The mattress you sleep on plays a major role in your overall health, even if it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. After all, you use your mattress more than probably any other item in your home, spending at least six to eight hours in it each day—and more if you’re sick or enjoying some alone time with your partner. As such, it’s critical to have a mattress that fits your needs and is durable if you want to get the most from your mattress.
In fact, it’s recommended that you replace your mattress at least every eight years, since even though some mattresses are durable enough to last longer and may offer a lifetime warranty, an older mattress could be causing you problems. Many studies have illustrated that spine health is in many ways connected to the quality of your mattress, especially if you’re a side sleeper or stomach sleeper. As you look for new mattresses, you’ll likely be inundatedmemory foam options. Memory foam has quickly made a name for itself in the past decade or two for being one of the best mattress for back pain. That being said, is a memory foam mattress the right type of mattress for you? Read on for a shopper’s guide to memory foam.
What Is Memory Foam?
Memory foam was first made popularcompanies like Tempurpedic, but the polyurethane and polyethylene content of any foam mattress would also qualify as memory foam regardless of the brand name. A foam mattress differs from spring and coil mattressesoffering both motion isolation and relief to various pressure points on your body. You’ve probably seen videos of people jumping on memory foam mattresses next to full glasses of wine, and, thanks to the memory foam bed’s ability to isolate and distribute motion, the wine doesn’t spill. Memory foam isn’t just for foam beds either; it can also be used for pillows, too.
How Is Memory Foam Beneficial?
Memory foam offers just the right amount of sinkage into the foam to support your body in a way that coils simply can’t do. For example, if you like a medium-firm mattress but need some give as a side sleeper, a foam design mattress could be a great way to support your hips and spine without adding too much pressure to those parts of your body. Thanks to the layers of memory foam, you can get the support your body needs while your partner does, too, meaning that for stomach sleepers and side sleepers alike, a memory foam mattress could be much better than a box spring option.
Do you need a full-on memory foam mattress, or will a memory foam comfort layer do, too?
While it can be tempting to purchase a new mattress with layers upon layers of memory foam, depending on your needs and price range, a mattress featuring a memory foam comfort layer may be just as helpful. Breathability can be a concern with some memory foam options, and so a brand like the Nectar bed—which offers memory foam models as well as options with a memory foam layer for comfort and pressure relief—could be well worth your research. These hybrid options may also offer a greater variety of types of firmness on the firmness scale since they aren’t one solid material.
Buying a new mattress can be tricky since you want both a comfortable mattress as well as something that fits the contours of your body. Memory foam is becoming more popular for people who have sensitive areas when they sleep or aches. While a full memory foam mattress may be right for some, many people can get pain relief from something like a Nectar memory foam mattress as well.