Why Are Foam Mattresses are a Bad Investment

Foam only mattresses are a popular option for those shopping online. After all, they promise comfort and pressure relief. They also promise to be an all-in-one solution for a good night’s sleep as well. With that said, there are several drawbacks and these can easily affect your sleep and overall health.  

Heat Retention and Low Air Circulation 

One of the main issues that foam mattresses present is the fact that they trap heat. Foam, especially memory foam, tends to retain body heat and this makes it incredibly uncomfortable for a lot of sleepers. This is especially the case for those who run hot during the night, as this can compound the issue, making it even worse. Foam mattresses are also designed to conform to the shape of your body, and this means that there is a lot less air circulation between your body and the mattress.

Without a good amount of airflow, the heat your body generates during sleep gets trapped, leading to a much warmer environment overall. The heat retention can mean that you’re in for an even more restless night, which can lead to you waking up feeling hot and sweaty. If you suffer from any kind of temperature-regulation issue, for example, if you are going through menopause, then this can make your problem even worse. 

Additionally, a warm sleeping environment can disrupt your sleep cycle. This can cause you to experience fragmented sleep, so you wake up feeling fatigued the next day. What makes things even worse is that some manufacturers add more layers of foam so that the heat is mitigated. This, however, usually ends up making things worse, or it doesn’t provide the results you hoped they would. When you combine this with the fact that manufacturers usually charge more for this, it’s easy to see how it could be a bit of an issue.

Poor Spine Alignment

One of the biggest issues that foam mattresses present is that they do not offer the right amount of support when it comes to spine alignment. While foam mattresses, and especially memory foam mattresses, are designed so that they can contort to the shape of your body, this isn’t always a good thing. They can easily lead to poor posture and they can also cause misalignment when you sleep. When you break it down, it’s easy to see as well. When you lie down on a foam mattress, it shapes your body. At the same time, if your mattress is too soft, and if it is not dense enough, it can create different pressure points. This forces your spine to sag, and it can also lead to things like stiffness and discomfort.

You may also experience constant discomfort and chronic pain. This might be most evident in your lower back, which is something that a lot of people struggle with. If you sleep on a foam mattress for too long then you may find that you end up with issues such as herniated discs, or even sciatica. This is especially the case if you happen to be prone to back issues.

Chemical Exposure and High VOC Fumes

Another issue would be chemical exposure. Another significant drawback when you buy a foam mattress would be off-gassing. Many foam mattresses and this is especially the case with those that are made out of memory foam, end up releasing a chemical when they are unboxed. A lot of the time this odor can be down to the volatile compounds that are generated as the mattress airs out. VOCs can be very harmful at the end of the day, and they can also have a big impact on your health. When you experience them in very high concentrations, you may find that they lead to things like headaches and dizziness. They can also cause you to experience nausea as well as several respiratory problems. If you find that you end up having symptoms like this then you may want to open the window and let some of the fumes out. Most of the time, these fumes will go away after a few days, but sometimes they can take a few weeks. If you have a chemical sensitivity then things like this can lead to major issues.

The off-gassing process is particularly evident in foam mattresses because they are treated with numerous chemicals. Although this is a big part of the safety process, as it helps to prevent fire hazards, it can also hurt your health. Some foam mattresses are marked as having low VOC, but at the end of the day, these claims are often misleading. The mattresses are still treated with several harmful compounds. If you are an individual, and you are sensitive to chemicals or if you find that you quickly become nauseated by them then it is so important that you take the time to think about whether a foam mattress is worth it. 

Durability Issues 

When you invest in a new mattress, you probably want it to be durable. After all, there is very little point in getting a mattress if it is not durable. When you sit on a mattress, you may feel as though it is plush and comfortable. With that said, it simply doesn’t have the long-term durability that you might expect from other types of mattresses. Foam mattresses tend to degrade and break down way faster than other types of mattresses. 

Over time, the foam may lose its shape, and it can also lose out on its supportive qualities. It may begin to sag in areas where there is a lot of pressure, and this can cause you a lot of issues. Foam can also cause an uneven sleeping surface, which is the last thing you need. The degradation of foam can happen if your mattress is exposed to a lot of heat and moisture, which again, can contribute to the issue even more. This can greatly reduce its lifespan, which is the last thing you want when you are investing a lot of money in it.

The durability of foam mattresses will also come down to the type of foam that is used as well. If you use a low-density foam then this will degrade faster but you may notice that a higher-density foam lasts way longer. With that said, if you invest in a better, high-density mattress, this doesn’t mean that it will last as long as another type of mattress. Foam mattresses in general have a shorter lifespan when compared to hybrid and innerspring models. In general, you will also have to replace them more often, which can drain your finances.

Environmental Impact

Even though foam mattresses might be comfortable and in some instances, they may seem very convenient, you do have to remember that they are made mostly out of several synthetic materials. This can include polyurethane foam. This comes from petroleum, and it is not biodegradable. That means that it can sit in a landfill for a very long period. Sometimes it can sit there for hundreds of years, so when you think about this, it's not hard to see why foam mattresses can contribute directly to things like environmental pollution.

The disposal of foam mattresses is also very dangerous as a lot of the time they cannot be recycled. This adds to a huge issue with waste disposal. Some companies are indeed working very hard to try and produce more sustainable mattresses and they are also using plant-based foams as well but the options are limited.

If environmental concerns, allergies or even hygiene are a concern to you when buying a mattress it’s best to avoid foam entirely, as it’s just not a durable option when you're spending a lot of money on your investment.