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Need Help To Sleep? - Try a Memory Foam Mattress

By: Steve Gee Do you wake up feeling that because you have tossed and turned all night, you really don't want to get up and start the day with a smile? The reason might be that your body can't relax as it can't find a comfortable position, one that is supportive in all the right places such as knees, hip, waist and neck. One solution to this problem is to change to a memory foam mattress - however this is an expensive option, so how about trying a memory foam pillow or mattress topper in the first instance?

In the 1970's NASA developed the first memory foam product for use in the seats of spacecraft. The reason for the foam was to absorb some of the high g-forces that astronauts experience on take off and landing. This was to make it more comfortable for the crew and leave them in a better condition to do their jobs. It wasn't available to the public until the 1990's when it was developed commercially into products such as mattresses. The market has grown quickly since then especially since doctors have been recommending it to relieve complaints such as pressure sores and back pain.

The first manufacturer of memory foam was Tempur-Pedic (R) and it was used mainly in hospitals. The company soon realised that patients who used the foam seemed to sleep better, and they expanded production to sell it to everyone. Since then many other manufacturers have developed their own memory foam product lines and the largest producers now appear to be in China and the Far East.

So, how does it give you help to sleep? Memory foam is visco-elastic which means that it responds to temperature change by becoming softer when it is warm and harder when it is cold. That means your body warmth softens the immediate area of foam and moulds to your shape.

If you are thinking of purchasing a memory foam product you should bear in mind that some of the cheaper memory foam can be just a little too visco-elastic. In cold weather it can become rock hard and it can turn into a gooey soft mass when it gets really hot. Look out for guarantees that the foam you are about to purchase will not suffer from this problem.

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.

Ask the retailer how the mattress is built because there are some important differences in the way they are constructed. Generally mattresses are made with a layer of memory foam of about three or four inches thick bonded on top of a denser, more supportive core. Remember that thicker is not always better; it should be just the right thickness for you. If the memory foam layer is too thick then you may sink too far into it, which is not a good idea. If you are a front sleeper then you should be looking for mattresses with about two inches of memory foam. Three inches of foam is better for you if you sleep on your side or if you are of average size. If you are a heavy or large person or you tend to sleep on you back then look for mattresses with about four inches of memory foam.

The advantages are clear - what about disadvantages ….. why wasn't memory foam used by NASA? Foam is a man-made product that gives off gases when new. In your home this wears off in a very short space of time, but could have been a hazard in a space capsule! Nevertheless, if you are sensitive to this type of gas, you should think about finding a natural product like a foam latex mattress.

Although it is recommended that you try out memory foam mattresses in a local shop to find the one that suits you best, it is more cost effective to buy online.