Battle of the Mattresses: Memory Foam vs. Innerspring Bed

Memory Foam or Spring Bed: What’s the Best Mattress?

Researchers and sleep experts have long established the importance of the mattress when it comes to sleep quality. It’s important for people to get the most out of their sleeping hours, especially in this age when Americans are becoming more sleep deprived every year. This means getting refreshing slumber instead of restless, fitful sleep.

So which mattress will ensure a restful sleep? Here’s the difference between two of the most popular beds today and how each can benefit you.

Memory Foam

The memory foam is still an enduring buzzword when it comes to sleep hygiene, and its popularity stays for a reason. Memory mattresses are made of visco foam, which is the material that enables the bed to mold in response to the body’s position, movements, and pressure. This allows better weight distribution on the mattress. Instead of the bed pushing against the person, the mattress hugs the body, fully supporting the back and spine and increasing comfortability.

The back doesn’t lie fully on a regular mattress, thus, the weight is concentrated on areas that do have contact with the bed. Usually, the shoulders and hips receive the most pressure and the lumbar area is left unsupported. This can result in pain and muscle tension in the lower back.

Memory foams are best for people who have arthritis and similar conditions, or those who are entering that period where joint problems are becoming more likely. These are also good for pregnant women who frequently experience lower back pains.

The downside of memory mattresses is that they tend to be hot. The material may retain heat and since it hugs the body, it may cause the person to feel extremely hot during sleep, especially in places with humid weather. But this concern has an easy remedy. People can still get this type of mattress in Utah, or other locations with an arid climate, as long as they have an efficient airconditioning system.

Innerspring Beds

Innerspring beds are the classic types of mattresses. As the name implies, this houses a structure of steel coils inside that acts as the support of the whole mattress. An ample layer of foam sits on top of the springs to cushion the body against the hard steel. Spring mattresses are easier to manufacture because the materials are not difficult to source, so they also tend to be cheaper.

If you use it right, a spring mattress can last years. But users must remember to rotate it every several months so the wear isn’t concentrated on one side only. The structure of innerspring mattresses allows more ventilation. The springs have hollow spaces in between them so it doesn’t feel stuffy and hot when you lie down on the mattress, unlike memory foams that contour to the curves of your body.

The disadvantage of spring mattresses is that the weight is not evenly distributed when you lie on it, so users are more prone to muscle and joint tension.

The bottom line is that you should choose your mattress according to your body and your specific conditions. Don’t forget to try out the mattress before you buy it so you’re sure of its comfortability. After all, you’ll be spending all of your nights on that bed so you want to make sure it’s a good investment. Should You Consider an Eco-Friendly Mattress?