How many times have you woken up in the morning to find yourself with an aching neck, a twisted shoulder, or, worst of all, a sore back? Unfortunately, many of the mattresses and pillows which we sleep on are simply not up to the task of keeping our spines aligned correctly during the night. As a result, aches and pains spring up out of nowhere, much to the annoyance of the sleeper!
Memory foam is the result of the work of a group of chemists working at NASA in the late sixties. The scientists were trying to create a material which would take the pressure of G-force away from astronauts during lift-off. These scientists created visco-elastic polyurethane foam, which could act as a buffer for the astronaut by moulding to the shape of his body. After the removal of the pressure, the foam would return to its original shape.
Due to technical issues, such as the fact that the original memory foam tended to break down after only a little use, it was never used in spacecrafts. Fagerdala World Foams, a Swedish company, bought the patent and refined the product during the eighties. The early nineties saw memory foam mattresses being released in first Sweden and then America, receiving critical success and widespread sales. Other manufacturers began to develop memory foam across the world.
Memory foam pillows are designed to give extra support to those who may need it for their head or neck. The pillow fits the shape of the sleeper but will then go back to its original shape the next morning. This is why the pillow has the name ‘memory foam’. Best of all, with a memory foam pillow you don’t need to buy a new mattress in order to get a better night’s sleep.
There are two types of memory foam pillows. The traditional shape of a regular memory foam pillow disguises the fact that standard fibres have been replaced with memory foam. This type of pillow is perfect for people looking for extra comfort whilst wishing to still have traditional shaped pillows in their home. These pillows come in removable covers such as Outlast and CoolMax.
Contour Memory Foam pillows are suitable for anyone wishing to prevent severe spinal discomfort. They help to promote a sleeping position whereby the spine is aligned correctly. These pillows are dust mite free as well as being hypoallergenic. Contour Memory Foam pillows are also available in Outlast or CoolMax cover options.
Both types of memory foam pillow have a temperature sensitive quality. As you lie on the pillow, not only will it mold to your head shape but it will also warm up to keep you at a comfortable temperature all night.
Clearly, the benefits of choosing a memory foam pillow are manifold. Not only do they support your head and neck, they also keep you at a constant temperature and return to their original shape each morning. Perfect!
