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."#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Based on 58,404 Consumer Experiences Topper Pros and Cons Quick Summary of Mattress Toppers Topper on One Half of Mattress Select a topper below for more detailed information, including brand reviews / ratings. The terms "mattress topper" and "mattress pad" are sometimes used interchangeably. Generally, however, these are two different types of products, each with their own purpose. Pads are used to protect a mattress and or provide a limited softening; they are also sometimes placed over a topper to secure it to the mattress.
Toppers, by contrast, are used almost exclusively to improve mattress comfort. See Mattress Pad Reviews for the top-rated waterproof and non-waterproof pads. Based on consumer experiences, below are the top four advantages of mattress toppers. As a mattress ages, especially an innerspring mattress, it tends to become compacted and loses much of its cushion. A topper improves cushioning, resulting in better comfort and reduced pressure. At least 20% of owners report that their topper provides them with at least somewhat better sleep due to improved comfort. In other words, a mattress topper is capable of providing the benefits of a new mattress for a fraction Toppers are not only for older mattresses. If you have a newer mattress that does not suit your personal preference for firmness, a topper can alter the comfort to better suit you. Some toppers, namely memory foam and latex, can improve not only mattress comfort but also support to a limited extent.
This can help to reduce pain, including back pain. If two people sleep on the same bed and have different firmness preferences, a topper can be added to one side of the bed to, in effect, provide different firmness levels for each side. Learn more on how to have a topper on one half of a bed. Also, a memory foam topper can to some degree improve the motion isolation of a mattress, resulting in less disturbed sleep. Based on consumer experiences, below are the top four disadvantages of mattress toppers. While a topper can improve an aging or uncomfortable mattress, it is not a miracleIf your mattress is uncomfortable due to sink holes, sagging (uneven sleep surface) and protruding springs, the topper will be of only limited help. Many memory foam and latex toppers are about one inch smaller than the mattress on all sides to help ensure the bed sheets fit over both the topper and mattress. cause sitting or sleeping near the edge of the mattress to be uncomfortable / unsupportive, and it may give a somewhat awkward appearance to the bed's surface.
About 4% of owners – especially owners of memory foam toppers – report that their topper has a significant odor when new. This odor (or off gassing) tends to diminish within a few days in most cases. A topper that softens a mattress will often to some extent envelop the sleeper. This can decrease air circulation and cooling around the sleeper's body. As a result, about 4% of topper owners report bothersome heat retention. Memory foam and latex toppers are somewhat more likely to trap heat than are the other topper types. A topper is placed on top of a mattress under the fitted sheet. For thicker toppers especially, this means that the sheet will need to cover a greater height. Depending on the pocket depth of your existing sheet, it may now be too small to securely cover the mattress. Since a topper is not a fully integrated part of the mattress, it may move around independent of the bed somewhat. About 5% of owners – especially owners of lighter toppers such as fiber and feather – report this problem.
(A mattress pad can be placed over a topper to secure it to the mattress.) Pros: Most popular topper • often highly effective at improving comfort • available in many varieties to suit individual preference. Cons: Initial off gassing odor • some heat trap potential • squishy feel possible • somewhat difficult to move on / get up off • relatively heavy. detailed Memory Foam Topper Reviews / Ratings based on 38,500+ owner experiences. Pros: Generally effective at softening a firm mattress • relatively affordable, light weight and easy to handle • few reports of bothersome heat retention. Cons: Can lack adequate thickness • fluffing / shaking often needed to maintain loft • feathers poking through cover is possible which can be painful • may produce some noise • dry cleaning often required. detailed Featherbed Reviews / Ratings based on 4,600+ owner experiences. Pros: Can make mattress softer or firmer • above-average pain relief • comes in many varieties including all natural.
Cons: Expensive • limited availability • initial odor and heat retention possible. Read detailed Latex Topper Reviews / Ratings based on 1,300+ owner experiences. Pros: Mostly effective at softening a firm mattress • low price • little or no odor or allergy-causing potential. Cons: May be too thin and lumpy for some • shaking / fluffing may be needed to maintain loft and comfort • damage by machine washing / drying possible. Read detailed Fiberbed Topper Reviews / Ratings based on 13,400+ owner experiences. Pros: Generally effective at softening a firm mattress and providing a luxurious feel • fairly cool / dry in summer and warm in winter • often durable and long lasting. Cons: Pricey • may not provide adequate cushion for some • initial odor possible • regular shaking / fluffing may be required to maintain loft. Read detailed Wool Topper-Pad Reviews / Ratings based on 485+ owner experiences. a topper can be added to half of the mattress to, in effect, provide
different firmness for each half. To accomplish this on a king-sized mattress, you will likely need to buy an x-long twin topper and place it on one half of the mattress under the linens. (An x-long twin topper in most cases will be one-half the size of a king-sized mattress.) You will want a topper that merely lies on top of the mattress without needing to be secured to the sides. Foam, memory foam and latex toppers almost always meet this criteria. With a queen-sized bed, things are more complicated. There is no topper size that will cover one half of a queen. Therefore, you will likely need to buy an x-long twin sized topper and trim it so that it will fit half of the mattress. It will need to be a foam, memory foam or latex topper because these can be trimmed without spilling their contents and they don't have skirts. A final thought: The half of the mattress with the topper is going to be higher than the other half which will give the mattress an awkward appearance.