Memory Foam Mattress Vs Box Spring
What Is Memory Foam?
Designed in the mid-1960s for NASA aircraft 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 safeguarding against effect, these residential or commercial properties make memory foam very comfy. After its “virgin flight” for NASA, memory foam made a foray into other applications. 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 handicapped.
Memory foam really took off. It’s now well known for its use in pillows, bed 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 boost your sleep? Sleep professional Donna L. Arand, PhD, says that objective research studies supporting the claimed advantages of memory foam– or the effects of any particular type of sleeping surface– are lacking.
This is true for a range of factors, she says. This type of sleep study can be costly, if conducted individually. Or it is “gone after” by a shadow of bias, if supported by industry.
Some sleep innovation, such as memory foam, is reasonably brand-new, so it hasn’t been well studied. Perhaps one of the more hard stumbling blocks to evaluating the health advantages of mattresses such as memory foam is the subjective nature of sleep. It is merely hard to measure.
What Are the Disadvantages of Memory Foam?
Gromer says that memory foam products might keep body heat, which could make them less comfortable in warm weather condition. Nevertheless, Arand has not heard this problem from her patients. “In our culture, the majority of people can change their thermostats or blankets for the suitable season,” Arand states.
When brand-new, memory foam can produce an odd chemical odor– a phenomenon called offgassing. To reduce this problem, the Sleep Products Security Council, a sleep items trade group, suggests airing out the mattress or pad for at least 24 hr prior to putting sheets on it. “If you follow directions, the odor dissipates rapidly,” Arand says, “However I’ve never ever become aware of anybody having reactions to it.”
Are Memory Foam Products Safe for Young Children?
” I would highly suggest preventing this and comparable very soft products for use in babies’ beds,” Gromer states. “That’s since soft bedding traps [carbon dioxide] and increases the threat of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths.” Pagination
Open Cell
To combat the heat of the traditional range, open cell foam was invented to assist people stay cool. The interior structure has pockets that allow for airflow. On the plus side, sleepers will not get so hot, however the holes suggest that the surface of the bed is less thick. It’s typically a lower quality material that won’t last as long.
Pain Relief
Memory foam is known for aiding with discomfort. It’s a top option among individuals with arthritis and individuals who have fibromyalgia because it finest imitates the sensation of sleeping on a fluffy cloud. The contouring also assists to keep the body in a natural positioning, which we’ll get to in a moment.
If you’re the type of individual who struggles to get comfy on a standard bed mattress, or you have a tough time finding an ideal firmness level, then you’ll most likely appreciate this product.
Pressure Point Relief
Pressure point relief has actually become something of a buzzword recently, but for good factor. And this is where viscoelastic beds shine.
Think of it in this manner: what occurs when you lie down in your corner on a slab of concrete? You’ll most likely feel the ground digging into your hips, your arm will fall asleep within minutes, however you’ll be lying there, wide-awake, wondering why you’re lying down out in the street.
Since viscoelastic contours to your curves, it takes the pressure off your denser and much heavier body parts like the hips and shoulders. This discovery was what gave this material its start in health centers. Not only did it help patients sleep more easily, but it also worked to prevent things like bedsores.
Back Assistance & Spinal Positioning
When you lie down, your spine must preserve a comparable position as when you’re standing. When individuals sleep on the wrong surface, their spinal column tends to jut out or collapse in at abnormal angles. If you awaken aching or stiff in the morning, it could be your bed mattress’s fault. With memory foam, the contouring impacts allow the spine to maintain its natural shape.
The best method to test your bed to see if it enables proper alignment is to rest on your side and have someone take a picture of you from behind. If you ‘d choose to work alone, then set a timer on your smartphone’s electronic camera and take a photo that way.
Take a look at the angle of your spinal column. It must be a nearly perfectly horizontal line. If your hips and shoulders are raised up or sinking down, then you know it’s time for a different bed.
Individuals looking into this type of bed mattress need to ensure they get one that has the proper density. If it’s too firm or soft, you’ll lose out on the benefit of appropriate back positioning. As a general rule, the greater the foam density, the firmer the bed mattress. All mattress companies and website will define what the density specs are. Try to find something that’s at least 3.5, if not closer to 5.0.