Memory Foam: What is it And Why Should You Care?

Sleep is elusive, you wake up in pain each morning, and now you’re in the market for a new mattress. As you start your search, all you hear about is memory foam.

If you aren’t familiar with memory foam, you may wonder what it is, and ask yourself why you should care.

For starters, these mattresses have taken the world by storm and become one of the most popular mattresses on the market today.

In this article, we break it down so you can decide if it’s right for you.

What is Memory Foam?

Before memory foam was used in mattresses, NASA used it in the 1960s for seats and seat belts. After NASA, others realized that memory foam is very soft and cushioning. It found its place in helmets, shoes, and even prosthetics.

After this, memory foam experienced its own liftoff in the mattress category. Why? It’s because of its incredible ability to mold to your body in response to your body heat and pressure. It helps to evenly distribute your weight.

When you lay on a memory foam mattress, the heat of your body softens the mattress. This ultimately helps support the natural curvature of your spine. Many people find they not only sleep better but also wake up with less pain.

Because of its amazing properties, memory foam impacts sleep in many beneficial ways.

Memory Foam Molds to Your Body

The biggest reason you should care about memory foam is that it slowly molds to your body, helping to evenly distribute your body weight. You’ll find that it responds to each person differently.

People who sleep on memory foam really appreciate how it cradles them, contouring to their body, and reduces pressure points.

Another interesting fact about memory foam is that as you move, it slowly returns to its original shape. This means it helps cushion you as you move throughout the night. Because it moves slowly, sleepers don’t notice a big change.

What Does Sleeping on It Feel Like?

Depending on the brand of your memory foam mattress, you’ll find each of these qualities to varying degrees.

First, memory foam is contouring. As you lay down on your mattress, it contours to your body. It recognizes your curves as your body heat and pressure build.

The next thing you’ll notice is that you sink into the mattress, but not in a way that makes you feel like you can’t ever get up. A memory foam mattress embraces your body in a gentle way so that you feel cradled and supported.

Finally, you’ll notice that as the heat of your body sinks into the mattress, it becomes softer and adds to the feeling of being supported.

Benefits of Memory Foam

Many people love the adaptive feel of memory foam.

Here are a few more reasons why people love this type of mattress:

You benefit from pressure relief. A memory foam mattress can relieve pressure on your hips, shoulders, and neck, especially if you are a side sleeper. If you have pressure points in these areas, you may have trouble sleeping or walking once you get up. This type of mattress can also help if you have joint pain and arthritis.
Your spine is in better alignment. A memory foam mattress provides you not only with lumbar support, but it helps align your spine while you sleep. You’ll find it easier to get comfortable because your spine stays in a neutral position. This helps alleviate back pain.
Memory foam mattresses are also hypoallergenic because these dense mattresses don’t attract as many dust mites and other allergens.
You sleep better if you are sleeping with a partner. This is because memory foam mattresses cover the movement of co-sleepers.

Picking the Right Firmness Level

Now that you know why you should care about memory foam mattresses, let’s look at what to consider when making your purchase.

The first thing to think about when purchasing any mattress is its firmness. For example, do you want a soft, medium, or firm mattress?

Every mattress comes with a firmness rating, so be sure and ask when purchasing. Lay on several different firmness levels to see which one is right for you. Don’t forget to consider your sleep position as this really dictates which firmness level you choose.

Final Thoughts

A memory foam mattress is a good choice for many people. Not only will they sleep better, but they might find the mattress lasts a long time. According to the Sleep Foundation, memory foam mattresses tend to have a slightly longer lifespan than traditional innerspring mattresses.

Now that you know why you should care, we invite you to shop Mattress Outlet in-store or online for the best memory foam mattresses that impact your sleep in beneficial ways.

Photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash