Spine Zones

Before buying a mattress you need to make sure your back is going to be wanting a certain alignment or not.
The latest in Spinal Support that is perfect for your body is Memory Foam...

Memory foam is made from polyurethane with additional chemicals that increase its viscosity level, thereby increasing its density. It is often referred to as visco-elastic polyurethane foam. Depending on the chemicals used and its overall density, it is firmer in cool temperatures and softer when warm. Higher density memory foam reacts to body heat which allows it to mould itself to the shape of a warm body within a few minutes. A lower density memory foam is pressure-sensitive and will mould more quickly to the shape of the body. The example often used to demonstrate its properties is that a hand pressed into the foam and then removed will leave a clear impression in the foam.

History

Memory foam was originally developed by NASA to decrease the very high pressure caused by the extreme g-force occurring during the take-off of the space shuttle.[citation needed] It was never used in the space program but was subsequently used medically, for example by patients who used to lie in bed on hard or very firm mattresses for long periods of time without regularly moving such as being bed-bound after a paralyzing stroke. The pressure over some of their bony regions decreased or stopped the blood flow to the region causing pressure sores and/or gangrene. Memory foam mattresses helped hugely to decrease such events.

Memory foam was initially too expensive for general use[citation needed], but in recent years it has become cheaper to produce and is now widely available. Its most common domestic uses are mattresses, pillows, and mattress toppers. It still has medical uses, such as wheelchair seat cushions, hospital bed pillows and padding for persons suffering long-term pain or postural problems; for example, a memory foam cervical pillow may alleviate chronic neck pain. Its heat-retaining properties may help some pain sufferers who find the added warmth helps to decrease the pain.[citation needed]

A memory foam mattress is usually denser than an ordinary foam mattress. This makes it more supportive – but also heavier. It is often seen as a good compromise between the comfort of a soft mattress and the supportiveness of a firm one. Memory foam mattresses often sell for more money than traditional mattresses but they last longer.

The property of firmness (hard to soft) of memory foam is used in determining comfort. Firmness is measured by a foam's IFD (Indentation Force Deflection) rating.

IFD measures the force (in pounds) required to make a dent of 1" into a foam sample 15" x 15" x 4" by a 8 inch diameter (50 sq in) disc - known as IFD @ 25% compression. IFD ratings for memory foams range between super soft (IFD 10) and semi-rigid (IFD 120). Most memory foam mattresses are firm (IFD 12 to IFD 16).

There are some Hazards to Memory Foam...

When new, some memory foams give off a distinct chemical odor which many people find unpleasant which some say is akin to the smell of paint. This odor decreases with airing, but some people remain sensitive to it. Emissions from memory foam mattresses may cause respiratory irritation more than other mattresses. Mildew and house dust mites may not occur so frequently so asthma attacks may be less frequent and severe [1]

Memory foam, like other polyurethane products, can be combustible.[2] State and US Federal Laws have been enacted in the USA to require all bedding, including memory foam items, be resistant to ignition from an open flame such as a candle or cigarette lighter. [3] There has been some concern that high levels of the fire retardant PBDE, commonly used in memory foam, could cause health problems for users of memory foam bedding products.

Sleep Tips

Number ONE !!!
Do not eat too late as digestion takes energy and lying down makes food move towards your head. So eat earlier than late and you will have a much better sleep rate.

Two !!!

Do not drink too much liquids or water before going to bed. Getting up to go to the bathroom will disrupt your sleep too often.

Three !!!
Do not exercise too late in the afternoon or early evening. Your body wants to be at peace and not have to race with all the effort you have just put in at the gym.

Follow these three tips above and see the difference.

Tune in soon for more Sleepy Time updates.

Back Breaking Solution

The History of the Mattress.

• Neolithic period: The mattress and bed are invented. Beds are raised off the ground to avoid drafts, dirt, and pests. The first mattress probably consists of a pile of leaves, grass, or possibly straw, with animal skins over it.
• 3600 B.C.: Beds made of goatskins filled with water are used in Persia.
• 3400 B.C.: Egyptians sleep on palm boughs heaped in the corners of their homes.
• 200 B.C.: Mattresses in Ancient Rome consist of bags of cloth stuffed with reeds, hay, or wool; the wealthy use feather stuffing.
• 15th century: During the Renaissance, mattresses are made of pea shucks, straw, or sometimes feathers, stuffed into coarse ticks, and covered with velvets, brocades, or silks.
• 16th and 17th centuries: Mattresses are stuffed with straw or down and placed atop a bed consisting of a timber frame with support latticeworks of rope or leather.
• Early 18th century: Mattresses are stuffed with cotton or wool.
• Mid 18th century: Mattress covers begin to be made of quality linen or cotton. The mattress cane box is shaped or bordered, and fillings include natural fibers such as coconut fibre, cotton, wool, and horsehair. The mattress is tufted or buttoned to attach the stuffing to the cover and the edges are stitched.
• 1855: Tyler Howe patented the the Spring Bed in Spencer, Massachusetts.
• 1857: The steel coil spring is invented and is first patented for use in chair seats.
• 1865: The first coil spring construction for bedding is patented.
• 1871: The German Heinrich Westphal invents the inner spring mattress. He later died in poverty, never having profited from his invention.
• 1873: Sir James Paget presents a waterbed designed by Neil Arnott to St. Bartholomew's Hospital as a treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers.
• 1885: J.P. Leggett patents improvements to the steel coil bedspring. His innovative method of coupling the springs and attaching them to wooden bed slats launched a successful partnership with C.B. Platt, which eventually became Leggett & Platt, Inc.
• 1895: A few waterbeds, which resemble large hot water bottles, are sold via mail order by the British store Harrod’s.
• Late 19th century: The box-spring is invented, making mattresses less lumpy.
• 1900: James Marshall of Simmons Bedding Company invents the pocket coil mattress
• 1906: Sealy Mattress Company forms after buying all patents and knowledge from a local inventor.
• 1929: The most expensive mattresses are constructed of latex rubber and are produced by Dunlopillow.
• 1930s: Innerspring mattresses and upholstered foundations become widely used, and artificial fillers become common. Pocket spring mattresses, which consist of individual springs sewn into linked fabric bags, are introduced.
• 1931: Orders' Mattress is established in South Carolina
• 1940s: The futon is introduced in North America.
• 1950s: Foam rubber mattresses and pillows are available for purchase.
• 1953: Howard Hughes invents first adjustable bed.
• 1958: The Simmons Company introduces the Queen size and King size mattress.
• 1960s: The modern waterbed is introduced and gains its first widespread use with the invention of vinyl. Adjustable beds gain popularity.
• 1970s: NASA invents material that later becomes known as memory foam^[2].
• 1971: Selther is established in Mexico City.
• 1980s: Air mattresses constructed of Vulcanized Rubber or vinyl are introduced.
• 1981: Comfortaire invents the air bed mattress with remote control.
• 1987: Select Comfort creator of the Sleep Number is introduced in North America.
• 1992: Tempur-Pedic introduces a mattress made from memory foam.
• 2003: Zero Gravity Bed introduces changeable and replaceable components in their adjustable mattresses.
• 2005: Selther introduces in Mexico, Latin America and the US a mattress made from dispersion chambers and latex foam known as Flotek.

Sleep Tight. Soft or Hard sleep options.

Firm mattress or Hard ? Which one is better for you?

Most Doctor's will recommend one that is Firm over being too Soft. Alignment of the spine is more logical with a harder cushioning and foam inlay. Look for a Mattress that is firmer for two reasons.

1. Your spine will thank you in the long run.
2. One year after your purchase the mattress will always have lost some of it's firmness. So if you start out too soft then you end up really soft and your spine is out of alignment easily with one year of weight bearing.

Cushions are also important . Don't forget you also need support for your neck so that it aligns in a straight line or slightly curved line with your lumbar region.

The Swedish made beds that are so so expensive are perfect for support and align intelligently with the spine to make a natural curvature to the body while still offering strong support. Most importantly they claim not to lose that support over time.
This is why they cost the earth.
If you can afford one . Get it.

Blow out sales prices likely on mattresses as new U.S. fire-resistant standards take effect

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

If you are in the market for new bedding, and not too concerned with the new United States guidelines for mattress fire resistance, now might be a good time to buy. Mattresses sold in the U.S. must meet new federal guidelines for flammability starting on July 1.

The flammability of mattress sets sold in the U.S. is subject to a new mandatory federal regulation requirement passed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on February 16 last year. The requirement, costing mattress manufacturers an estimated $100 million to meet, is scheduled to take effect on July 1. The commission anticipates that the new standards will save 270 lives and 1,330 injuries per year from mattress fires.

"We've passed a new open flame regulation and the whole idea behind the regulation is to make sure that if a mattress catches on fire that the fire burns slowly enough that people have enough time to get out of the house and get away," said Hal Stratton, chairman of the CPSC

Radio and TV advertising spots are reacting to the new regulation by discounting prices on mattresses that fail to meet the new guidelines. Sales made in the mattress industry, like the automobile industry, are highly negotiable on price. The new regulation does not appear to have much "teeth" for mattresses already in the distribution pipeline, but it is a new law that is a bargaining position for potential buyers.

...	The peak heat release rate is limited to 200 kW during a 30 minute test. The total heat release is limited to 15 MJ within the first 10 minutes."	...
—Consumer Product Safety Commission

Clean Sheets Make THe Difference

Ever slept on fresh sheets?
You know how it feels to slip into Fresh sheets and feel clean and comforted right?
Well its more than in the mind.
All those microbial mites and skin flakes are what can give you the creeps and maybe a itch or more.
So clean your sheets at least once a week if not more.

Sleep is Where it's at.

At the end of the day your Mattress is all that lies between you and a good night's sleep isn't it. Well unless you live in a noisy area at night you should be able to get some sleep. Your Mattress is crucial to this goal. Let's talk about sleep.

Sleep is a natural state of bodily rest observed throughout the animal kingdom. It is common to all mammals and birds, and is also seen in many reptiles, amphibians and fish.

In humans, other mammals, and a substantial majority of other animals which have been studied — such as fish, birds, ants, and fruit-flies — regular sleep is essential for survival. However its purposes are only partly clear and are the subject of intense research.

Stages of sleep

Criteria for REM sleep include not only rapid eye movements but also a rapid low voltage EEG. In mammals, at least, low muscle tone is also seen. Most memorable dreaming occurs in this stage.

NREM accounts for 75–80% of total sleep time in normal human adults. In NREM sleep, there is relatively little dreaming. Non-REM encompasses four stages; stages 1 and 2 are considered 'light sleep', and 3 and 4 'deep sleep' or slow-wave sleep, SWS. They are differentiated solely using EEG, unlike REM sleep which is characterized by rapid eye movements and relative absence of muscle tone. In non-REM sleep there are often limb movements, and parasomnias such as sleepwalking may occur.

A cyclical alternating pattern may sometimes be observed during a stage.

NREM consists of four stages according to the 2007 AASM standards:

* During Stage N1 the brain transitions from alpha waves (common to people who are awake and having a frequency of 8 to 13 Hz) to theta waves (frequency of 4 to 7 Hz). This stage is sometimes referred to as somnolence, or "drowsy sleep". Associated with the onset of sleep during N1 may be sudden twitches and hypnic jerks. Some people may also experience hypnagogic hallucinations during this stage, which can be more troublesome to the subject. During N1 the subject loses some muscle tone, and conscious awareness of the external environment.
* Stage N2, is characterized by "sleep spindles" (12 to 16 Hz) and "K-complexes." During this stage, muscular activity as measured by electromyography (EMG) lowers and conscious awareness of the external environment disappears. This stage occupies 45 to 55% of total sleep.
* In Stage N3, the delta waves, also called delta rhythms (0.5 to 4 Hz) make up less than 50% of the total wave-patterns. This is considered part of deep or slow-wave sleep (SWS) and appears to function primarily as a transition into stage N4. This is the stage in which night terrors, bedwetting, sleepwalking and sleep-talking occur.
* In Stage N4, delta-waves make up more than 50% of the wave-patterns. Stages N3 and N4 are the deepest forms of sleep; N4 is effectively a deeper version of N3, in which the deep-sleep characteristics, such as delta-waves, are more pronounced.

Both REM sleep and NREM sleep stages 3 and 4 are homeostatically driven; that is, if a person or animal is selectively deprived of one of these, it rebounds once uninhibited sleep again is allowed. This suggests that both are essential to the functions of the sleep process.

Sleep timing

Sleep timing is controlled by the circadian clock, by homeostasis and, in humans, by willed behavior.

The circadian clock, an inner time-keeping, temperature-fluctuating, enzyme-controlling device, works in tandem with adenosine, a neurotransmitter which inhibits many of the bodily processes that are associated with wakefulness. Adenosine is created over the course of the day; high levels of adenosine lead to sleepiness. In diurnal animals, sleepiness occurs as the circadian element causes the release of the hormone melatonin and a gradual decrease in core body temperature. The timing is affected by one's chronotype. It is the circadian rhythm which determines the ideal timing of a correctly structured and restorative sleep episode.

Homeostatic sleep propensity, the need for sleep as a function of the amount of time elapsed since the last adequate sleep episode, is also important and must be balanced against the circadian element for satisfactory sleep. Along with corresponding messages from the circadian clock, this tells the body it needs to sleep.

Sleep offset, awakening, is primarily determined by circadian rhythm. A normal person who regularly awakens at an early hour will generally not be able to sleep much later than the person's normal waking time, even if moderately sleep deprived.