Memory foam products were initially developed for NASA back in the 1960s. Created specifically to improve the safety of aircraft cushions, the foam consists of a open cell structure filled with gas, allowing it to snap back to its former shape regardless of the pressure applied. The technology was quickly adopted in healthcare settings to relieve pressure sores for patients rendered immobile and experiencing poor blood circulation. As the manufacturing process simplified, today, memory foam can be found in a whole host of different products from luxury mattresses to pillows, to everyday massage tables and office chairs.

With more and more of us embracing the technology and bringing it into our homes, just how is it we get a better night’s sleep on a memory foam bed?

Reviews from https://www.trymattress.com/best-memory-foam-mattress/ help explain some of the key features of memory foam mattresses. Most notably, its high-density properties offer a soft yet supported night’s sleep - but just how does this work?:

It fits perfectly to your body

This is why Craig and I eventually plumped for a memory foam mattress. Being very different body shapes, we both wanted different things from our mattress, and memory foam appeared to offer the ideal solution. I was also heavily pregnant at the time, and finding it difficult to get comfortable. The claims it would “hug me” and make me feel weightless were big pulls, and I haven’t been disappointed.

In short, these mattresses respond to the pressure and heat of your body. They also allow the surface to distribute your body weight properly, and once you wake up, they go back to their original shape. It’s like sleeping in the clouds - however many positions you naturally adopt in bed, your mattress will quickly adapt to best support you.

Provides temperature control

It goes without saying that the temperature of your body can affect your quality of sleep. Our bodies naturally do a great job of self-regulating, but in more extreme conditions we’ll often get restless and struggle to get comfortable. Generally speaking, the hotter we become, the more difficult it is to drop off - making us far more likely to complain of a bad night’s sleep in the summer, than we are in the winter.

Memory foam mattresses are particularly sensitive to heat and will respond to your body by softening when your body temperature increases. They’ll also retain heat and offer additional warmth for better comfort during winter months. Savvy to this, many mattress retailers have incorporated cooling features into their foam offerings to allow for an undisturbed sleep in the height of summer.

Noticeable pain-relief

I alluded to this in my opening paragraph - needless there’s a reason why the healthcare industry greeted the technology with open arms. Put simply memory foam mattresses distribute pressure from your body weight more evenly. This means that there is less stress on areas where pressure would generally “pool” helping with a variety of health concerns including fibromyalgia, arthritis and even pulled muscles.

How does it do this? Well, it’s pretty simple! Areas with pain have a slightly higher temperature than other parts of the body. By sleeping on a memory foam mattress, it detects injured regions and ‘folds up’ your body correctly by either reducing or adding pressure to the sore area.

Relief from allergies

The Sleep Council and traditional mattress retailers both strongly recommend you replace your mattress every 8 years. In fact, according to various health and hygiene studies, an aged mattress can be welcome accommodation for allergens, dead skin cells, (up to 10 million) dust mites and germs that could seriously affect your wellbeing and health. However, memory foam models have a polyurethane foam makeup that’s made of fibers which prevent dust mites from accumulating in your bed. Unlike other mattresses, memory foam’s heavy composition prevents the increase of allergens for a long time.

Motion Transfer Resistance

Finally, memory foam mattresses are the best for couples. They absorb all surface movements meaning that your partner will not disturb you when he or she wakes up or tosses and turns in their sleep.

While sleep needs vary from one person to another, memory foam mattresses really do offer a smart alternative to standard mattresses. In fact, so confident are many retailers that they offer no hassle improved sleep guarantees so you can try before you buy. In total you spend about one third of your life in your bed, so there’s much to be gained from investing in your health and well being with a memory foam mattress.