The Most Essential Things About Foam Memory Mattresses

The Basics

• A memory foam mattress --- also known as a visco-elastic foam mattress --- is constructed out of polyurethane and is intended to give you a more comfortable night's sleep. The memory foam becomes soft when it makes contact with your body, molding around your curves and physique. Once you remove yourself from the bed, the memory foam mattress returns to its original shape. Memory foam mattresses are given an ILD (impression load deflection) rating. The higher the number, the stronger the mattress is at pushing back against your body weight.

History

• Memory foam was first designed in the 1970s for NASA astronauts to help them fight against the G-forces they encountered on missions during liftoff. The Ames Research Center funded a project to develop foam memory. The foam had to adjust to every movement of the human body to prevent incorrect pressure points. A decade later, a foam-producing company in Europe --- Fagerdala World Foams of Sweden --- started to develop a memory foam mattress for consumer use. By 1992, Tempur-Pedic --- a Swedish mattress company --- had created memory foam mattresses for consumers in both Sweden and North America. As of 2011, numerous companies produce memory foam mattresses throughout Canada and the United States.

The Density

• The price of memory foam mattresses can range, depending on how dense they are. Less dense memory foam mattresses --- on average --- are less expensive. However, the low-density design contains fewer open cells. Because there are fewer open cells, the air within the memory foam mattress will spread out at a faster pace, causing you to sink into the mattress more quickly. Higher-density models still allow you to sink, but not as quickly and not as deep into the mattress, allowing you to turn over and adjust yourself with ease.

Pressure Points

• Memory foam mattresses eliminate pressure points in the body while you sleep. When you sleep on a traditional bed, pressure points can form in your body, interrupting the natural flow of blood. This causes you to toss and turn, disturbing your sleep in the process. A memory foam mattress offers support for your entire body, reducing the amount of pressure points that develop. Fewer pressure points equals less tossing and turning. However, not everyone is guaranteed to get a better night's sleep on a memory foam mattress. Luckily, most companies offer a trial period with a full money-back guarantee if the mattress is not helping your sleep, or even making it worse.