Comfort relates to the mattress’ ability to conform to the curves of our bodies and spread out pressure points. Pressure points occur when a mattress causes a reduction in blood circulation, most commonly in our shoulders or hips. These pressure points trigger our subconscious defense mechanism that tells us to ‘change positions’ to keep our blood flowing properly (tossing and turning). The lower the pressure on your body, the less you will toss and turn and then sleep better.

The degree of conformability needed has to do with your sleeping position. Choose, then click on Side Sleeper, Stomach Sleeper, or Back Sleeper for more information.

Natural Latex is harvested from Rubber trees (from around the globe) and is processed for use in mattresses. As compared to a medium firm coil mattress that applies nearly 120 lbs. of pressure against your body as you sleep on it, a foam core mattress with Latex padding on top applies less than 30 lbs. of pressure. You can imagine the circulation benefits of having such a mattress.

From a durability standpoint, Latex is rubber. It’s like a softer version of your car tires. You won’t be able to wear it out. The only downside for the general population is that Latex is the most expensive layer of padding to produce. For those of you who can afford it, the absolute best night’s sleep awaits you.

As a comparison, Latex and Memory foam have similar pressure-reducing characteristics. But Memory Foam is a bit limited because of its temperature-sensitive characteristics. Approximately 10% of consumers have a ‘hot’ reaction to Memory Foam, where Latex Foam has no such limitation. Latex Foam is ‘naturally’ temperature-neutral, meaning its conforming characteristics work at any temperature and it doesn’t retain a sleeper’s body heat. It automatically assumes the temperature of the sleeper and helps eliminate heat.

Latex is also naturally anti-microbial (no chemicals added) and resistant to dust mites.

For those who have heard that Latex produces allergic reactions, the Talalay process used in our mattresses washes away the impurities that are present in latex products such as the dish washing gloves found in grocery stores.

Memory Foam’s pressure reducing characteristics are uncommon. For example, a coil mattress with an average firmness rating applies about 120 pounds of pressure on your body as you sleep on it. A foam mattress with a 3 to 4 inch layer of memory foam applies less than 30 pounds of pressure. You can imagine the benefits of better circulation in such a mattress.

As part of its design, Memory Foam is heat-sensitive. As your body releases heat to the padding materials on top of the mattress, Memory Foam becomes more conforming. However, approximately 10% of sleepers have a ‘hot’ reaction to its heat-retaining characteristic. The good news is that 90% of sleepers can benefit by its pressure-reducing traits.

Like coil springs, foam quality varies. Better quality means better support and greater longevity.

Overall, a foam core is less bouncy, so side-to-side motion is reduced and no ‘tempering’ is lost which would reduce the life of the mattress. (Coils retain their shape and ability to ‘bounce back’ from a heating process called “tempering.” As a coil is used over the years, it loses its ‘memory’ and begins to ’sag’ or ‘fall down.’ Conversely, quality “Reflex” foam is manufactured to maintain its shape for as long as the customer owns the product.) A Foam mattress’ life is limited only by the durability of the comfort layers on top.

Bonnell Coil: Since 1848 this coil has been around in the mattress industry. Today, it is considered the beginning quality and is found in the lower end of mattress industry.It is circular in shape, 12 3/4 guage wire and usually has 300 to 500 coils. Expect 3 - 5 years use.

Offset Coil: In the 1960’s this spring became the step up to the Bonnell coil and provides even more support. It has squared off ends and is tighter and has more turns which helps to spread the body weight out and put less pressure on the body and the bed as well. 80% of the 600 US Manufacturers use this coil. Usually 13.5 to 14 guage wire is used. This bed has 500 to 800 coils and will last roughly 8 - 12 years on average.

Pocketed Coil: This coil is individually wrapped and is also known as the marshall coil unit. It is not exclusive to just Simmons Beautyrest. There are many factories that produce this coil. It is a 15 Guage wire which is the This bed does not hold up well to individuals of heavier body weights. It makes the body hammock into the bed and hurts the lower back. You would want to test this bed for a 15 minute period and see if you are hammocking into the bed and if your back begins to hurt or not.

Due to the lightest guage of wire, this bed varies in how long it lasts based on the user.

Continuous Coil: Serta is the largest manufacturer using this type of coil. It is made with 12 3/4 Guage wire which is the heaviest guage manufacturers will use. Consumers have found that the 502 series and the 532 series of Serta are softer and have more of a bouncy feeling to them so be sure to test the bed for 15 minutes before purchasing these series of Serta. The 800 Coil Serta’s are the beds the major hotels buy and they provide a 15 - 20 year use.

Latex Foam - (Natural/Synthetic)

Memory Foam

Tempurpedic - Tempur Proprietary Material

Latex Foams offer a softer, more breathable sleeping surface but again due to some body weights be sure to feel that bed for a 15 minute period and watch out for the hammocking effect. The lower density of latex in the bed, the softer the feel, the more you will sink into the bed and stretch that lower back and feel pain.

Usually the Natural/Synthetic mix of latex is the softest.

Natural Latex is usually firmer and provides best support.

Memory Foams comes in various densities. If its less than 5 lb density foam, expect it to last about 2 - 4 years. It will break down due to air, weight, and heavy use. Memory foam is a closed cell foam and needs to be of a heavier density to hold up to everyday use. You need to make sure a natural product or breathable latex surface is added to memory foam to keep you from feeling heat.

If you purchase 5 lb per cubic foot density memory foam expect bed to last 10 - 15 years.

Tempurpedic - Endorsed by the arthritis foundation, this study found that over 75% responded saying this product relieved their pain and pressure. This product will keep you from hammocking in the bed and feeling lower back pain.

This product is firmer at first due to the support it provides and they ask that you give it a full 30 days to have your body adjust to a new sleeping surface. It is an open cell type foam that breathes and they add air flow layer to take the heat away from the body. It is the number one selling product in the mattress industry today. If your buying a new foam bed to eliminate pressure points in the body this foam is the best. Most health experts agree.

- If you have too much pain in the shoulder and hips, it may be time to look for a more padded spring bed or eliminate spring completely depending on how sensitive your body is to the pressure of wire beds.

If you are going for budget, look for a plush top or a pillow top in a spring system bed to eliminate pressure.  If you truely want to invest in a pressure relieving bed, look to tempurpedic or natural latex as the answer.

Tempurpedics are endorsed by the arthitis foundation and studies have proven it helps to relieve pain and pressure. Natural latex beds help to relieve presure as well and they provide a softer feeling bed.

- Most experts tell their patients to stop sleeping on their stomach for it puts too much pressure and makes you have more breathing difficulties. If you must sleep on your stomach, it is better to sleep on a firmer surface so you do not hammock into the bed and stretch the spine.  This would cause pain and tossing and turning. This takes you out of deep sleep and makes you more tired.

- It takes you almost 2 hours to get back to deep sleep from light sleep according to sleep health experts. Health problems, stress, worries, eating too late in the evening, caffeine, the wrong mattress, sensitive to lights, sounds, and movements in the bed all keep you in light sleep and makes you feel very tired in the

morning. The goal for everyone is to get to that deep stage of sleep which rejuvinates and heals our bodies to allow you to feel more refreshed and energetic.

 - At Sleep Doctor Mattress Stores, we are very aware of what it takes to help you find the correct mattress. We know that if its a spare room you are looking to stay on a budget. If you are sleeping in a hole in your old bed, do not go looking for that same dip and get something too soft, find what position you most prefer to sleep on. We know you are at this moment tossing and turning from a restless sleep due to a mattress that is not right for you.

Our promise is to ask you the correct questions and find out information about what you are experiencing that we can help you find that right bed for you. We will teach you the differences of different coils and foams to help you make a decision of your next sleeping surface that will better your sleep and health needs.

- Sleep Doctor offers you more knowledge and education, relaxing and cleaner environment to lay down on beds which allows you to judge the comfort and support of the bed, offeryou more coils for support, better foams to provide more comfort and keep that bed from breaking down and sagging, more breathable surface material to keep you from getting hot, find you the bed that gets you to that deeper sleep to help you to feel more refreshed and energetic.

There are plenty of terms that you will need to familiarize yourself with when you look at buying a latex mattress. Some of thse include:

LATEX CORE: This is the inner part of the mattress, where all of the work is done. Latex cores always have holes in them, which are designed to give them a softer feel. Most latex mattresses just have one size of holes through the whole mattress so there is a uniform feel throughout. Some cores though are made with different sections of latex with different sized holes. This allows the bed to have different zones - softer under the shoulders and feet and firmer under the hips. One new technology that has rapidly gained a large following in the industry is the use of ‘telescoping’ holes in the core of latex mattresses. Basically, this means that the hole gets larger as they get closer to the bottom of the core (not the foot of the mattress, but the bottom of it). This allows for a latex mattress that will adjust even better to the different body types that may be using it.

NATURAL LATEX: This is latex that is harvested form the rubber tree. There may be some binders used with the latex when it is produced for the mattress, but generally there are no fillers. It is regarded as being a far superior product than synthetic latex.

SYNTHETIC LATEX: Originally latex was only made from the sap of the tropical Rubber Tree. In the 1940’s, engineers created a way to make synthetic latex.  The primary advantage of synthetic latex is that it is usually more cost effective to produce, and therefore more affordable to the consumer.

FILLERS: Fillers should only be used in a latex mattress as a binder to hold the latex together. Unfortunately, some MAJOR manufacturers use fillers as a way to add density to their product. What they are actually adding is implied density and causing you a whole lot of problems. The biggest problem with fillers is the damage they cause. Not just in latex, but in memory foam as well, the most commonly used fillers are sand and clay. The problem with sand is due to it’s abrasive nature. Upon compression, the grains of the sand rub against the cells of the foam and cause it to break down. Most of us can relate to this either in old couch cushions or in the padding that used to be used under carpeting. Repeated usage caused the material to crumble, reducing the life expectancy of the product. Clay is also used as a filler as a way for the manufacturer to add weight (again, perceived density) to their product. The problem with clay is that it can plug the cells of the latex (or memory foam), reducing its performance and eliminating the breathability factor these materials have. It is generally recommended to stay away from mattresses that have an unusually high amount of fillers in their latex and foam cores.

TALALAY LATEX: The process of making Talalay Latex (From Latex International) is much more involved than the Dunlop process. First, liquid rubber is whipped into a foam and poured into a mold. The mold then is closed and has rods that go through the foam rubber. Next, a vacuum is placed on the mold, which removes air bubbles and pockets and distributes the liquid rubber evenly through the mold. After that, CO2 is run through the rods, freezing the foamed rubber and locking in the consistency. Heat is then sent through the rods, providing even temperature and yielding a consistent latex core without air pockets or uneven firmnesses. Latex International is the only North American supplier of Talalay Latex. Unlike some competing products, only Talalay products contain no fillers or extenders.   Talalay latex is generally regarded as the finest latex in the marketplace.

As you can see, there is a lot to know about latex. This should not scare you away from it however. A properly designed latex mattress is designed to last a lifetime.

Excerpted from Sleep Savvy Magazine, April 2005 issue.

Sleep Savvy gets letters from frustrated readers about the difficulties of explaining body impressions to mattress customers, so we thought we’d pass along a few ‘don’ts’ on the subject, suggested by manufacturers and other retailers. 

• Don’t wait until they have to be “explained.”  Tell the customer about them right up front, during the product presentation.  This also gives you a chance to showcase the comfort layers - or to move on to firmer models if the customer can’t live with impressions.
• Don’t be apologetic.  Body impressions are a byproduct of the extra comfort layers built into today’s best mattresses.  They’re normal.
• Don’t pretend they don’t exist.  The surest way to get a luxury mattress back is to forget to tell the customer to expect body impressions.  You’re much less likely to have dissatisfied customers on your hands when they know what’s coming and why.

Here’s what the Better Sleep Council says to consumers about body impressions:

“Many of today’s top-quality mattresses use extra-plush foams and fibers to create comfort layers designed to cradle your body and relieve pressure.  In the first few weeks you sleep on a new mattress with extra comfort layers, you will likely notice some body impressions on the surface.  These impressions are normal.  They indicate that the comfort layers are conforming to your body, as they are suppposed to do, and shouldn’t be considered a sign that something is wrong with your new mattress.  Unless your mattress care instructions indicate otherwise, you may want to periodically rotate your mattress from end-to-end and from top-to-bottom.”