Latex Mattress Tips

The Benefits of Latex Beds

Latex beds are a popular mattress choice for several reasons. Some of the most important benefits of latex beds are:

1. Latex beds are a very good choice for individuals with allergies to dust mites, mold or bacteria because latex is resistant to these allergens.
2. A latex mattress can mold itself to your body, allowing you to reduce stress to your neck, shoulders and back.
3. Latex beds are firm enough to allow people who don't like soft mattresses to sleep in comfort.

Help Your Latex Beds Last Longer

Although most latex beds wear well, some have problems with sagging. To be sure your latex beds last longer, you should:

1. Only use latex beds with good, solid box springs. A weak box spring does not provide adequate support.
2. Flip your mattress every few months to help it wear more evenly.
3. Contact the manufacturer immediately if you notice signs of sagging. A quality latex mattress should last up to 20 years without sagging.

100% Latex Now Manufactured in the United States

Prior to the beginning of 2005, it was difficult if not impossible to find 100% natural latex that was manufactured within the United States. Latex has traditionally been imported from Sri Lanka, where it was molded into foam from the latex rubber of its indigenous forests. While latex foam manufactured in Sri Lanka is of high quality, limitations in the manufacturing process meant that 100% natural latex mattresses and toppers could only be found in medium and firm variations. There was also the side-effect of an uneven molding process which could sometimes create uneven foam palates. Latex International, a company based in the United States has introduced both a 100% natural latex line and a Talalay latex line. These new latex lines introduce new variations in firmnesses, including soft, medium-firm, and extra-firm.

Fatigue and Latex

Fatigue in the clinical sense refers to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and is not classified as a disease, but rather attempts to describe the condition that results from any combination of factors including aching muscles and joints, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, fever, headaches, low blood pressure, intestinal problems and pain, irritability, environmental sensitivities, jaundice, loss of appetite, mood swings, muscle spasms, night sweats and more. Any or all of these symptoms can drastically weaken the immune system, and while it is not necessarily life-threatening, it cannot be cured. This is because each symptom must be addressed individually, and this is where new technology foam products can help, particularly in reference to latex foam (although memory foam and polyurethane foam can also certainly help). Natural latex foam is the milky sap of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. This natural latex rubber is produced in Africa, South Asia, South America, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, where trees are tapped for latex by cutting a spiral groove in the bark and placing a spout and collection cup at the base. This natural latex rubber is then molded into remarkable bedding products like a latex mattress, or a latex pillow. This material can be particularly helpful for individuals interested in reducing sub-symptoms of CFS such as aching muscles and joints. For people suffering from physical discomfort in the bedroom, products such as latex foam toppers, pillows and mattresses might be worth exploring.

Weight Gain and Latex Foam

As is the case with all physical ailments, there are a wide variety of factors that go into creating certain conditions. Weight gain is no exception. By definition, obesity refers to anyone who is 20 percent over the normal weight for his or her age, sex, build and height. More specifically, obesity is determined by the ratio of body fat to body weight. 25% is considered healthy for women and 17% for men. However, in this context we are discussing those individuals who are facingobesity – or suddenly finding themselves on the way there. This is sometimes the result of a life style change and often related to stress, particularly as manifested in sleep deprivation. Certain types of stress, including the physical stress of an uncomfortable sleeping environment, can result in sleep-deprivation which can lead to weight gain. For individuals who are facing this problem, foam products are a possible solution. Latex foam in particular is a more viable alternative to fad products like air beds and number beds, not only because it is more affordable, but also because it is more durable and long lasting. A three inch latex foam topper, for example, can conform to the contours of the body just as much or more than a number bed, and can also be customized for his and her sides. As pressure points are reduced and even eliminated on bones, joints and muscles, the likelihood of achieving a restful night's sleep is dramatically increased. For individuals suffering from a form of sleep-related weight gain, a latex mattress, pillow or topper could help.

Deciding Whether Latex Beds are Right for You

There are several types of foam mattresses, including polyurethane, viscoelastic, and latex. All of these foam mattresses are similar in design and function, so why should you choose latex beds? Actually, latex beds are one of the best choices for people with allergies. Latex is very resistant to mold and dust mites do not multiply on latex mattresses like they do on other materials.

A Latex Mattress for Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the more prevalent sleep-related conditions in America today. One of every ten Americans is affected by it, and nearly 30% of seniors. There is no distinction between not being able to fall asleep when you first go to bed, or waking up in the middle of the night without being able to go back to sleep. Certainly it is a frustrating situation, and more often than not it is a temporary condition that plays off of external stress factors including relationship troubles, work anxiety or any number of other sudden changes. In the cases where it is not temporary, there may be serious psychological challenges including grief or some form of mental disorder. In cases where it is temporary, there are steps that can be taken in the bedroom to help reduce or even eliminate the problem. Many forms of temporary insomnia reflect a less than optimum sleep environment, something that can be alleviated by acquiring a latex mattress made from either 100% natural latex foam or Talalay Latex foam. These foam mattresses can not only be customized on his or her sides (different firmness preferences between couples can be a cause of temporary insomnia), but they can also be built from materials that reduce and in some cases eliminate pressure points during sleep. The result can be a rapid change in sleeping patterns and a favorable alternative to more expensive solutions like air beds and number beds.

The Story with Natural Latex Mattresses

Natural latex is achieving what other recent bedding innovations like air mattresses and number beds have not been able to: offering the consumer a new peace of mind at a cheaper price with more potential for comfort. Latex is gaining attention because it is all natural - harvested from rubber trees in Sri Lanka - and offers benefits that are hard to reproduce in other bedding materials. These include being resistant to allergens, mold and mildew. In addition to imported latex foam mattresses from Sri Lanka, American companies like Latex International are beginning to produce latex that can be found in more firmness variations, adding a soft firmness to the latex mattress lineup.

Latex Beds and Allergies

If you suffer with latex allergies, you may be concerned about using latex beds. However, the material used in latex beds is different than the latex used in surgical gloves and surgical tape. Most people who suffer from latex allergies do not have allergic reactions to latex beds. If you have latex allergies and you want to use these beds, be sure to talk to your allergist about your concerns and ask about using a hypoallergenic mattress cover.

Natural Heat in Latex Mattresses?

Heat in a Latex Mattress
Some people may or may not notice that their natural latex or talalay latex mattress seems to retain more heat that other mattresses they have grown accustomed to. While latex actually is more breathable than many types of foam, it seems to be able to maintain a slightly higher average temperature during the course of the evening. While a latex mattress has many benefits including being hypo-allergenic and noticeably comfortable, there are other issues to consider. For those interested in trimming down the amount of sheets and blankets needed throughout the evening to keep cosy, this can be a blessing. For others, perhaps those located in more hot and humid climates, it may be advisable to pick-up a platform bed frame that has slats beneath the mattress that aid in circulating air through the latex foam.

Buying Latex Beds

Latex beds come in a wide range of prices. Some of the higher end mattresses have quite a few additional features. However, this does not mean you will sleep better on a higher end mattress. When you are shopping for latex beds, you should:

1. Always test out the mattress before you buy it. Some latex beds come with extra padding that makes them too soft for people who prefer a firm mattress.
2. Look for consumer opinions on the model you are considering. Some latex beds wear out after less than a year of use.
3. Be sure that the manufacturer offers a good warranty. If your bed sags in the middle after six or seven months, you want to be sure it will be replaced.

What type of foam should I get, Latex or Memory Foam?

Memory foam has been getting a great deal of press lately, so many individuals are familiar with its heat-sensitive, reactive qualities. They know that memory foam was engineered by NASA and is 100% synthetic. Natural Latex, on the other hand, is 100% natural and was engineered by the indigenous forests of equatorial countries like Sri Lanka. How do you decide if a latex mattress or a memory foam mattress is the best option for you? There are a few key things to consider. The first is your back health and the second is your susceptibility to allergies. In general, people who are looking to preserve existing back health and fight the presence of allergens in the bedroom would be better off with latex. Those with back or neck problems might want to steer towards memory foam. But ultimately, it's best to try both and see which material reacts best to your bodies needs and wants.

Latex for Stress

Stress in the most general sense refers to any reaction to a physical, mental, social, or emotional stimulus that enacts an alteration to the way we think, perform or feel. In this light, stress is anything having to do with change and how we react to it. Without a doubt, some people respond to stress in different ways than others. For some it takes more of a toll on mental energy and for others it manifests in the form of physical ailments including sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep in of itself can be a leading cause of stress, and it is in these important cases that the benefits of new foam technologies like latex foam, memory foam and polyurethane foam can help promote a change in irregular sleeping patterns. Latex foam products including latex toppers, latex mattresses and natural latex pillows have been shown to reduce and even eliminate the need to readjust the body during sleep. Consumers have noted that they are able to rest in one position for hours, even the entire night. Because almost all body organs react to stress, there is a multi-front battle that needs to be fought in order to reduce pressure points on the body (which create bone stress) so a more restful night can eliminate organ stress and eventually remove certain types of psychological stress altogether.