Memory Foam Pillow and Memory Foam Bed Explained

Memory foam is polyurethane (wide variety of synthetic forms) with extra chemicals that together increase its viscosity and density. Memory foam is also referred to as visco-elastic polyurethane foam.

It's now year 2010 and most of us by now have heard about the product Tempur, or Tempur-Pedic (Tempur®) which is the material that is used in the Memory Foam Pillow and other bedding products. It is said to enhance sleep comfort to ultimate levels of bliss at bedtime. But Memory Foam was never invented as a product for use in everyday bedding items just so that high street customers could enhance their sleep comfort and relaxation at home.

There's quite a story behind this so called perfect bedding product, so before we begin to talk about the true value of this Visco Elastic Foam, let's just begin with a brief couple of paragraphs on the history of memory foam and how it came to be such a superior product

Visco Elastic Foam. The Memory Foam Cushion for Astronauts

Memory foam began is life at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). It was created as the optimum body support for astronauts. Without going into too much detail, the memory foam market began with the NASA space program because it had a desire to cushion, contour, and conform the seating on any of their manned space vehicles so as to reduce the discomfort of the G-force experienced during take-off (or should that be lift-off!)

It wasn't an instantly suitable for commercial use though, and it was some years later after extensive development and research that the commercially viable product known as Visco Elastic Memory Foam, became a huge hit with we consumers.

Now we have the Memory Foam Bed Pillow and other Bedding Items

Since going commercial, It has become one of the most sought after materials for bedding comfort products to ever hit the high street. It basically stared with the memory foam contour pillow but was soon followed by the memory foam mattresses otherwise known as memory foam toppers.

Memory foam is designed in bedding and support cushions to adjust, conform, curve and shape to the natural contours of the human body. Because Visco elastic foam has elastane properties which mould and contour to accommodate whatever rests upon it, this product not only provides excellent and natural support for the head, neck, shoulder area, and back support (spine) for anyone in perfectly good physical shape, but it is often the perfect pressure relief orthopaedic pillow for those folks who suffer from various body pain or pains due to aging or injury.

Memory Foam Pillows, Cushions, and Body Supports are not for everyone!

Not everyone takes to memory foam pillows and memory foam mattresses though, especially those people with aches and pains that need relief. Some folks find that Mediflow offers a more natural alternative to orthopedic support. If you're not familiar with Mediflow, it's basically a water filled bedding pillow (or mattress) and we've included a link to this in the right column for anyone wanting to learn more about alternative support pillows and bedding.

One thing seems to be certain, and that is a lot of people who have read reviews and thus been shopping for bedding item(s) that moulds to the users natural body shape and weight will rarely go back to the standard conventional pillows for beds, mattress toppers, and travel type reading and support cushions.

So if the latest memory foam offers better support, smart design, and an elastic property that comforts, aids relaxation, and remembers you by retaining the shape of your individual body mould, then why would anyone be interested in any other cheaper or pricier alternatives in body and bedding support such as feathers, quality down, coir, sisal, lambs wool, cotton, plus other less popular natural and manmade materials?

The answer is simple. There is not now, nor has there ever been, a one product suits all whatever it happens to be, and that includes Visco Elastic Foam. So you may be wondering then what the cons are regarding items such as the Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattress, Pillows, and Neck Supports? It's wise to look at all bedding items prior to purchase, and that means reading up on memory foam mattress reviews as well as pillows, and all other types of bedding. After all, beds and bedding can be costly, and we don't change it too often. Back to some of the main gripes (for some), on memory foam products:

The Disadvantages of Memory Foam Pillows, Bedding, and Cushion Supports

Visco Elastic Foam is Temperature Sensitive. This means it changes with the warm and cool environments. This simply means the feel can be unpredictable should the products it be used in varying rooms of places, i.e. buses, trains, and planes etc. This simply means that you'll have a firm memory foam when cool and soft when warm. The degree in which this varies may differ between products and bands, and does not cause problems with all users.

Memory foam can take some adjusting to. Whatever the product of range of memory foam you select, it may take some getting used to, especially if you've had no previous experience of Tempur-pedic supports previously. This means that you may not get to experience the comfort of memory foam until your body has had time to adjust to it.

Memory Foam needs Weight to Work Efficiently! What this means is that for the elastane properties to perform at optimum, it needs a certain amount of weight pressed upon it before the material can be moulded into shapes to remember. This is especially the case with the higher density foams. If you are very lightweight, then Visco memory foam pillows or other products such as a memory foam travel pillow or memory foam pads for your bed mattress, might not be the best items to invest in for you personally.

Electric Blankets are Out! The manufacturers of memory foam bedding generally discourage the use of an electric blankets because they say the heat will eventually break down the memory thus ending the product(s) effective life span prematurely.

There may be other complaints, but generally speaking, there appear to be far more pros than cons with memory foam bedding and support products.

If you have an interest in this modern support wonder product and would like to learn more, you can find lots of extensive customer reviews online which will undoubtedly have lots of detail on selection, prices, brands and personal experiences, all of which will contribute towards helping you make a better informed decision should you decide to purchase.

Page updated Tuesday July 6, 2010. Bed Bedding says: It's often joked that memory foam is the product that gets to know you, as it remembers who you are and shapes itself to meet your needs. First we saw the head and neck support in the memory foam pillow creations and now we're seeing a growing demand and supply in the memory foam mattresses. Blissful sleep just keeps on getting better.