Who’da think it

Memory Foam Mattresses

Believe it or not, memory foam came into being in the early 70’s when NASA financed a developmental project intended to produce a substance which could help relieve the physical distress astronauts experienced during lift-off.

In the course of research, a unique foam material, dubbed visco elastic, was invented that was capable of conforming to a person’s shape and then revert to its own natural state when pressure was taken away. This foam allowed for the equal distribution of body weight over the full surface of the foam, quickly adapting to any movements of the body.

A memory foam mattress pad is not what you would label as a “soft” mattress. It molds and contours to the body, and the contouring effect distributes that weight over more of the sleeping area, thus reducing pressure points. On an ordinary inner-spring bed, pressure points can create pain and make you toss and turn, so memory foam’s contouring characteristics will allow for a better night’s rest.

Visco foam mattresses are able to breathe because of their open cell composition. Since the foam does not retain moisture or body heat, the bed stays comfortable throughout the night.

Unlike spring beds, memory foam doesn’t have a problem with things like mold and bacteria build up. This is good news for allergy sufferers who sometimes discover that they have problems with traditional mattresses over time.

Visco foam also works to lessen motion transfer between you and your significant other, so if one of you moves in the course of the night, it will not wake and disturb the other. Less disturbance from movement means a deeper, more restful sleep.

Note that you actually do not need a traditional box spring beneath a memory foam bed. More often than not the only reason you would want to use a box spring is to situate the mattress at a height that you are happy with.