However, with all the different choices and prices of foam on the market, the consumer should know about the major differences between these products before paying a major amount of money for a bed they will be sleeping on for many years.
It adapts to the contours of the body much better than an innerspring mattress. Each person has different preferences due to weight and sleeping habits.
The best thing to do is to visit your local bed store and try laying down on a few different models. (When the sales staff have to wake you up, you know you've found the right brand.)
The importance of a good night's sleep can't be overstated. No-one functions well on lack of sleep.
The majority of people in the western world are sleep-deprived, and sleep deprivation is a significant cause of accidents. Remember the Exxon Valdez? That accident took place in the early hours of the morning, and industrial accidents peak on the midnight shift.
Students who are sleep-deprived learn poorly. Chronic sleep deprivation affects the appetite centers of the brain, causing overeating and subsequent obesity. Any bed system conducive to a deeper, more restful sleep improves your quality of life.
There are several advantages to memory foam over a conventional mattress: it's hypoallergenic, molds to fit anyone's body, and provides some insulation on cold nights so you need fewer heavy, dusty blankets and comforters.
All the pressure points that cause discomfort, and subsequent tossing and turning, are eliminated. Tempurpedic is the brand name of the pioneer of memory foam, a company in Sweden.
It's the top-of-the-line product, but expensive, and there are dozens of cheaper competing brands, some made in America, some in China or other countries.
HOWEVER, be warned: not all memory foam products are alike, as with any merchandise, you tend to get what you pay for, both in quality and longevity.
Memory foam is visco-elastic, and it responds to temperature changes much as bubble gum does.
Good quality memory foam has a wide range of temperature responsiveness, but some of the cheaper brands can become as hard as wood if you let the bedroom go below 60 degrees.
Eventually, as you change position the foam warms up and responds to your body shape, but this can take a few minutes, during which time you will be uncomfortable and may wake up.
And cheaper brands may become too soft on hot summer nights, offering no support. Better brands of memory foam, such as Sensus and Temperpedic, specifically state their consistent performance through a wide temperature range.
Another issue is the longevity of the memory foam before it finally breaks down and loses its springiness. Better memory foams offer longer guarantees, 20 years, whereas the cheaper brands offer 10 years.
So, in summary, you don't have to buy the most expensive product, but don't buy the cheapest either. You'll spend many nights regretting your decision.
A few hundred dollars extra isn't really a lot when spread out over decades of memory foam mattress use. As well as differences in quality, there are also differences in memory foam mattress construction.
Mattresses can have either 3 or 4 inches of memory foam over a denser supportive core, and more is not always better, because if the top layer of memory foam is too thick, you'll sink in quite far before hitting the supporting layer underneath.
Stomach sleepers should buy 2 inch foam, side sleepers and medium sized people should purchase mattresses with 3 inch memory foam, very large people or back sleepers should buy the 4 inch.
The base of the bed can vary as well. Some models feature loose sheets of foam of different firmness levels that can be arranged to the sleeper's personal taste, others are laminated together. Also, man-made (petrochemical foam products) are about 1/3 the cost of natural latex.
People who are sensitive to out-gassing of man-made products should consider a natural product.
Sleep is something we tend to take for granted, but lack of good sleep is becoming a wide-spread problem in the United States. According to a recent poll by the National Science Foundation, only 50 percent of Americans get a "good night" sleep a few nights each week. So what is the big deal about that?
Side effects of poor sleep
Insufficient sleep or a lack of good sleep can degrade your health and affect your ability to function throughout the day. If untreated, sleep problems may lead to the following health issues:
(1) Decreased immune response A study at Washington State University found that adequate sleep was a key factor in fighting illness. If you are not getting sufficient sleep and you become ill, you may suffer from more serious symptoms and have difficulty recovering.
(2) Reduced memory According to researchers at the University of Liege in Belgium, a "good night" sleep helps the brain consolidate memories so that theyare readily available during waking hours.
(3) Daytime sleepiness and fatigue Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have found that even one night of disrupted or missed sleep in a healthy person can drastically alter chemical balance of the body. This may cause reduced productivity and an increased risk of accidents.
Sleep disorders
Everyone has trouble falling asleep or getting a "good night" sleep at some point in their lives. However, if it is an ongoing problem, you may have a sleep disorder. Common problems include:
(1) Insomnia - Stress, jet lag, diet, or other factors can result in short-term insomnia. Good sleeping habits can cure or prevent mild insomnia. If it continues, however, you may need help. Insomnia can be a symptom of an underlying medical issue, so consult your physician.
(2) Restless Legs Syndrome - This disorder most commonly affects older people. It causes unpleasant crawling, prickling, or tingling sensations in the legs and feet, producing the urge to move them to get relief. As a result, you may experience constant leg movement during the day and insomnia at night. This syndrome can often be relieved with medication.
(3) Narcolepsy - People with narcolepsy have frequent "sleep attacks" during the day even when they get plenty of sleep at night. A sleep attack can last anywhere from several seconds to half an hour or more. Narcoleptics may also experience other symptoms as well, but fortunately there are ways to treat it.
(4) Sleep apnea - Obstructive sleep apnea may seem to be just severe snoring, but it is actually a potentially dangerous blockage of the airway that repeatedly stops you from breathing at night. Apnea sufferers may experience as many as 30 episodes of halted breathing per hour.
Each episode of apnea cuts off your oxygen supply for as long as a minute or more. If untreated, it can cause high blood pressure, heartbeat irregularities, impotency, memory problems, learning difficulties, and depression. It can also cause you to fall asleep at work or, even worse, while driving. It is even been linked to heart attack, stroke, and sudden infant death syndrome.
In the U.S., sleep apnea occurs in approximately 15 to 25 percent of men and in 5 to 9 percent of women. Virtually everyone with sleep apnea snores, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, consult your physician. It can be treated. In some cases, we may be able to design an oral appliance that keeps your throat and airway open while you sleep.
Tips for getting a "good night" sleep
If you have or suspect you may have a sleep disorder, consult your physician for advice. Sometimes sleeplessness is a sign of an underlying condition. If you do not have a sleep disorder, try the following tips to get a "good night" sleep:
(1) Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. (2)Get enough sleep. Most people need 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. (3)Avoid taking naps during the day. (4)Abstain from or limit caffeine in your diet. (5)Avoid drinking alcohol in the evenings and do not use it to help you sleep. (6)Eat your last heavy meal at least 5 hours before bedtime. (7)Avoid vigorous physical or mental exercise at least 5 hours before bedtime; we all need a "wind down" time at the end of our day. (8)Avoid using your bedroom for work, business, television, or exercise. (9)Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and comfortable.
Both Frank Vanderlugt & Minh Nguyen, D.d.s. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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