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As we get older, circulation in the capillaries is reduced. When we sleep, our weight pushes down, and the mattress pushes up, reducing circulation further.
This reduction in circulation can cause pressure points and pain in the areas that are in contact with the surface.
It’s just physics: the heavier the force pressing down, the greater the reduction in circulation. When circulation is reduced to a certain point, your body will send you a message that you need to turn over. In the worst cases this can happen hundreds of times during the night, pulling you out of stage 3 or stage 4 sleep. You may sleep 8 – 10 hours, never remember waking up during the night, but not feel that you slept all night.
 Recommendation:
Memory foam is the best. When circulation is reduced and pressure builds, your body warms up in that spot. The heat from your body goes into the memory foam and causes the memory foam to give way in that area, reducing pressure. That’s why they say it’s “pressure relieving.”
Latex rubber is also pressure relieving, but not as much as memory foam.
Avoid:
Mattresses with fiber in them, particularly cotton. Also avoid innersprings. Innersprings will aggravate pressure points. |
Materials Scorecard
1 = Poor. 5 = Outstanding
| Material |
Temperature |
Pressure |
Motion |
Support |
Durability |
Chemicals |
Allergens |
| Natural Latex |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Synthetic Latex |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
| Memory Foam |
1 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
| Polyurethane Foam |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| Organic Wool |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
| Synthetic Wool |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
| Innerspring |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Organic Cotton |
3 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
| Conventional Cotton |
3 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Polyester Fiber |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
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