Here are some important facts to consider before you make your choice:

Never settle for a low-grade imported  memory foam product. While the price may be lower, the materials in these mattresses do not hold up over time, and they have likely  been stacked in a warehouse somewhere overseas for perhaps months, gathering dust, dirt and bacteria. The best manufacturers in the United States custom-make and deliver memory foam mattresses on a customer-by-customer basis.

Search for a mattress that has a top comfort layer of quality memory foam and also a base layer of sturdy high density foam.} Higher-end models have three layers. The high-density foam gives your mattress a combination of softness, support and durability, and the comfort layer provides the “cuddle-every-curve” feeling that provides the ultimate in relaxation.

Remember, not all memory foam is the same. Some retailers will try to sell you 2-4lb memory foam, telling you that higher density foam may overheat. The truth is just the opposite. Higher density memory foam has billions and billions of open ended cells, allowing air to flow freely which keeps you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Lower density memory foam is not as supportive and will break down over time. When shopping, never buy a memory foam mattress that has less than a 5lb density.

Choose a hypoallergenic mattress that is resistant to dust mites. Many people who think they have no allergies are actually very sensitive to the detritus that their mattresses accumulate over time. These sensitivities can seriously interfere with sleep even though the sleepers themselves don’t realize it. What they don’t realize is that once the potential allergens are gone, they sleep much more soundly.

Choose a mattress that is bacteria-resistant and comes with a washable zip-off cover to assure that your sleeping surface is refreshing and hygienic. A buildup of bacteria can result in odors that do not make for a pleasant sleeping surface.

While testing a new mattress at a local store may sound conveinent, it’s difficult to lay there, fully dressed staring at the ceiling while some salesman is watching your every move looking for a buying signal. If you’re like most people, you buy a new mattress every 4-7 years. The correct way to test a new mattress is in the comfort and privacy of your own bedroom. Most reputable retailers will allow you a comfort guarantee where you can return the mattress if you don’t like it.}

It takes most people several weeks to adjust to a new mattress, and the company you choose to make your mattress should understand that and offer you a “comfort guarantee” that allows you to sleep on the mattress for up to 90  days, and to return it if you are not satisfied.

There is no doubt that memory foam mattresses are hugely popular, and with good reason. Many purchasers report sleeping well for the first time in their lives. Follow the guidelines here, and you too will choose the correct memory foam mattress for you and begin to enjoy all of the advantages that this sleep system delivers.

Sleeping well—that is, getting eight hours of deep, continuous sleep most nights—has been shown to protect people from developing a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems, arthritis, obesity, heartburn, depression, anxiety, and diabetes. Statistics also show that inadequate sleep can be blamed for many motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents. Driving while “under the influence” of too little sleep can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Conditions unique to sleep itself form another list of complaints that include circadian rhythm disorders, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea.

Even if you consider yourself the picture of health, a short supply of sleep can subtly affect how you feel all day. It can mean you aren’t performing your best at work or in other daily activities, due to irritability, lack of motivation or difficulty concentrating. And when your obligations for the day are over, insufficient sleep can even affect how you enjoy your leisure hours. Our brains simply can’t function optimally without an adequate amount of sleep.

People who turn in early, saying they need to “recharge their batteries,” are not far off the mark.
In fact, our brains need time to process our day’s events. If you don’t find ways for your stressed brain to do this during your waking hours, it will do it while you’re trying to fall asleep or while you are actually sleeping, which will interfere with sleep quality, allowing more stress to affect you the following day and continuing the vicious cycle.

Finding ways to deal with worries and anxieties several hours before you head for bed will help your body and your brain sleep more soundly. Some coping strategies include exercise, reviewing the day with an understanding friend or spouse, or yoga and meditation. If you have children, realize that they have their own daily stresses, however small they may seem to adults. Don’t rely on video games or movies to help them fall asleep. Instead, discuss their day with them and try reading a low-conflict bedtime story together. Children who sleep well and long perform better academically and get sick less often than those who don’t.

Deep, restful sleep is as necessary for good health as proper diet and exercise. If you make improved sleep a priority, you are bound to feel your best right away, and you’ll be building your immune system so you can enjoy a long and healthy life.