movement.
So far I’ve probably confused you even further, but below you will find some straight to the point information regarding low, medium and high density memory mattresses that will hopefully give you an idea of where to start. First I should explain what density actually means. Basically, it’s very easy. If you have a memory foam mattress with a density of 5lbs per cubic foot, the foam will weigh 5lbs (per cubic foot of course). You should also know that most memory foam mattresses have several layers so they can benefit from the different density characteristics explained below. For instance, what you often see is a mattress with a low density top layer and a thick high density bottom layer. Pretty much all memory foam mattresses on the market today react to the temperature of your body. As the foam warms up it becomes softer and moulds to your natural contours. For that reason, some brands do take time to adjust to simply because the cushioning beneath you doesn’t “spring” into action the minute you lie down.
With a low density memory mattress (3lbs and under), you instantly get a softer feel beneath you. So if you’re someone who prefers a nice soft bed, or you can’t get over that initial feeling of stiffness memory foam is synonymous with, a low density might just do the trick. Of course, you have to take into account that manufacturers don’t need to use as much in the way of materials which is why a memory foam mattress of 3lb density or less tends to be easier on the wallet so bear this in mind if you’re on a budget. These will normally be in the 4 – 5lb region and are probably the more popular bracket because they have a good mix of a firm to soft ratio. Think Goldilocks and the Three Bears and you start to get the idea. This level of density is also popular because the price range will suit most budgets, but when you first lie on a foam mattress like this you won’t get the same “stiffness” you can experience with the high density bracket. However, if you happen to be someone who doesn’t need any medical attention for joint or muscle pain, can’t really decide which is the right memory foam mattress for you or you just want something that’s not too firm but not too soft, this type will probably suit what you need.
I have to say though (if your budget allows you), that you may also want to go for a low density top layer with a high density bottom layer. This will still give you the softness you like plus you won’t sink in too deep. Now we really get into the specialist area. If you come across a memory foam mattress that has a density of 6lbs or more, expect to pay top dollar. In fact, this level of density can cost thousands of dollars. Orthopaedic mattresses will never have less than 6lbs density, so if you suffer from a medical condition that can cause nasty aches and pains, this bracket of foam mattress is definitely worth considering. When you first lie on a mattress like this you will feel a certain amount of stiffness, but generally they do warm up quicker which means they will shape to your body. This is because they’re designed to give the ultimate in support across many of the pressure points over your body. Of course, durability goes without saying and if you’re prepared to spend the money you can expect a memory foam mattress at this level to last for many years to come.