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It’s common knowledge that a good night’s sleep is essential to good health, but many of us don’t know why. Sleep improves our quality of life in numerous ways. Sleep helps to repair the body, as extra protein molecules are produced during sleep which aid in repairing damage from stress, pollution, and the sun. Healthy, deep sleep also allows the body to produce growth hormones that boost the immune system.

Sleep is essential for those who experience high levels of stress, as it reverses the effects of stress on blood pressure, heart rate, muscles, and lungs. Healthy sleep keeps our minds sharp and aids in concentration, memory and data retention. Sleeping properly also supports your body’s natural weight regulation processes by balancing and keeping in check those hormones that affect and control appetite.

Of course, the most critical factor in developing healthy sleeping habits is the quality of your mattress. With thousands of available options, it can be quite tiring to select one that’s right for you. This is an important decision to make, and considering that we spend up to a third of our lives in bed, buyers should treat the purchase of a new mattress as an investment.

Coiled convention

Traditionally, mattresses have been made using springs, insulation and padding; the higher the spring count and the higher the number of coils, the more firm the mattress. While sometimes adequate, innerspring mattresses don’t often properly support the body, and rely on over-padded top layers to give the illusion of support. Conventional mattresses can create counter-pressure points which add stress to the spine, muscles, and joints, can potentially contort the body, and ultimately affect the quality of your sleep.

Space-age technology

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First developed for the US’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), visco elastic foam is now widely used in consumer mattresses. The material, made with polyurethane and other chemicals, was invented in the 1970s in order to reduce pressure points experienced by astronauts during travel, and was later used in hospital beds. Following its success in keeping hospital patients exceptionally comfortable, visco elastic foam was later introduced to the world of consumer bedding.

Also known as memory foam, when used in mattresses, visco elastic foam works by conforming to the body’s natural contours. Highly dense, this material reshapes itself to adapt to various pressure points from the body – such as the hips and shoulders – where the body rests hardest against the mattress. Since they absorb rather than exert pressure, high-quality visco foam mattresses encourage better sleep and offer more comfortable, long lasting support than do conventional mattresses.

Other benefits

The use of visco elastic foam in mattresses enhances healthy sleep in other ways. Because of the high density of the material, these mattresses are less likely to be inhabited by dust mites, and offer greater resistance against other allergens, allowing for a sleep experience that’s not only comfortable but also hygienic – perfect for promoting consistently healthy sleep.

Tags: sleep