What are the Pros and Cons of Memory Foam Mattresses?

Very few things in life feel as good as waking up after a great night’s sleep.

The more consistently we sleep well, the better our life becomes.

Sleeping well improves our health, makes us more productive at work and play, and better at sports / activities.

To improve sleep quality, you need a quality mattress. When looking for a new mattress, choose a mattress that fits your physical properties, posture, and taste. One that’s comfortable and supports your spine and lower back. 

While the recommendations and experiences that friends and family can give you are a good starting point, not all mattresses are suitable for all types of people.

If you clicked the article, you want to hear the advantages and disadvantages of memory foam mattresses, since these tend to have satisfactory consumer scores of around 80%. The only other type of mattress that approaches this level of score consistency is latex.

This statistic means that on average 4 out of 5 people are satisfied with mattresses that contain memory foam. But what makes it so great?

Some History About Memory Foam Mattresses

Viscoelastic (memory) foam was originally designed in the mid-1960s for NASA, to help reduce the G-Force astronauts experienced during take-off and re-entry of space ships.

After its introduction to NASA, memory foam was used for multiple applications, such as seats in airplanes, and in helmets and shoes. In the field of medicine, it was used in prostheses and other products to prevent pressure ulcers. It made its way into mattresses when Tempur-Pedic introduced it as a sleep solution in 1992.

The Disadvantages of Memory Foam in Mattresses

Memory foam tends to sleep hot. Some like it hot. for those that prefer a cooler sleep (highly recommended as better for sleep) memory foam mattresses infused with a gel that has cooling properties eliminates this issue.

Memory foam is heavier than most conventional foams. Some people find it difficult to move memory foam mattresses, but this complaint does not generate general dissatisfaction with the mattress, as we don’t tend to move our mattresses very often.

Memory foam is a synthetic material made of chemical substances and petroleum products. As such, it does give off gas more than natural foam products such as latex. Some users complain of a slight smell that can last for a few days. 

The Advantages of Memory Foam in Mattresses

Thanks to its unique characteristics, memory foam adapts much better to the body than regular foams.

Memory foam allows body weight to be distributed evenly throughout the mattress, which provides better support to the spine and lower back. 

• Memory foam generally sleeps a bit firmer than regular foam. According to the National Sleep Foundation, this can lead to better sleep for those with back pain. 
• Memory foam is known for relieving joint pain by taking pressure off pressure points such as shoulders, elbows, ribs, hips and knees.
• Memory foam reduces tossing and turning as you sleep. This makes for less sleep interruptions if you’re sleeping with a partner.
• As memory foam molds to the body in response to heat and pressure, it evenly distributes body weight without gaps like inner-springs. 
• Memory foam cradles and gently contours to your body and lower back, and supports the spine as you sleep.
• Mattresses that contain memory foam maintain their comfort and show less body impressions longer than mattresses made with conventional foam comfort layers. 

All of these memory foam features make for a very comfortable sleep. The end result is you wake up feeling rested, restored and rejuvenated.