A Brief History of Memory Foam

While memory foam was developed for NASA in the 1960's, it didn't hit the consumer market until the early 1990's - first as memory foam mattress topper pads, and later used in memory foam mattresses. Since then, memory foam mattresses have become the fastest growing segment in the mattress industry. With every year, you see more and more companies selling memory foam mattresses and topper pads, and it is very difficult, even for those of us in the industry, to keep up with all the new memory foam products being introduced.

The first company to realize the potential of memory foam for the consumer market was Tempur-Pedic. They had worked on creating their own version of memory foam, and developed foam they called Tempur, that was much more durable and still had the pressure reducing benefits of memory foam.

Memory foam was subsequently used in medical settings. For example, it was commonly utilized in cases where the patient was required to lie immobile in their bed on a firm mattress for an unhealthy period of time. The pressure over some of their bony regions decreased or stopped the blood flow to the region causing pressure sores or gangrene. Memory foam mattresses remarkably decreased such events.

Memory foam was initially too expensive for widespread use, but in recent years it has become cheaper. Its most common domestic uses are mattresses, pillows, and mattress toppers. It has medical uses, such as wheelchair seat cushions, hospital bed pillows and padding for persons suffering long-term pain or postural problems; for example, a memory foam cervical pillow may alleviate chronic neck pain. Its heat-retaining properties may help some pain sufferers who find the added warmth helps to decrease the pain.

Due to its origin as a medical device, Tempur foam was very expensive, and has stayed that way to this day. After a few years on the consumer market, other foam manufacturers saw the potential of memory foam and began to produce their own memory foam product lines. Because these manufacturers came from the consumer foam industry, rather than the medical industry, their cost structure for memory foam was much lower and they priced their products at a fraction of the Tempur foam. As the years went by, memory foam became more and more popular, and now manufacturers all over the world are making their versions of memory foam.

What is Memory Foam?

Memory foam is polyurethane with additional chemicals increasing its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as "visco-elastic" polyurethane foam, or low-resilience polyurethane foam. Higher-density memory foam softens in reaction to body heat, allowing it to mold to a warm body in a few minutes. A lower-density memory foam is pressure-sensitive and molds quickly to the shape of a body pressing against it, returning to its original shape once the pressure is removed.

Memory Foam ranges in density from 3.0 lb to 5.3 lb. Most inexpensive brands will be a 4.0 density or lower. Lower density will not last or feel the same as a 5.3 lb density foam.

Open cell memory foam vs. closed cell memory foam. Top of the line manufacturers use the technology of open celled memory foam. Closed cell memory foam will be very temperature sensitive and will fell very hard when cold and ultra soft when hot. Open cell memory foam technology will not be near as temperature sensitive giving a more consistent sleep experience. Going the route of an open cell memory foam technology will help take away ones' uneasiness about the foam being "too hot" or having the memory foam be ultra hard if the room is cold.

The amount of memory foam also has an effect on the capabilities of the mattress or topper. Anything less than 2 inches will not have much of an effect, whereas a 6-inch block would be too soft and dense to sleep on comfortably.

Memory Foam Functions

Memory foam has become quite popular for domestic uses in pillows, mattresses toppers and the much-desired memory foam mattresses. For those with medical problems, memory foam mattresses ease pain for those suffering long-term pain and posture problems. Memory foam pillows can help alleviate neck problems and memory foam mattresses can help relieve chronic back problems as well. Memory foam mattresses are much denser than their counterparts, giving your body more support where it needs it most. Memory foam mattresses tend to be more expensive, but they often last much longer than traditional spring mattresses.

The Many Benefits of Memory Foam

Having a memory foam mattress is great for your body. It helps relieve all of your major pressure points as you lay on it. If you are a side sleeper, the amount of pressure placed on your hips and shoulder will be relieved. Likewise, if you sleep on your stomach, your neck will feel less pressure. And if you sleep on your back, your lower back will feel less pressure. The point is, you'll toss less at night and slip into a deeper REM state of sleep. A much better sleep experience is achieved through this process.

Since there is no pressure point in the Memory Foam mattress, that is no point where the body and the spring or other hard surface meet; the support is ideal for healing from injury and chronic pain. Back pain suffers have found that the Memory Foams contouring ability supports and surrounds the body in a comforting nook, while the warmth of the body softens the foam and allows for easy movement. Fibromyalgia and arthritis suffers have found relief from the soft foam, since there is no bounce back, the pain is not jarred with tossing and turning in the night.

Another interesting facet of sleep mechanics is the height and weight distribution of you and your partner and how you affect each other in the bed. On a traditional mattress, if you are a small or light weight female and you are married to a very large and heavy man, your body will constantly be tipped towards them and will have to adjust whenever they move or shift. This does not create a very restful environment to your body, nor does it create an environment conducive to proper spinal and body alignment. If you sleep on a memory foam mattress, what your partner does is completely independent of you and your sleep position. Memory foam isolates individuals on either side of the bed and protects you from being jostled as your loved one tosses and turns, adjusts or gets up frequently in the night. You also won't roll into them as they create a deeper impression in the mattress.

Viscoelastic foam is a hypoallergenic material. Even if a sleeper has any kind of allergies, to dust in particular, they can forget about them as memory foam is not only antimicrobial, but also resistant to dust. Memory foam prevents dust mites from building habitats memory foam environments. Dust mites feed on organic fibers, such as cotton. In a memory foam environment, no food is readily available for dust mites to survive on in a memory foam mattress as opposed to the materials of which the insides of traditional mattresses are made of. Plus, there are many other products such as encasings to help prevent dust mites and other microorganisms from living in your mattresses.

A memory foam mattress has so many advantages. No wonder it is pretty expensive. Average prices are fluctuating a lot. Nevertheless if you are willing to be healthy and happy and to improve your sleeping habits, acquire it.

Easy-Rest Premium Memory Foam Product Features:

• 5.3 lb density memory foam top
• High resilient foam bases (2.0) density
• Zip off anti-microbial, anti-dust mite, washable cover
• 10 year warranty with no hassle replacement
• 75% less than top brands, best value in the industry
• Secret open cell Italian soft memory foam technology (less temperature sensitive)
• Compressed packaging making it possible for every customer to take a bed home
• Top quality memory foam allows for a healthier sleep by keeping your spine straight virtually eliminating pressure points.
• No motion Transfer

The 3 Levels of Easy-Rest Memory Foam Mattresses

• 3" of 5.3 lb density memory foam top
• 5" of high resilient 2.0 lb density foam base
• Zip off, removable anti-microbial polyester cover
• 10 year warranty
• Open cell Italian sofa memory foam

• 4" of 5.3 lb density memory foam top
• 6" of high resilient 2.0 lb density foam base
• Zip off, removable anti-microbial polyester cover
• 10 year warranty
• Open cell Italian sofa memory foam

• 2" pillow top of 5.3 lb density memory foam
• 3" 4 lb density memory foam center
• 7" 2lb density foam base
• Zip off, removable anti-microbial polyester cover
• 10 year warranty
• Open cell Italian sofa memory foam