Can A Tempur-Pedic Mattress Help You Sleep Better?

Believe it or not, the story of the Tempur-Pedic mattress begins at NASA. That's right…the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In the early Sixties NASA engineers were working to develop a material that would reduce the effects of the g-forces astronauts have to contend with. They ended up naming the high tech visco-elastic foam that they came up with "temper foam".

Since NASA never put the material to use they decided to release the formula so various private companies could use it in their products. Unfortunately, at this time the process for developing the foam was not complete, making it impractical and hard to produce.

However, a group of Swedish scientists working for Fagerdala World Foams saw the potential application of the material for use in mattresses. These scientists spent over a decade along with millions of dollars of their own money developing an entirely new type of sleep surface. They called the temperature sensitive material they created "TEMPUR" and a little while later they had it patented.

It's a fairly complicated process to produce a Tempur-pedic mattress. You must integrate several layers of memory foam with various materials found in other mattresses. The end result of this is a comfortable bed which has the proper support often lacking in a traditional coiled spring mattress.

How is this accomplished? Well, the top layer, the comfort layer, is a softer TEMPUR material that is specifically designed to respond to your size and weight. It conforms closely to the shape of your body. That means that when you lie on the bed and sink further into the mattress, the next layer, the support layer, absorbs your weight and helps to distribute it.

Last comes the base layer. It's the strongest because it must provide a solid foundation for the bed. This layer usually isn't made of memory foam but rather less costly and higher density polyurethane foam is used here.

The big difference you find in a Tempur-Pedic mattress from a regular innerspring mattress is that it's specifically designed to react to changes in temperature and weight. It can be firm or soft depending on where the pressure is needed. The material will form to the body dimensions of each person giving them support in the proper places. These mattresses can aid people who suffer from back or neck problems as clinical studies have shown.

You see, a normal mattress doesn't evenly distribute your weight. That's why they start to sag under the places where you normally lie on the bed. Unfortunately, the constant pressure in that one spot wears down the material and it stops providing proper support. Oftentimes, the worst spot is under the hips and lower back, causing your spine to sit in an unnatural position. As shocking as it may sound, it's fairly common for a normal mattress to aggravate a previously minor condition like a bad back or neck.

Another advantage with a Tempur-Pedic mattress is that they're nearly maintenance free. You don't have to flip them or really do anything for them. They'll never develop body impressions or start poking you with springs, which means they can last up to twice as long as an average mattress. In fact, the company currently offers a 20-year limited warranty on all of their mattresses. So, if you have a bad back, neck, poor circulation or just want a good mattress that will last you at least two decades, this may be the brand for you.

It is important though, that you realize a Tempur-Pedic mattress is not the best choice for everyone. They're extremely different from innerspring mattresses and can take some time to adapt. Most of the people who try them find they end up liking them, but there are some people who end up switching back to a regular one. The most common complaints we've read were that the mattress is too firm or there is a strong chemical odor. Others feel that the mattress holds too much heat and makes them wake up in a sweat.

Luckily for most, Tempur-Pedic mattress reviews show that the majority of people don't have these problems. If you're having trouble getting a good night's sleep or waking up in the morning with pains and stiffness, you'll want to try one and see if it's something that can help you out.

Anne Randyl spends eight to ten hours testing mattresses each day and believes herself an expert on the subject. If you're considering investing in a Tempur-Pedic mattress you should really read her article about the various Tempurpedic beds.