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Introducing The Latex Memory Foam Mattress | Actually A Comparison Of Latex And Memory Foam

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There are essentially two types of foam mattress; the latex foam mattress and the memory foam mattress.  The latex foam mattress is made using latex foam and can be either natural or synthetic in its origin.  Latex is comfortable and durable when used in a mattress, in fact it is able to retain its shape and characteristic even after many years of use.  Memory foam is of course a viscoelastic product that becomes more liquid when it comes into contact with a warm body giving it the tendency to mold itself around a body providing both significant comfort and support.  You can purchase a memory foam mattress and you can purchase a latex foam mattress but as yet you cannot purchase a latex memory foam mattress because of course latex foam and memory foam are essentially two different products.

However, both types of mattress are very popular so it is worth spending a little time comparing both products in order to give a sensible view of which perhaps is the best product to buy.

Consumer Choices

There appears to be something of a geographical split when it comes to the popularity of the different types of mattress.  In the US the memory foam mattress is clearly in the ascendency and has become a very popular product for use in household products with perhaps the memory foam mattress at the top of the list in that regard.

Latex foam mattresses and indeed latex foam products generally have much more traction in Europe.  There does not seem to be any particular cause of this difference; perhaps it is just historical but latex foam products are strong in European countries and likely to remain so.

The Feel Of The Mattresses In Use

Generally speaking the feel of memory foam mattresses is well known.  Users describe a sort of “sinking” or “melting” feeling when they first lie on the mattress and because the mattress moulds itseld around them supporting at all points they tend to describe the sensation as “cocooned” and of course exceptionally comfortable.

Not everyone likes the sensation experienced when lying on memory foam however and for those who do not the latex foam mattress which is springier and generally firmer to sleep on is an ideal alternative.

Price Comparison

Good quality memory foam products are quite expensive.  A good quality memory foam mattress, such as a Temper-Pedic mattress will set you back up to $3000 and even cost around $800 at the starter end of the market.

On the other hand, the latex foam mattresses are a little less expensive, starting at around $300 and moving up to perhaps $1500 at the top end.

Other Similarities And Differences

Both latex and memory foam mattresses tend to give off a strange almost clinical smell when they are first bought.  This usually wears off pretty quickly but in the case of memory foam especially the weird smell can last for several weeks.

Latex foam mattresses tend to last longer than memory foam, perhaps being twice as durable.  Memory foam mattresses are better for those suffering from back ache or chronic fatigue due to way it moulds around the body, reducing movement generally.  However moulding effect can also be a drawback for memory foam as it tends to be slow to re-mould when you do change your position and can make sitting up a little awkward.  Latex foam mattresses on the other hand are firmer, do not mould but over time can get a little out of shape.

Memory foam mattresses can absorb moisture and can get very hot, whereas there are less issues with latex foam mattresses in this regard.  Memory foam is heavier and therefore harder to manoeuvre around, especially when initially installing.  Although having said that, what mattress is easy to manoeuvre.  None that I have ever come across.

In summary, latex foam mattresses are generally popular in European countries, are springy and durable but perhaps less therapeutic in benefiting sleep.  They are however less expensive than their memory foam equivalents.  Memory foam mattresses are on the other hand popular in the US, fantastic for therapeutic sleep and generally more expensive than their latex counterparts.  They both have a weird smell.  Perhaps, in conclusion in order to get the best of both worlds a latex memory foam mattress should be manufactured.  It would clean up in both Europe and the US ;-) .

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What Is Memory Foam?

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Memory Foam is the term for a form of visco elastic foam. This foam with amazing properties was firstly discovered for the National Aeronautics Agency NASA by a Scandinavian business to help moderate the huge G-force the astronauts encountered at take off and re-entry.

Only once it had been developed for use by NASA this foam was distributed to the health industry intended for service in the alleviation of pressure sores. This community documented the curative essence of this type of foam and at this time it is employed in hospital beds for post-op and severely injured patients. Over the years, visco elastic polyurethane foam was proved to stay one of a kind in the means it responds to variations in body heat and in its capacity to disseminate pressure over a greater surface area, thus alleviating pressure points significantly.

Whilst the original version of visco-elastic polyurethane foam developed for the National Aeronautics Agency NASA exhibited a lot of possibilities as a bed topper or wheel-chair pad substance, basic visco-elastic polyurethane foam did show difficulties from wear in due time. This original generation of this foam wasn’t very durable, and would frequently compress or display cracking over a period of time.

The earliest authentic visco elastic foam mattress was introduced to the public in 1990 by a notable Scandinavian bed production business.

If you are looking into buying a ‘Memory Foam’ mattress or visco elastic foam mattress topper, what you need to remember is that not all types of visco-elastic polyurethane foam are the same. They change a substantial amount in quality, solidity, stability and additionally in the means they respond to variations in temperature, and besides in cohesion and longevity.  If you will be just looking for a visco elastic foam topper pad to lay on your mattress, you have a lot of options.

There may be a number of reasons why this type of foam is so unique. Primarily is the way new memory foam cells change status once weight is applied. It is unlike regular foams that compress and would like to spring back to their original structure instantly, new memory foam cells compress fully and pass their pressure to the next cells. This process distributes the pressure to a greater total of cells of the mattress topper which then abates the pressure on your body when you are lying on the bed.

This reaction explains how memory foam really protects pressure points. This ability of visco elastic polyuretane foam in addition permits it to respond to your body’s outline and weight bearing places, in so doing reducing these pressure points. This ability is unique this special foam.

Also, memory foam is body temperature responsive. This action means that at colder temperatures it is firmer and at higher temperatures it is softer and more yielding.  Because of this memory foam is known as visco-elastic foam. This body heat responsive capacity causes the lovely melting feeling that you feel when lying down on a memory foam bed.

This type of foam is made by the addition of chemicals to ordinary polyurethane foam. These chemicals are the “secret sauce” in the mixture and are the difference between normal foam and visco-elastic foam. The result of adding these chemicals means that the memory foam will respond immediately to pressure and it follows that when that pressure is removed the foam unhurriedly springs back, finally returning to its original shape.

Visco elastic polyurethane foam itself is constructed of miniature cells that respond to the body’s temperature and weight. Immediately somebody lies down on the memory foam mattress, the foam responds to the the body’s temperature and yields and shapes itself to the shape of the person. The foam shapes itself to the particular shape of the person lying upon it; thus bestowing an amazing quantity of support. In effect the mattress pad learns the contours of your body and makes an adjustment to suit the person lying on it.

This ability is one of the major health benefits of a new memory foam bed. What memory foam does is to prevent areas that are not covered by a body’s weight to remain unaffected. There is no tipping of the edges of the mattress in the direction of the weight; instead the body, or weight sinks into a comfortable mould and leaves the remainder of the foam unaffected. An extra benefit of this is that you are able to sleep uninterrupted; something that many people will find a most valuable characteristic.

Memory foam mattress toppers are the best alternative for everyone who does not want to acquire a complete new memory foam mattress but would like the additional comfort of this amazing foam.  Usually visco elastic foam mattress toppers are anywhere from around two to three inches thick and some are even thicker. You will be able to place one on top of your old mattress to give you additional support and comfort.

Unlike a normal mattress, a memory foam bed moulds itself to the outline of your body. Wherever you can use support, you experience it. Wherever you have need of more comfort, you feel it. You will feel as if you are asleep on air and also can be free from aches and pains once you arise.

For many years the interior sprung bed was regular. But at this time memory foam is becoming considerably more trendy as it offers benefits of more support and comfort. A lot of well-sprung traditional mattresses can feel comfortable whilst you are lying or when you sit on them, but they do not confer the support and comfort that new memory foam can confer. Interior sprung traditional mattresses do not confer the occupant the support considered necessary. However superior your interior sprung mattress, a visco-elastic polyurethane foam bed will still confer extra support plus additional comfort.

The sort of support that you receive when using a memory foam mattress is better than the sort of support you receive even from top-quality mattresses. There is additionally a significant effect of relieving pressure on your body’s limbs and joints which will be able to provide and increase healing. The explanation for this relief of pressure is as the visco elastic polyuretane foam distributes your body weight through the whole visco elastic foam mattress; allowing the body to effectively sink into the mattress without effecting the surrounding areas; this mould supports independently all parts of your body which alleviates pressure from your body’s individual joints. This is why this special foam mattresses are employed in hospitals and endorsed by quite a few physicians. If you are in misery from any form of tenderness that is not helped by your mattress then a new memory foam mattress will be of enormous help to you.

One of the supreme benefits of this form of memory foam mattress pad is that it alleviates nightly tossing and turning. Disturbed nights will be a customary outcome of pressure points caused by a large amount of old style beds when you are asleep on them. Whilst you are sleeping pressure points can form on your body, particularly at your body’s joints and you must switch position to forget the pressure. This movement will cause you to awake and will disturb your sleep. In removing this need to switch positions the memory foam mattress gives you the quality to sleep the whole time the night with no waking up.

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