Mattresses - Latex or Memory Foam?

The latex mattress has been popular for half a century, serving millions of people worldwide. However, with new technology from NASA themselves, the memory foam mattress is at the height of popularity. What is the difference between them and which one is the Best mattress for you?

Memory foam is viscoelastic, allowing it to absorb shocks, as well as responsive to temperature, becoming softer with heat of your body. In a memory foam mattress, the lower layer of foam that is not receiving heat remains firm, giving proper support. In order to have optimum temperature relation, and thus comfort, the mattress should be ideally 3 ½”to 6” thick. Since it conforms to your body, the pressure is relieved and weight evenly distributed; this is the key to what makes memory foam so comfortable. Since there are no pressure points with the mattress, it greatly reduces tossing and turning during the night.

Latex has a unique feel best described as similar to Jell-O. It is more shape-conforming and offers support but is firmer, transferring more motion than memory foam. Some people prefer latex since it is seen as a more natural Eco Friendly Mattress and is capable of complete decomposition. Latex is naturally hypoallergenic and anti-microbial, resistant to dust mites, mold and fungus. An advantage of a latex bed is nearly indestructible and will often last a lifetime.

Weather you enjoy a more traditional latex mattress or see the merit in memory foam is a personal preference.

How are Memory Foam Mattresses made?

The list of items created by NASA for the space program is longer than most people realize. From the pocket calculator to the memory foam mattress, the space program has helped all of us live longer, fuller lives. To many of us, memory foam mattresses appear to work almost like magic. They take the shape of whatever is pressed into it, only to completely rebound once the pressure is removed. How, though, are these tiny engineering marvels created?

Memory foam is made from polyurethane and other chemicals that help to make the compound both thicker and firmer. This results in the soft, molded feel you get with memory foam, but that is lacking in a traditional foam pad. Most of them are made of three basic layers – the layer that includes the memory foam, a base layer that helps to more evenly distribute weight, and a platform layer that ensures you don’t simply sink down into the mattress. Thes layers are clearly visible in some of the mattresses by companies such as Magniflex. After the foam is created, these three layers are bonded together. The variation in bonding methods depends extensively on the manufacturer. As a result, each brand has a very different feel.

A Bit of History
The substance was never actually used as part of the space program, but those in the medical community could quickly see how such a mattress could change patient care forever. The first hospitals that began using these types of mattresses did so with patients who were paralyzed. Almost immediately, doctors and nurses saw a significant decrease in the bedsores and even gangrene that can sometimes come from patients remaining immobile for long periods of time.

Unfortunately, at the outset, memory foam mattresses were far too expensive to sell to the general public, but changes in manufacturing have helped to make these beds affordable to just about anyone. Now, you can even find discount mattresses that are made from memory foam. Mattress toppers are also available to put on your existing mattress. Many orthopedic experts believe that the memory foam mattress is the healthiest way to sleep and these beds are now recommended by doctors all over the world. These simple inventions sure have come a long way since the mid-1960’s when they were first created.