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.

We all know what it feels like to be dog-tired—so tired you could fall asleep almost anywhere. But did you know that the following are also symptoms that you’re not getting enough sleep?

• A feeling of irritability and being “on edge,” as if you’re about to blow your top at the next small thing that gets on your nerves, is a sign that you may not be getting the sleep you need. Being irritated by those around you will also cause social problems. Maybe your performance report at work says that you need to learn to get along better with coworkers, when the truth is that you simply need to get more good-quality sleep.

• If something truly stressful happens—a big sale falls through or your credit card is stolen—you might feel as if you “just can’t take it” and spend more time on a rant about the situation than you do trying to find a solution

• You are having problems with concentration and memory. You have to repeat tasks because you are afraid you’ve done them incorrectly, or you can’t remember doing them at all. Along with this symptom goes difficulty learning new things.

• You are frequently ill. It seems that you have little resistance to colds and flu. Your sleep-deprived body just hasn’t had time to build the reserves that could protect you. This may even be your body’s way of making you slow down and rest.

• When friends suggest a game of racquetball or even a walk around the block, you find excuses because as far as you’re concerned they might as well have suggested climbing Mount Everest. You just don’t have the energy.

• You feel a frequent need to prop yourself up with food and drinks that contain caffeine and sugar, especially in mid-afternoon.

If you identify with even a few of these symptoms of sleep deprivation, you may want to consider taking a serious look at your sleep habits. For most people, simple changes in their sleep routines and environments can greatly improve the quantity and quality of restful, restorative sleep. And reversing the ill effects of sleep deprivation can literally give you a new lease on life and improve everything from your work performance to your relationships with others. Make good sleep a priority and see the difference for yourself.