Visco Mattresses Versus Magnetic Beds Health Concerns

If you listen to magnetic mattress pads manufacturers and retailers, you just might think that these small magnets can cure all sorts of problems from joint pain, insomnia, back pain, fibromyalgia, circulation problems, bone density issues, post polio, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, stress incontinence, erectile dysfunction, migraines, peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy, nicotine addiction, lupus, emphysema and many other ailments and illnesses.

But first, here's what you must know about home mattress trials and what makes a good foam mattress.

Many memory mattress manufacturers and retailers also make health-related claims, saying that their products can cure insomnia and/or many other sleep disorders, back pain, joint pains and so on.

The truth is that no mattress can fix these things but they can help ease the pain and improve comfort during sleep, depending on your medical condition, mattress type and quality. So what do doctors have to say about it?

Mattress Recommendations from Doctors

Many customer reviews say that a Tempur-Pedic mattress or pillow has helped apnea and fibromyalgia patients, insomniacs and people suffering from back and hip pain. There are no relevant medical studies to back up these effects which is why doctors are still skeptical about recommending (or not recommending) visco mattresses.

Scientists have not yet succeeded in proving the effectiveness of magnetic therapy and, consequently, of magnetic mattresses and pads. Most available studies show no conclusive results which is why most doctors don't recommend it to their patients, even though they admit that magnets don't have any negative side effects.

What makes testing so difficult?

• Well, first of all, you could easily tell if you were given a magnet mattress or just a placebo, by simply putting a metal pin next to it. Being able to tell a magnetic topper from a regular one can skew any survey results (people might not react objectively during the survey).
• Secondly, effects of magnetic therapy are difficult to measure accurately (like intensification of blood flow or nutrient quantity).

Back Support

• Visco mattresses will provide good support as long as it is dense enough (4lb minimum), is layered over a firmer core made of good quality high resilience foam, is firm enough (ILD rating of 14-15) and, most importantly, is sensitive to body temperature.
• Magnetic pads offer no support of their own. Support will come from the mattress underneath. Magnets are just one of the components of a magnetic mattress. Air, foam, water or springs are used to make the mattress and then incorporate the magnets. It's difficult, therefore, to talk about back support in a magnet mattress without knowing what it's made of.

Pressure Relief

Health care specialists say that to be labeled as providing pressure relief, a mattress has to have the pressure of 32mmHg or lower, whereas pressure reduction performance is agreed to occur between 32mmHg and 50mmHg.

• A good quality viscoelastic mattress like Tempur-Pedic Swedish mattress and other leading brands were shown to reduce average pressure to around 15 mmHg from nearly 30 mmHg.
• The pressure exerted on your body by a magnetic pad depends on the material used to cushion the magnets. This could be foam, fabric, air, etc. Exerted pressure varies greatly depending on cushioning.

Allergy And Mattress Choice

Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, there are no allergy-free mattresses readily available (except for the ones manufactured especially for people suffering from allergies).

• The magnets have no allergy potential, but the cushioning and the comfort layer do, so beware what you buy. Foam and fibers of all types are not a food source for dust mites but it can host colonies of dust mites and bacteria.
• Open-cell memory foam mattresses do not promote dust mite nesting, nor are they a food source in themselves, but unfortunately they can and do host dust mites.
• Due to its structure, an open-cell foam mattress (like almost any other type of mattress) cannot be cleaned of these microscopic creatures. The only way to prevent allergy-provoking dust mites in your foam mattress is to use dust-mite resistant encasings and covers.

Customer Opinions

Save your money on the magnetic part of the mattress and go buy yourself a good quality mattress that will give you whatever level of support your DOCTOR recommends you need for your condition.
groups.google.com/group/alt.support.chronic

I am now 75 years old and I have fibromyalgia which the magnets was supposed to help. They didn't help and probably delayed me receiving proper treatment. I'm out $1,329.12 plus postage of $5.04. I feel like such an idiot for being taken advantage of this way.
www.consumeraffairs.com/health/greentree_health.html

I have a magnetic mattress pad on my bed, and the mattress pad contains 400 domino-size strong magnets and weighs 35 pounds. As long as I can sleep at home on my magnetic mattress pad, many of the aches and pains that I once had have disappeared.
chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=30757&view=next

The surface of it is rather hard, almost slab-like; while everything advertised about the way it conforms to your exact body is true, it just didn't have that "ahhh, there's my sweet comfy bed" feeling. Believe me, we tried hard to work up a little love for the poor thing, but we just weren't feeling it.
www.epinions.com/content_135358877316

I have been sleeping on the magnetic mattress pad and it has done wonders for my pain - it numbs it. It is still there as one night did not sleep on it and had terrible pain. I started sleeping on it in January and have had alot of dizziness since then.
groups.google.com/group/alt.med.fibromyalgia

Despite of the expensive price and nicely made TV commercial, I would wake up and get out of bed because of the back pain. I hardly had good night sleep while we had Tempur-Pedic mattress. My husband either. He eventually started sleeping on the couch instead of the mattress.
www.epinions.com/Tempur-Pedic_Swedish_Mattress

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Authenticity Test

How can you check if your purchase as good as a real Tempurpedic bed? You can try the wine glass test, the egg test, or the fridge test.

Top Memory Foam Complaint

The most commonly reported problem consumers have with memory foam mattresses is that they sleep hotter when compared to conventional sleeping surfaces.

But sleeping conditions are influenced by environment temperature, the material's heat sensitivity and your own body heat.

3.5 lb vs 4.5 lb density

Which to choose from a 3.5lb memory foam mattress topper 4.5lb viscoelastic foam mattress comparison? Higher density alone does not make a quality sleeping surface. The formula behind the best sleeping surface uses best quality, high-density foam that responds to body temperature.