Full Memory Foam Mattress

Is a Full Memory Foam Mattress Right for You?

The memory foam mattress has become extremely popular in today’s bedding market because many people have appreciated getting a more restful and less painful night’s sleep. However, memory foam mattresses are not for everyone.

What is memory foam and where did it come from? It is made from visco elastic polyurethane foam and is called memory foam because of its unique properties. It will mold to the human body, but then return to its original shape after being compressed. It was originally created for NASA back in the 1970s, but soon started being utilized by people with orthopedic problems. As it became cheaper to produce it eventually became available to the public about 1991 and has since enjoyed mass market appeal.

Shopping for Memory Foam Products is Confusing….

The first product sold publicly was a mattress topper, but soon afterward a full memory foam mattress became available which didn’t take long to become a top seller in the bedding industry. Due to their increased popularity more products were added to the market. Eventually, there were so many memory mattress foam products for sale it became confusing for the general public as to which one would best suit their needs.

What is Density?

The confusion is mostly due to the many different densities and firmness levels to choose from. In order to make a good choice you first need to know what density and firmness mean. Density is considered the weight of a 1 cubic foot section of memory foam. If a memory foam mattress has a 4 pound density it means a 1 cubic foot section weighs 4 pounds.

How To Determine the Firmness….

The firmness of the mattress is measured as Indentation Load Deflection, otherwise called ILD. The amount of force in pounds that it takes to cause a 1 inch indentation is the ILD. To measure ILD a 50-inch disc is placed onto a 4×15x15-inch section of foam. The amount of weight in pounds that cause the 50-inch disc to compress the foam 1 inch is its firmness. If it takes 12 pounds to compress the foam 1 inch it has an ILD rating of 12.

A full memory foam mattress, sometimes mistakenly called a memory foam latex mattress, is unlike a conventional spring mattress because it takes less pressure to make an indentation. However, it must be remembered that there are differences among firmness levels so a higher ILD rating will cause the mattress to indent less and a lower ILD rating will cause the mattress to be softer.

Memory Foam Means Less Back Pain….

Conventional mattresses will push back as you lie on them, causing more force to be placed on certain areas like the hips and shoulders. A memory foam mattress will cause your body weight to be more evenly distributed over a wider area and therefore will “push back” less. It will conform to your body shape creating an impression in the foam. For a lot of people this translates into a more restful and less painful night’s sleep.

A full memory foam mattress can be more expensive than a conventional mattress which is why they make a memory foam mattress topper. The memory foam topper is much thinner and therefore cheaper. Because of their thinness they also wear out much quicker than a full mattress.

A Full Memory Foam Mattress is Warmer….

The warmer a memory foam mattress gets the more soft it becomes. When a person emits body warmth into the mattress the top layer will warm up and soften, causing it to mold to their body curves. The area of the mattress below the heat will remain cooler and more firm, offering good support.

Because the foam conforms to an individual’s body the pressure is not concentrated on certain areas like hips and shoulders. Many people who wake up stiff and sore on a conventional mattress can find great relief by using a full memory foam mattress. But it’s not just hips and shoulders that can benefit from memory foam. People with spinal problems or lower back pain can also sleep pain free because the foam gives support where it is needed the most.

Memory Foam Mattresses are Not for Everyone….

As comfortable as memory foam is, it is not for everybody. Some people will not like the fact that it can retain heat more than a conventional mattress. A good way to find out if this type of bedding is suitable for you is to start with a cheaper memory foam bed topper. If you enjoy the comfort of the topper you can later move to a full memory foam mattress.

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