Human beings need deep (REM stage) sleep, but when sleep is
continually interrupted, the brain never has time to enter that
essential stage. The result is that someone with chronic fatigue
syndrome may get a "full" 8
hours of sleep, but never enter deep sleep, and so never be fully
rested. Many people have turned to memory foam to help them escape these
pressure points and sleep better, but the stakes are even higher for
those with CFS. When an individual with CFS loses a night of sleep, that
loss can worsen other symptoms and contribute to an ongoing cycle of
exhaustion.
Because the root causes of chronic fatigue syndrome are not fully known, each individual
symptom usually must be treated separately. Because sleep is so
essential to living, a CFS patient can greatly increase well being by
solving this single symptom of the condition. Something as simple as a
consistent bedtime can make a dramatic difference to how well one
sleeps. Chronic fatigue sufferers should also avoid alcohol and nicotine
before bed, and try not to eat a large meal within 2 hours of going to
sleep.
Equally important is a comfortable sleep system. Chronic fatigue sufferers should
either make sure that their inner-spring mattress is in like-new
condition, or should seek out alternative materials like memory foam to
help reduce pressure points and the resulting fragmentation of sleep.
There are an ever increasing number of options for people interested in
memory foam sleep systems, from full mattresses to overlays designed to
upgrade an existing mattress.
