Is it Proven that Memory Foam Mattresses Promote Better Breathing?
Jul 22, 2011 12:17 AM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
Here's a topic that almost no one talks about - how easy is it to breathe on your memory foam mattress, whatever position you lay in?

Obviously, breathing is crucially important while sleeping.  Oxygen is needed for your body to restore itself.

I am a side sleeper.  I have found I just don't want to breathe much while laying on my 1 week old iComfort Revolution..  I went to Sleep Train which has the full line of Tempur Pedic beds and laid on each model a lot.  I tried to relax as much as possible and found that no matter which model I tried with varying firmness, breathing did not come easy.  Even innerspring models that had an inch of memory foam mixed with ordinary foam made it harder to breathe.   I would go to a bed with no memory foam or with latex and immediately it was easier to breathe.

When breathing, your torso expands and contracts, right?  Memory foam is slow to react, right?  So here one is, trying to catch a breath on this stuff, memory foam,  that is very dense and slow to react.  So, how does memory foam promote easy breathing?

The big emphasis with memory foam is 1) pressure relief for joints 2) conformance to a body 3) support for the spine 

I've never seen any mention of better breathing on memory foam.   I'm quite sure about what I've experienced.  Obviously many are happy with Tempur pedics, but I'm wondering, why?

This message was modified Jul 22, 2011 by slpngoc
Re: Is it Proven that Memory Foam Mattresses Promote Better Breathing?
Reply #1 Jul 22, 2011 12:46 AM
Guest
I think this is more of an anxiety issue than it being mattress related.  Possibly anxiety?  Not making a diagnosis, but the mattress "should not" matter that much when it comes to breathing as you are just lying on it.  The only way I can see a mattress affecting your breathing from a medical standpoint (which is my profession) would be if it were outgassing alot, or if you were lying on your abdomen.  Other than that I believe the issue is that you are now consciously thinking about your breathing while you lay on this type of bed, which then leads you to try to consciously control your breathing.  When you do this, it begins to feel as though you are not getting enough oxygen or that there is resistance in your breathing.  It is an extremely common reaction specifically linked to anxiety and a bit of OCD thrown in there. Like I said this isnt a knock, but is even something I deal with time to time.  Everyone gets it to some degree.
This message was modified Jul 22, 2011 by
Re: Is it Proven that Memory Foam Mattresses Promote Better Breathing?
Reply #2 Jul 22, 2011 1:23 AM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
Maybe a better explanantion is sinking too much into a bed, spine is out of alignment.  I would think that would lead to poor breathing.
Re: Is it Proven that Memory Foam Mattresses Promote Better Breathing?
Reply #3 Jul 22, 2011 1:37 AM
Guest
You said you tried varying firmness.  I know on some of the tempur beds and even the Icomfort line there are beds that are extremely firm, with almost no sink at all.  If you tried these beds and still had an issue, than I stand by saying it is mental.
Re: Is it Proven that Memory Foam Mattresses Promote Better Breathing?
Reply #4 Jul 22, 2011 12:13 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
Is it possible that you have some sort of chemical hypersensitivity? 

I would normally say these sort of things should not effect breathing so dramatically.  The one time I would say that memory foam definitely could effect breathing in an extremely negative way is more for different reasons.

'Exposure to TDI and its vapors should be avoided. It is a well-documented causative agent of asthma.' - From Wikipedia.

Children have extremely sensitive and vulnerable respiratory systems which is why asthma is usually caused during our earlier years. No surprise it is so prevalent today when we all slept on polyfoam mattresses growing up. 

Re: Is it Proven that Memory Foam Mattresses Promote Better Breathing?
Reply #5 Jul 22, 2011 12:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
Still figuring out memory foam.  Only had mattress 1 1/2 weeks so far. 
This message was modified Jul 23, 2011 by slpngoc