The Benefits of a Memory Foam MattressWritten by Thomas Jay Wacker
On quest for a more productive day, research has shown that a more productive sleep at night can be one of healthiest solutions. A Memory Foam Mattress could be just what researchers have been looking for. Concentration, Observation and even Creativity, are all qualities that can help us on our everyday journey through work, and life. The key is relaxation. Any quality that enhances our daily productivity is welcome, but with a calm mind and rested body, do we find most precious resources, that is, through our sleep. Sleep provides us with an infinite number of possibilities. Possibilities, which are most efficiently cultivated, while having deep restful dreams in a peaceful bed. And mattresses made from memory foam are ideal in this respect. Ever since invention of first electroencephalogram, machine that registers brain waves, back in first part of 20th century, scientists have known that sleep is not just an unproductive time in which we are forced to stop working. Wonderful things occur at night while we sleep. During an average night of sleep of eight hours, our bodies move in and out of consciousness through cycles, determined by brain wave activity. If these cycles are disrupted by stressing muscles in certain points, sleeper, could actually wake up without fulfilling full sleep cycle. This means time and relaxation, are needed to achieve proper depths of a good nights rest. Suppose an average sleeper, gets eight hours of sleep, on a good mattress. Then she or he, would plunge into realm of sleep for about 90min. then slowly come back out, and on return to waking world, would have about 10 min. of dreams, almost wake up, roll over, and plunge back into another 90min. cycle. If conditions are good, such as in using proper kind of bed, second sleep cycle will have something like 20-30min. of dreams, followed by 45-60min. in third cycle. The longer we sleep, more dreams we have.
| | Is DIY dangerous for your health?Written by Deborah Hughes
Planning on redecorating bathroom this weekend? or finally getting round to fitting those new kitchen units? If so, you may be using Medium Density Fibre Board – commonly known as ‘MDF’. MDF is cheap and versatile, which has made it a material that has been embraced by a huge number of people in DIY epidemic of last few years. This hunger was fuelled by programmes such BBC’s Changing Rooms which incorporated MDF into most of its designs. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Handy Andy demonstrated how flexible material could be cut into just about any shape, and curved into unique contemporary furniture and fittings – often challenging very idea of good taste! So, is MDF perfect DIY material? Or are there hidden dangers? Recently, there has been considerable publicity about health hazards of using MDF. There have been reports of how dust produced when working with MDF can cause health problems such asthma and even cancer. One trade union stated that ‘MDF is asbestos of nineties’! Alarming stuff, but are there any grounds for concerns? Recent assessments of risks The Health and Safety has classified MDF as a soft wood and therefore not designated as a carcinogen in UK. However, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) does not distinguish between hardwoods and softwoods, and it groups ‘wood dust’ as ‘carcinogenic to humans’. Formaldehyde, which is included in bonding resins used in MDF, is also classified by IARC as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’. They argue that, even at low levels, inhalation of formaldehyde can cause irritation to eyes, nose, throat and mucous membrane. It can also affect skin, leading to dermatitis, and to respiratory system causing asthma and rhinitis. MDF in other countries Reports that MDF is banned in USA and Australia are speculative. However, there are tighter restrictions on its production and use. In USA, there are limits on formaldehyde emissions from MDF and home owners in California have to be warned that their new home has been built using MDF which ‘contains a chemical known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive hazards’. Australian workers are warned that formaldehyde is ‘a probable carcinogen’.
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