Is Heat The Achilles Heel Of The Tempura Mattress?

Unless you've been living on Mars, you've probably heard about memory foam mattresses and the amazing support they give you when sleeping. The Tempurpedic mattress was the first and - many would claim - the best on the market. But there have been comments made that Tempurpedic mattresses sleep hot. Is it true? Has the fantastic support it offers been compromised by excessive heat?

A conventional foam mattress has closed air bubbles that compress when pressure is applied. A memory foam mattress has air bubbles that are open or linked together. This is an important part of the design in that it means air can flow from one cell to another. This ability lets the foam mould to the exact shape of whatever is placed on it. Coupled with this cell technology, the Tempurpedic mattress is also heat-responsive to give even better contouring and support.

The sleeper is given better support than either a conventional or foam mattress as there is more contact between the body and mattress - as much as 30% more. But this extra contact decreases the amount of body exposed to air. Evaporation is reduced, which in turn leads to a build up of body heat. The problem is exacerbated because tossing and turning, which helps evaporation, is greatly reduced when sleeping on a Tempurpedic mattress.

So, while many people concur about the support benefits offered by a Tempurpedic mattress, some also report of sleep loss due to excessive heat - a sort of catch-22 situation.

In response, memory foam manufacturers, including Tempurpedic, have introduced a convoluted layer of visco-elastic foam at the base of the mattress to help draw away air and heat.

While this definitely helps, some customers still report a temperature problem. Unfortunately for those who experience being uncomfortably hot, there is little to be done as the very structure of a memory foam mattress can't be changed.

The best advice to reduce heat while sleeping on a Tempurpedic mattress is to try reducing the number of blankets or changing to a lighter one. Although the cover that comes with the Tempurpedic mattress is breathable, it does prevent moisture escape; you could try removing the cover and put a plain sheet directly on top of the mattress.

Other manufacturers have claimed to have solved the problem but they are also using a convoluted piece of foam in conjunction with the memory foam, so you're going to have the same problem to a less or greater extent.

A memory foam mattress isn't going to be suitable for everyone. If heat is something you already suffer from in your old mattress, you might be best advised to stay with a conventional spring mattress. If you've been sleeping on your old one for many years you'll amazed at how box spring mattresses have improved in terms of comfort and support.

But remember, most people feel no discernible increase in heat when sleeping on memory foam, so if you're thinking about buying a new mattress you should definitely take a look at a Tempurpedic mattress.

Follow the links for the Tempurpedic mattress or another memory foam mattress like the Sealy TrueForm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Cassidy

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