Benefits of Memory Foam Mattresses

While not all memory foam mattresses are created the same, the potential benefits could help you count fewer sheep the next time you are trying to fall asleep.

Originally a technology for astronauts to aid in comfort during take-off and touchdown, memory foam–or visco-elastic foam–was later integrated into mattresses to increase pressure-point relief on the curves of the body and to allow total body comfort during sleep.

The Mattress Structure

Memory foam is commonly near or at the top of the mattress. In an all-foam mattress, the support for your spine is in the base of the mattress and consists of high-density, durable base foam. This type of foam, however, is generally too firm for most people to sleep directly on. It is necessary though for proper support and longevity of the mattress. That is where the memory foam comes in to give you the cozy release your body has been waiting for. The memory foam is strategically placed on top of the base layer of the mattress to balance out the firm support and provide a surface for your body to conform and relax into.

Though not as common when memory foam mattresses first came out, today most memory foam is fused with variations of gel technology. These special features allow the foam or fabric to help manage body temperature and keep you sleeping.  The three factors that are most important in achieving great sleep are back support, muscle comfort and regulated body temperature so that you’re not too hot and not too cold.

Memory foam allows the hips and shoulders to relax into the mattress, while the spine rests effortlessly on the surface to prevent soreness or restlessness. With multiple types of foam working hand-in-hand, memory foam also promotes better quality sleep by supporting optimal sleep patterns, decreasing tossing and turning, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles.

Memory Foam Improves Your Sleep Quality

Rapid eye movement, better known as REM sleep, is a stage of sleep potentially obtained several different times during the night. In order to achieve this level of sleep, you will need to have the proper support and pressure-point relief. In other words, you need to be comfortable to reach and stay in REM. A memory foam mattress can provide increased comfort and circulation and take your sleep patterns to the next level.

Everyone has different needs: some have aches and pains, some don’t. You may ask, “Which one is right for me?”

Types of Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses come in different levels of firmness for each and every body shape and size. A foam mattress designated as “firm” is generally best suited for a back or stomach sleeper, or a person considered to be in the above-average body type category. A memory foam mattress considered to be “soft” would be more ideal for a side sleeper or, generally speaking, for a smaller person.

A “medium” memory foam mattress would be the best option to compromise on for individuals with different comfort preferences. This would work in instances when you have two people sleeping on a mattress and one is partial to a firm surface and one to a soft surface. The medium category can also include “cushion firm” and “luxury firm” memory foam mattress feels.

Rest Easy and Undisturbed on Memory Foam

Undisturbed sleep is yet another unmistakable benefit when sleeping on a memory foam mattress. No more sleepless nights waking up from the other person moving around next to you. Not only does memory foam maximize your overall comfort while reducing tossing and turning, it also allows for motion absorption within the mattress that gives each individual the chance to sleep thoroughly without waking the other.

Memory foam mattresses are essentially solid foam and they do not have any bounce. This means when you or someone else moves around on a memory foam mattress, the other person will hardly feel anything, or better yet feel nothing at all on the other side. This keeps you in deep sleep stages and also allows you to either reach REM sleep more frequently throughout the night or to stay in REM sleep for a greater amount of time. This can directly affect the way you will feel when you wake up the next morning.

A memory foam mattress can be a major contributor to strengthening your immune system, improved short-term and long-term memory, and also improved mood or feeling happy throughout the day. There are several major growth hormones that are waiting to be released through the bloodstream during deep sleep. These specific body chemical messages are used to repair muscle tissue, regenerate cells, and restore energy throughout the sleep cycle. This happens primarily during deep sleep and the REM stage. Good sleep is especially important for people who may be healing from an injury or if those that suffer from mild to severe aches and pains in the muscles or bones. Generally, the better quality sleep you have the more quickly you will heal, and the better you will feel. If you are feeling relaxed and comfortable on a memory foam mattress chances are that you are going to sleep well and wake up feeling rejuvenated with less pain than you may have had the night before.

Don’t wait, let your body prosper on a new memory foam mattress today. The sleep experts at Mattress World Northwest are ready to help you find the perfect mattress for your needs.

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