Need Help To Sleep? - Try a Memory Foam Mattress
Do you ever wake up feeling that because you haven't slept well, you really don't want to get out of bed and start the day with a happy smile? The reason might be that your body didn't relax properly because it can't find a comfortable position to sleep in, one that gives support in all the right places such as your knees, hip, waist and neck. One possible solution to this problem is to start sleeping on a memory foam mattress. Unfortunately this option is expensive, so you might want to try a memory foam pillow or mattress topper before you go for the mattress?
Memory foam was developed in the 1970's for NASA to provide comfortable support in the seating for astronauts at take off and landing, it wasn't available in the shops until the 1990's. Since that time the market has grown considerably and is still growing very quickly, especially as the medical profession recommend its use to relieve back pain and pressure sores.
Although the first manufacturer was Tempur-Pedic (R) and used mainly in hospitals, the company soon heard that patients who used the foam, slept better, and they expanded production to sell to everyone. Since then other manufacturers have developed their own memory foam products and the largest producers now appear to be China and the Far East.
So, how does it help you to sleep? Memory foam is called a visco-elastic material, which means that it responds to temperature change. It becomes softer when it is warm and harder when it is cold. That means your body warmth softens the immediate area of foam when you lie on it and it and moulds itself to your shape.
Word of warning - with the cheaper, lower density foams, when the real cold weather sets in, the foam can become as hard as a board or it might turn into soft goo on hot summer nights! The more expensive brands guarantee that they will perform in the way they should through a wide temperature range.
Still not sure? Although a memory foam mattress might be the ultimate goal, why not try a foam pillow or a memory foam pad in the first instance. Most manufacturer's offer a selection of products and the better ones will offer a trial period and longer guarantees too so that if the product doesn't suit, you can hand it back.
Find out from the retailer how the mattress is constructed because there are some important differences in the way they are made. As a general rule mattresses are made with a layer of memory foam about three or four inches thick on top of a denser supportive core. Don't be fooled into thinking that thicker is better; it should be the right thickness for you. If it's too thick then you may sink too far into it, which is not desirable. If you sleep on your front then you should be looking to try out mattresses with two inches of memory foam. Three inches of foam is more suitable if you sleep on your side or if you are of average size. If you are a large or heavy person or you tend to sleep on you back a lot then look for mattresses with four inches of memory foam.
Memory foam does have some disadvantages unfortunately. It's expensive for one thing. It also gives off a toxic gas with an odour that some people don't care for too much. The gas is released from the foam when it's new and it does wear off quickly when used in a room with adequate ventilation. I believe that this is one of the reasons that it was never actually used on space craft because the gas would have had nowhere to go. If you find that you are sensitive to the gas then perhaps you should be looking for an alternative such as a foam latex mattress, which is a natural product.
Make sure that you try out memory foam mattresses in your local stores until you find the one that you like the best. Don't be afraid to lie on them for a reasonable time because it takes a while to mould to your body shape properly. Try not to fall asleep while you are doing it though. When you've found the one you like the best, shop around and use the Internet to find you the best prices and guarantees.
Steve is a software engineer and invites you to visit his website The Memory Foam Mattress http://www.thememoryfoammattress.com
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