How memory
foam works
This article sponsored by Sleep Innovations.
Sleep Innovations is North America’s leading producer of memory-foam sleep products,
including mattresses, toppers and pillows.
The newest innovation in memory-foam
technology is patent-pending Nutratemp, ™
which offers all of the benefits of traditional
memory foam while helping you maintain
a comfortable temperature while you sleep.
AFTER A LONG DAY, few things are more inviting than the thought of falling into bed. To help ensure a good night’s sleep, the fatigued across North
America are discovering the comfort and support of memory-foam pillows,
mattress toppers and mattresses.
History of memory foam
Memory foam was originally developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) in the 1970s to provide astronauts with
relief from the tremendous G-force involved in space travel. NASA scientists
added chemicals to polyurethane foam, the same material used by upholsterers, to increase its weight and density. The result was padding that conformed
to an individual’s body yet resumed its original shape after use.
Unfortunately, T-foam, NASA’s version of memory foam, was never used
on a space mission because it released gases, making it unusable in sealed,
confined environments. However, because it effectively eliminates incorrect
pressure points and prevents the spread of bacteria and microbes, hospitals
began using memory-foam mattresses for patients, especially for those confined to bed for extended periods.
The memory-foam mattresses
used in the medical industry were,
and still are, very expensive. That’s
what led innovators to develop a
more affordable line of high-quality
memory-foam products. Today, memory foam is the fastest-growing line
of products in the sleep industry.
How memory foam works
Memory foam has two characteristics that make it ideal for a good
night’s sleep. First, it consists of millions of pockets that compress and
spread their air pressure to adjoining
pockets. Second, it is temperature
sensitive: At lower temperatures it is
firmer, while at higher temperatures
it is softer and more conforming.
Therefore, it becomes softer where
your body makes contact and remains firmer in areas where there is
less body contact.
The difference between the
traditional spring-coil mattress—
the most popular mattress option
Lie down on a memory-foam mattress
and the heaviest parts of your body,
usually your hips, sink in farther than
lighter parts such as your feet.
If you want the benefits of a memory-foam sleeping surface without replacing
your current mattress, a memory-foam
topper (a pad ranging from 2 to 4 inches
thick that sits on top of your mattress)
offers an excellent alternative.
