Memory Foam Review

We have all heard the warnings about DVT (deep-venous thrombosis) when traveling on long haul flights. Cramped conditions for hours on end with very little leg movement - yes I've seen the in-flight videos demonstrating the exercises. Well if these warnings concern you give a thought to astronauts!

They don't travel for hours in cramped conditions - they travel for weeks. Now I know these people are held as super-heroes but in the cold light of day they are only human and subject to the same frailties as you and I, but of course they have technology on their side.


Visco elastic material, now commonly known as memory foam, was originally developed by NASA to improve seating and absorb g-forces in spacecraft travel. Okay it maybe quite some time before your favorite airline offers memory foam seating in tourist class but you can still enjoy the benefits today.

Memory foam is designed to shape itself around any pressure applied - it reacts to the pressure and subsequent heat to absorb the pressure by spreading it across its surface. Now apply this thinking to your mattress. Your body isn't flat therefore when you sleep some body areas are more supported than others. We have all woke up some morning feeling aches and pains and simply booked it to a bad nights sleep - which of course is probably right. But why? Picture yourself lying on your back - most of the direct contact will be your head, shoulders, rump and heels. Leaving your neck, lower back and to an extent your legs unsupported. It isn't any better on your front, gravity forces your lower back to arch even more and you can easily wake up with a stiff neck and painful lower back.

Memory foam has the ability to mould itself around your bumps and curves thus ensuring constant even support spread across your whole body. Hey and you don't have to worry about sleeping in the same position all the time - memory foam returns to its original shape when the pressure is released - so if you move it moves with you creating a unique combination of body-contouring support and comfort. A memory foam mattress literally guarantees a restful sleep.

Of course a restful sleep isn't the only benefit - you will soon feel the benefit of reduced pressure on the spine and joints, not to mention aiding good circulation - remember that's where we came in - DVT.

An added bonus to a memory foam mattress is that it is naturally hypoallergenic. Its surface structure offers little comfort to your other regular sleeping partners - dust mites.

As my Irish friend says "and there's more" - those clever memory foam guys haven't stopped at mattresses, heck no! These days you can buy all sorts of things incorporating memory foam. Sleep masks that contort to the shape of your face so that you don't need to endure a tourniquet tight elastic band around the back of your head just to block out the light. Memory foam slippers - whoa! luxury - like floating on air. I believe even the sneaker giants are looking at memory foam for your next pair of must have trainers. Memory foam furniture - cushions, chairs and sofas. Even Fido gets a look-in with his very own designer luxury sleeping mat made from memory foam. Of course the bed hasn't been forgotten in all this excitement apart from the memory foam mattress you can get memory foam pillows, mattress pads, and lots of other bits n pieces.

Okay but you only started reading this because your going on a long haul flight - well don't forget your memory foam travel pillow - its going to be a long flight and you may as well be comfortable.