What do you look for in your pillow? Do you like it fluffy, soft, hard, thick? Chances are, you just like the one that lets you sleep through the night. Healthy Americans sleep 8 hours per night. All those hours add up…that’s 2,920 hours of rest per year! It’s no wonder why choosing the right pillow is so important.

Why is it important, though? What does your pillow have to do with how you feel when you wake up? Everything!! From back problems to neck cramping, labored breathing to snoring, the issues that can arise during the night are many and varied. Fortunately, most of these problems are curable. Nip all of them in the bud today by choosing the right pillow.

Memory foam was designed by NASA in the 1970s to enhance airline pilot seat cushions with the goal of absorbing shock. Though NASA never used the material, it has many practical applications. The foam uses heat to contour around whatever weight is bearing against it. In the case of memory foam pillows, the material contours to your head and neck, allowing for your body to rest comfortably whether you are a side sleeper or you sleep on your back or stomach. Normal pillows can either force your neck to stretch higher or contract lower than the natural resting position, but memory foam pillows fit your head and neck like a glove.

Back pains are the main reason Americans fail to sleep through the night. Put the right material under your head, though, and you may sleep better than you have in years. Say goodbye to neck cramps. Sleep soundly next to your partner without hearing the disruptive grunts associated with snoring. All of your nighttime problems can be solved with a memory foam pillow! Memory foam pillows hug your head and neck, but the Visco material is porous. The air circulation is greater with visco fresh foam than in other types of pillows, so a memory foam pillow can help keep you cool throughout the night.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacob_Welsh

Are you concerned that you may not sleep well tonight? Have you fallen into a pattern of sleeping poorly? Getting a good night sleep is important to your health, but falling asleep easily and sleeping well are complex and can be interrupted by a wide range of factors.

Insomnia can be a result or a symptom of a serious medical condition. For example, sleep apnea, a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, is a serious condition. If your insomnia is associated with other symptoms or is severe, please see a doctor. The suggestions and tips in this article are not medical advice and are not intended for anyone who is not healthy. Try these ten suggestions to sleep better tonight…

1. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and spicy foods. If you drink coffee in the afternoon or evening, make it decaf. An alcoholic drink may, or may not, help you fall asleep, but alcohol causes you to sleep poorly and be unable to sleep all night.

2. Don’t overeat, but don’t go to bed hungry. If you aren’t allergic to milk, try a small glass of warm milk or a piece of mild cheese in the evening. A small piece of chicken or other protein may also work well before bed.

3. Drink enough water early in the day to hydrate well, which can help you avoid nighttime leg cramps and is generally good for your health. However, avoid water and other fluids for the last two hours before bedtime to reduce your need to go to the bathroom during the night.

4. Spend the two hours before bedtime quietly, without stress or stimulation. Read calming inspirational books or listen to soothing music. Avoid adventure books, stimulating or upsetting conversation, and especially do not watch any kind of television show before bed. Relax by taking a hot bath, practicing meditation or conscious breathing, doing gentle Yoga, Qigong, or progressive muscle relaxation. Repeat positive affirmations to replace worries about not sleeping with positive thoughts.

5. If you have aches and pains, massage the painful places – possibly with a pain-relieving gel – or better yet, ask your partner to massage you.

6. Make your bedroom as dark as possible. Consider using a sleep mask (eyeshade) if you can’t make your bedroom dark enough.

7. Make your bedroom as quiet as you can. Consider using earplugs if your bedroom is noisy. Or try other alternatives… You may find that the white noise from a fan, as well as the air flow, helps you sleep better. Or you may find soft music or natural sounds like waves or bird songs relax you and induce sleep. If you use music to help you fall asleep, try improving your rest later in the night by setting the music to turn off after an hour.

8. Choose a comfortable temperature for sleep. Generally a room temperature slightly cooler than during the day, combined with a light cover, is best for good sleep. However, you may find that a colder room and heavier bedcovers work better… or a warmer room and no covers. Find the combination that works best for you. Make sure your feet are warm. If your feet are cold at night, wear socks to bed – and make sure they are not too tight around your ankles. Use a hot water bottle if your feet are cold when you first go to bed.

9. Experiment with different sleeping positions, and match the height of your pillow to the position you choose. For sleeping on your stomach or back, choose a thinner pillow. For side sleeping, choose a medium height pillow. If it is not already your preferred position, try sleeping on your right side while resting your top leg on an extra pillow for increased comfort.

10. If you can’t fall asleep in 15 minutes, try counting breaths as you breathe deeply and slowly. If you are still awake after counting to two hundred, go to another room and do something relaxing, such as reading an inspiring book, until you feel sleepier.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Huie

Memory foam mattresses have become very popular since their introduction in 1991. Based on pressure absorption technology developed by NASA, they are excellent for providing a more comfortable night’s sleep. The visco-elastic foam compresses under pressure providing complete support for the body. In the top brands, the visco-elastic foam responds to body heat and becomes more pliable, providing even better support. These special toppers offer a more affordable alternative to expensive full matresses. The top 3 memory foam mattress topper manufacturers are Tempur-Pedic, Serta, and Select Foam.

Tempur-Pedic – The first company to manufacture these units, Tempur-Pedic now offers toppers. One of the toppers that they offer is designed specifically for college students to use in their dorm rooms. It is only available in extra long twin size, the size of most dorm mattresses. They also offer an overlay in all the standard bed sizes, Twin, Twin long, Double, Queen, King, and California King. It is recommended to use the overlay on a new mattress or other hard surface as the overlay will take the form of what is beneath it. Given that Tempur-Pedic is the pioneer of these guys, it is no surprise that it is one of the top 3 memory foam mattress topper manufacturers.

Serta – For many years Serta has been a top name in mattresses, so it makes sense that they would end up being one of the top 3 manufacturers. They offer several different memory foam toppers in Twin, Full, Queen, and California King. They offer toppers in both 3-inch and 4-inch thicknesses. They offer their toppers in different levels of softness, making it possible for you to find the one that is right for you.

Select Foam – This company makes both foam mattresses and toppers. Their toppers are made of high density visco-elastic foam that responds to body heat but is resistant to responding to ambient room temperatures. They also carry foam toppers in the standard Twin, Twin long, Full, Full long, Queen, King, and California King. Their mattress toppers range in thickness from 2 to 4 inches thick. The variety is sizes and thicknesses means it will be easier for you to find the right mattress topper for you and your budget.

The top 3 memory foam mattress topper manufacturers, Tempur-Pedic, Serta, and Select Foam, all offer excellent products at various price levels. It is important to try out different brands as there are variations in hardness and temperature response. Not everyone gets the improvement in sleep and relief from aches and pains, but it can’t hurt to try it out and see if it will work for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karl_Greskee

The 2 inch memory foam mattress topper can do wonders for your mattress and your body. It combines perfect comfort with high quality memory foam. However, keep in mind that high density will last longer than those with low density.

The function of the 2 inch memory foam mattress topper reacts to body heat and will your previous position as you move to the next position and as you move, you feel as if you were gliding from position to position with a feeling as of floating in a cloud.

The perfect comfort of this foam toppers cradles you, supporting the heavier areas while cushioning others. For sure you will love the luxurious feelings with its softness.

The 2 inch toppers are just right for its thickness. You may think the thicker your memory foam topper, the better but it’s not. The best mattress toppers have a high quality and with high density were in it depends also to the weight of the in user.

If you have a heavy body, then have the thicker memory foam mattress topper which is 3 inches or 4 inches in thickness but with high density that is 4 lb.

2 inch memory foam mattress topper works best with a mattress, airbed, waterbed, spring bed as well. Have this type of topper cover with 100% cotton layer. Cover also protects the toppers from body oils that can breakdown the foam material which reduce the life of your 2 inch topper. With this 2 inch foam topper with cover, you can sleep cooler in summer and keep you warmer in winter time.

Remember that many times during a busy work in your life, when you are heading for bed to go to sleep, you want to sleep like a baby with comfortable mattress and can relax your tiredness body. You don’t need to change your old mattress.

All you have to do is to find an alternative ways to save money. Since 2 inch memory foam mattress toppers are in the market, all you have to do purchase one for your old mattress.

Remember that buying a new mattress cost a lot of money, why go for expensive mattresses when you can save more money when you buy a mattress topper. You can sleep soundly like a baby with comfortable and relaxing feelings.

Many people were struggling for years with sleeping problems and purchasing different kind of mattresses were they can sleep comfortably but still, they are not satisfied. Since these 2 inch mattress toppers are available on the market where price is not so expensive, why not try it. Who knows this will help you in your sleeping problem

Try experiencing the feeling of sleeping in the clouds. Wake up with a relaxed body with no pain or aches. You too can feel this way if you choose a good memory foam mattress topper.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Gore

Considering a memory foam mattress topper?

If so, you’ve come to the right place because I have some important news to share with you.

My research team has collected data from over 270 memory foam topper owners. Below, I provide our research results related to comfort, price and topper thickness.

Comfortable

Based on the data, 253 owners report their memory foam mattress toppers to be comfortable and 34 find them to be uncomfortable. In other words, 93% of owners find their topper comfortable. (Interestingly, this comfort rating is higher than the overall comfort rating for memory foam mattresses, according to our related research.)

Price

The clear majority of owners in our research paid between $50 and $190 for their topper. The price range is chiefly due to variation in topper thickness. (The thicker the topper the pricier it is.)

More expensive memory foam toppers are available which can cost several hundreds of dollars, such as Tempur-pedic brand topper. Should you spring for the more expensive brands? Based on the high owner satisfaction that discount toppers have among their owners, according to our research, there is apparently limited advantage in paying more. However, an expensive brand like Tempurpedic will most likely have less off gassing (initial odor) and be less likely to sleep hot.

Thickness

The majority of owners in our research had either the 2 inch or 3 inch thickness. Fewer owners had the 4 inch thickness and even a smaller number had the 1 inch thickness.

An effective way to find out how thick of a topper you need is to put something hard yet quite small (such as legos, matchbox cars, etc.) beneath the topper and then lay on it. The topper with thickness adequate to prevent you from feeling the object is probably a wise selection for you. There is little reason to pay for a thicker topper than you actually need.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Robinson

If you are not familiar with dust mites, these are microscopic bugs living in your home, feeding off the unseen cells of dead skin and pet dander. Though you may not see them, they are present on surfaces throughout the home, and are especially troublesome in an infested mattress.

The bug’s waste material causes many people to develop a dust mite allergy, which includes sneezing, itching, congestion and runny noses. Asthmatics have it even worse, as a reaction to dust mites can exacerbate their condition.

Reducing the Infestation

These tiny bugs are attracted to dust-filled pockets of humidity and warmth; such as where you sleep, but also in the cozy furniture in living rooms. While completely eradicating these pests may not be possible, a thorough and regular cleaning can help reduce the number of mites in the home.

Once a top to bottom cleaning is finished, it is important to seal any potential hideouts for these bugs, starting with the mattress and bed linens. This is the most common area of concentration, so wash bedding weekly in hot water. To discourage dust mites, cover the mattress and pillows in hypo-allergenic, dust-proof covers, and wash these regularly as well. Temperature is important in order to kill the mites in the wash.

The next area to look at is living room furniture and rugs, as well as carpeted areas of your home. If these areas seem to be a problem for you, remove the cushion covers and wrap the inner foam in dust-proof covers, washing all removable pieces in the same manner as the bedding.

For area rugs, consider steam cleaning, or dry cleaning if necessary. If the bedroom area is carpeted, look into replacing it with tile or wood floors to decrease dust mite living space. Since not everyone can simply tear out the carpet, the other option is to hire a professional carpet cleaning company once a month, or rent a steam cleaner and do it yourself.

Common Allergy Symptoms and Prevention

Some people develop an outright allergy to dust mites, making it miserable for them to be in their homes when there is an infestation. This hypersensitivity can cause asthmatic symptoms and even aggravate skin problems like eczema.

Unfortunately, the excretions from these critters can be left everywhere, flying into the air and causing reactions in sensitive people much like pollen. These reactions are made worse by typical pollutants such as cigarette or other tobacco smoke, fireplace or cooking smoke, and fumes from gasoline.

Working to prevent reactions means taking the cleaning precautions above, and sealing every possible surface with a cover designed to repel dust. Eliminate carpeted areas where possible, and air out the house to create an unfriendly environment for the mites.

Once you have spoken to a medical professional and determined the problem to be dust mites, more changes in the home can be made to prevent infestations. These include thoroughly cleaning dusty surfaces with a moist cloth, using washable rugs, and buying furniture with more air flow underneath it.

Eliminate fabric where you can; if you have fabric curtains, consider replacing them with plastic or wooden blinds. Replace bedding and blankets made from synthetics or natural cotton, and always avoid wool, as it creates the perfect place for mites to settle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryce_Waylon

I think the first time that I thought of myself as an insomniac I was around twelve years old. My dad, also a functioning insomniac, and I would regularly roam the halls of our house at night. Since then I have judged periods in my life by how well I was sleeping. When I am getting sleep, the whole world seems brighter.

Since sleep is so important yet so elusive for me, I have made a habit of reading everything I can on ways to fall asleep faster. If you struggle with sleep too, here are some strategies that have helped my sleep. Hopefully they will work for you too!

Make a Sleep Friendly Environment

If you need an excused to go stock up on goose-down pillows and 600 thread-count sheets, now you have it. When you are struggling with sleep one of the best things that you can do is make sure that your sleep environment is as good as possible. This includes comfortable bedding! You should also consider removing your TV and computer from your room. Reading can help some people fall asleep but if you are one who tends to stay up all night reading (I am!), it is probably best to banish books from your room as well.

You should also make sure that your room is as dark as possible. Black out shades are great for creating a completely dark room. If you are renting or can’t afford window treatments right now, a great alternative is getting an eye pillow to block out the light. They are relatively inexpensive and surprisingly comfortable.

Try Meditation

If your struggle to sleep stems from an inability to get your mind to settle down, meditation is one of the best ways to fall asleep faster. In fact I recently read a story about a chronic insomniac who had tried everything from medication ( Serzone, Wellbutrin, Sonata and Ambien!) to a visit to a hypnotist and nothing worked. She also spent time in a sleep clinic to no avail. It was only when she started meditating that she finally began to get a full seven hours of sleep at night.

Meditation can help you become more centered and in the moment. Getting control of your mind and having the ability to clear it can really help your sleep habits. This is one of the best natural ways to fall asleep around. It is especially helpful for me when I wake up in the middle of the night.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Polisi

Your memory foam pillow has served you well for months, maybe even years, but it’s starting to look a little dirty. Have no fear, though, cleaning your memory foam pillow is easy! Though you can’t toss your Visco elastic foam pillow into the washing machine as you can with other types of pillows, you can clean it at home in a few steps. Here’s how to do it:

1. Begin by using the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner to clean any surface dirt off of your pillow. Vacuum both sides and the edges of the pillow, if possible.

2. In a spray bottle, mix 1 part fabric cleaner and 2 parts water. Shake the bottle to mix your ingredients.

3. Spray the entire pillow with a light mist of cleaner. Do not saturate, as memory foam pillows can grow mold if the water gets too deeply into the material. Let the mixture sit on your pillow for 30 minutes.

4. When your 30 minutes is up, use a towel to get the excess water out.

5. Apply another misting of cleaner. This time, blot the memory foam immediately. If your stains are removed, move to step 6. If not, repeat, focusing on dirty areas, until you are sure that your pillow is clean.

6. Dump the cleaner and fill your spray bottle with water. Rinse the pillow and blot with a second (clean) towel. Repeat as necessary until dirt is removed and you are sure that all cleaning chemicals have been removed from your pillow.

7. Wring the pillow out to ensure that there is no water in it. You may want to enlist a helper for this step.

8. Using the lowest temperature setting on your hair dryer, dry out any water that may remain in your pillow. Be careful not to get too close to the foam or use a hot setting, as you could melt the foam.

To minimize the amount of cleanings necessary over the life of your memory foam pillow, consider investing in a pillow protector.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacob_Welsh

Do you have difficulty sleeping? You’re not alone, people across the world complain of difficulty sleeping. Of course if you have a bad night then this generally leaves you feeling crabby the next day. It’s not something we can hide if our bodies don’t get the required rest they deserve and need then it’s going to come through in our day to day activities and attitude. So the big question is how to fall asleep, or is it maybe better how to stay asleep? Can you go to sleep and rest through out the night un disturbed? It is a challenge in todays twenty-four seven lifestyle.

If you’re one of the lucky ones that is able to fall asleep easily, and also hold it until the morning for eight hours congratulations, you’re further ahead then most of us. For some reason this is becoming more and more of an issue, when you’d think it would be going the other way. Todays high tech mattresses and beds are light years ahead of what our parents used. With todays latex and memory foam designs we should be more comfortable then ever. How ever has it ever occurred that maybe it’s not our comfort but our lifestyle that keeps us waking up through the night? One thing that contributes greatly to poor sleep is stress. It may be stress from parenting, work, or other areas of life, not matter what it is that stress stays with you through your sleep effecting your ability to stay asleep through the night.

Learning how to deal with that stress through day to day work and life is important for your overall health and sleep patterns. Whether you need to learn some basic relaxation techniques, or take a long bath before bedtime each night learning how to wind down and relax will do wonders for your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Other ideas to help you fall asleep and awake feeling fully rested are reducing your caffeine intake. Even if you’re not someone who drinks caffeine close to bed time it can still effect your sleeping patterns at night. Professional assistance from a sleep therapist is always an option, but often difficult to get as there are waiting lists from all the others having difficulty sleeping in your area as well. Don’t discount the Internet as a place to find good quality sleep and relaxation tips. A few searches from your favorite search engine might yield the solution you’ve been hoping for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Henman

Memory foam mattress is currently the apple of the eye of the mattress industry. This technology made a breakthrough in the bedding scene due to its ability in reducing back pains, pressure sores and stiff muscles. But one of the downsides of using this mattress is the factory-like pungent smell once you have stripped its plastic cover.

Memory foam mattresses actually contain chemicals. These chemicals emit a certain kind of odor when it is still brand new. To some, this is mildly irritating. But to most of us, it causes worries. Continuous inhalation of these toxic chemicals might endanger our health.

Here are some tips to help you get rid of the initial memory foam odor:

Tip 1: Do not rip off the plastic cover of the mattress yet. Cut one end of the plastic cover and then pull the mattress. Once it is exposed, sprinkle baking soda on all its sides. Baking soda is a smell eliminator. It diffuses all kinds of smell, even moldy and musty smell. Once you have sprinkled it all over your mattress, cover it again with the plastic wrap to insulate the baking soda. Leave it on over night. Vacuum it off the next morning.

Tip 2: Put the mattress in a sunny and airy room. Open the windows in the room to allow air to circulate inside. You can also put pieces of charcoal on a container and put it on top of the mattress. Blast the mattress with air from an electric fan. Charcoal helps in absorbing bad odour.

Tip 3: If you do not have a spare mattress and you need to use your new memory foam bed immediately, then put a thick bed sheet. Wash the bed sheet every other day. It will help absorb the smell and the smell will cling to your sheets. When washing, put fabric softener in your machine.

Tip 4: Purchase odor absorbing products. There are those odor absorbing products sold in the cleaning isle of the grocery store. Some are in the form of scented glass containers while others can be plugged in for 24-hour room freshness. They might cost a lot of money so your alternative is to make a room freshener made from lemon peel. Put it in a cold aluminium container in the room you are putting your mattress in.

You do not have to suffer the initial odor of memory foam mattress. With these tips, you can sleep peacefully and soundly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zach_Smith