Tag Archive for: best mattress

Memory foam mattress in a cozy dark painted room for good sleep

Memory Foam: What is it And Why Should You Care?

Sleep is elusive, you wake up in pain each morning, and now you’re in the market for a new mattress. As you start your search, all you hear about is memory foam.

If you aren’t familiar with memory foam, you may wonder what it is, and ask yourself why you should care.

For starters, these mattresses have taken the world by storm and become one of the most popular mattresses on the market today.

In this article, we break it down so you can decide if it’s right for you.

What is Memory Foam?

Before memory foam was used in mattresses, NASA used it in the 1960s for seats and seat belts. After NASA, others realized that memory foam is very soft and cushioning. It found its place in helmets, shoes, and even prosthetics.

After this, memory foam experienced its own liftoff in the mattress category. Why? It’s because of its incredible ability to mold to your body in response to your body heat and pressure. It helps to evenly distribute your weight.

When you lay on a memory foam mattress, the heat of your body softens the mattress. This ultimately helps support the natural curvature of your spine. Many people find they not only sleep better but also wake up with less pain.

Because of its amazing properties, memory foam impacts sleep in many beneficial ways.

Memory Foam Molds to Your Body

The biggest reason you should care about memory foam is that it slowly molds to your body, helping to evenly distribute your body weight. You’ll find that it responds to each person differently.

People who sleep on memory foam really appreciate how it cradles them, contouring to their body, and reduces pressure points.

Another interesting fact about memory foam is that as you move, it slowly returns to its original shape. This means it helps cushion you as you move throughout the night. Because it moves slowly, sleepers don’t notice a big change.

What Does Sleeping on It Feel Like?

Depending on the brand of your memory foam mattress, you’ll find each of these qualities to varying degrees.

First, memory foam is contouring. As you lay down on your mattress, it contours to your body. It recognizes your curves as your body heat and pressure build.

The next thing you’ll notice is that you sink into the mattress, but not in a way that makes you feel like you can’t ever get up. A memory foam mattress embraces your body in a gentle way so that you feel cradled and supported.

Finally, you’ll notice that as the heat of your body sinks into the mattress, it becomes softer and adds to the feeling of being supported.

Benefits of Memory Foam

Many people love the adaptive feel of memory foam.

Here are a few more reasons why people love this type of mattress:

  1. You benefit from pressure relief. A memory foam mattress can relieve pressure on your hips, shoulders, and neck, especially if you are a side sleeper. If you have pressure points in these areas, you may have trouble sleeping or walking once you get up. This type of mattress can also help if you have joint pain and arthritis.
  2. Your spine is in better alignment. A memory foam mattress provides you not only with lumbar support, but it helps align your spine while you sleep. You’ll find it easier to get comfortable because your spine stays in a neutral position. This helps alleviate back pain.
  3. Memory foam mattresses are also hypoallergenic because these dense mattresses don’t attract as many dust mites and other allergens.
  4. You sleep better if you are sleeping with a partner. This is because memory foam mattresses cover the movement of co-sleepers.

Picking the Right Firmness Level

Now that you know why you should care about memory foam mattresses, let’s look at what to consider when making your purchase.

The first thing to think about when purchasing any mattress is its firmness. For example, do you want a soft, medium, or firm mattress?

Every mattress comes with a firmness rating, so be sure and ask when purchasing. Lay on several different firmness levels to see which one is right for you. Don’t forget to consider your sleep position as this really dictates which firmness level you choose.

Final Thoughts

A memory foam mattress is a good choice for many people. Not only will they sleep better, but they might find the mattress lasts a long time. According to the Sleep Foundation, memory foam mattresses tend to have a slightly longer lifespan than traditional innerspring mattresses.

Now that you know why you should care, we invite you to shop Mattress Outlet in-store or online for the best memory foam mattresses that impact your sleep in beneficial ways.

Photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash

What Mattress is Best for You

What Mattress is Best for You?

You’re looking for the perfect night’s sleep. Yet, your mattress isn’t cooperating. Whether you’re a back sleeper, a side sleeper, or a front sleeper, our guide can help you find just the right one.

When you start shopping for a mattress, the options can be overwhelming. Where do you start? Should you find something budget friendly or splurge a little? What size should you choose? How do you know what firmness level to pick? What should your new mattress be made from? Innerspring or foam?

There’s no need to worry as we look at what mattress is best for you and your sleep style.

Know Your Sleep Position

The very first thing you need to do is analyze your sleep position. There are four general types: side sleeper, back sleeper, tummy sleeper, and combination sleeper. Some people vary their position throughout the night, so be aware if you do this as well and decide which is your most prominent position.

You will find that you favor one position more than another for most of the night. Why is this important?

It’s important because many mattresses are designed for certain types of sleepers while others can accommodate a wide variety of sleep positions.

If You’re a Back Sleeper

Back sleepers usually do best with a medium firm mattress. Why? If the mattress is too firm, this might hurt their lower back and even their shoulders. If you go too soft, your back and hips can get out of alignment causing back pain.

Back sleepers should stay right in the middle of the firmness scale. This helps keep your spine in a neutral alignment, so your back doesn’t get out of position causing pain across areas of your back.

Finally, back sleepers will thrive in a hybrid mattress. This combines foam and coil layers to cradle your body and help keep you in the right sleep position.

If You’re a Side Sleeper

Side sleepers need to carefully balance their choice to make sure they don’t end up with pain in their shoulders and their hips.

This generally leads side sleepers to a softer mattress. The softness will cradle the curves of their body. Industry standard is a 6.5 for medium firmness, so a softer mattress should be under this but not lower than a four on the firmness scale.

Side sleepers have to be cautious of their joints, and this is why a soft mattress is critical. A memory foam mattress is really going to benefit side sleepers because of the pressure relief.

If You’re a Tummy Sleeper

The stomach sleeper should look at a firm mattress. Why? To help keep your hips inline with your shoulders and avoid back pain.

The last thing a tummy sleeper wants is to sleep on a soft bed. Firm and extra firm are the way to go.

That being said, you can end up with a supportive mattress that is comfortable, so a hybrid mattress is also a good option here. An innerspring, traditional mattress is another great option. Consider a pillow top for added comfort.

If You’re a Combination Sleeper

For those people who roll around all night from side to back to stomach want to look at a medium firmness.

Because this provides balance to the combo sleeper, you’ll find the most comfort in a hybrid type mattress. This way you’re comfortable whichever way you roll.

If You Have Back Pain

Nearly 65 million Americans suffer from some sort of back pain. While there are many reasons for back pain, one of these is an unsupportive mattress.

Many people find that simply getting a new mattress helps prevent and alleviate back pain.

When choosing the right mattress for back pain sufferers, you want to consider the type of pain you have.

For chronic back pain sufferers, consider your pain when deciding between a firmer or a softer mattress. You want to be comfortable while keeping your spine in the right position. Here are a few tips on what to look for.

If You Have Lower Back Pain

This is pain in the L1-L5 vertebrae in your lumbar area. It’s the most common type of back pain.

You’ll find that spending years on the wrong kind of mattress or in the wrong sleep position can cause your lower back to ache. This can happen whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach.

Side sleepers want a softer mattress, while back and stomach sleepers can look at medium firm to firm.

If You Have Middle and Upper Back Pain

This type of pain isn’t as common as lower back pain. If you have this kind of pain, you may have a serious issue.

While your first step is a visit to the doctor, you may find relief from a mattress that relieves pressure on your upper or middle back regions. A better pillow can also help you.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know what mattress is best for you, you can start your search.

You have what you need so you can look at specific categories of mattresses to help you choose just the right one.

Be sure and visit us as we can help you find your best mattress.

Photo by Tracey Hocking on Unsplash