We will begin this article by defining what exactly is latex. Latex is a natural product which is a milky, sticky colloid extracted from the bark of the rubber tree (hevea brasiliensis). This latex among other ingredients consists of various types of proteins some of which are thought to be the cause of allergies.
Some of the common everyday products that are made from latex are
A number of people are allergic to various foods, chemicals and other allergens. Likewise a few people develop allergic reaction to latex too. It is estimated that in the US, less than 1% of the people are allergic to latex. Latex is made up of a number of proteins and it is these proteins that cause allergy in humans. Gloves are the most commonly used product of latex. Constant contact with latex is said to cause allergy. Mattresses / pillows are another product where there is a lot of body contact and hence a few people are said to develop latex mattress allergy symptoms. But not all proteins in latex causes allergy.
Some of the common allergic reactions to latex are, runny nose, sneezing, itching, headache, hives, sore throat and stomach cramps and in the extreme cases, anaphylaxis shock. People who are allergic to certain fruits like bananas, chestnuts, kiwifruit, avocados and tomatoes could be allergic to latex too since they have similar allergy causing proteins.
In general, all mattresses and pillows go through at least 4-5 stages of washing or flushing during production.Then the mattresses are vulcanized at high speed. These processes remove most of the allergy causing proteins. Also, most of the latex foam bedding products are covered with non-latex products so there is never any direct skin contact with the latex.
Moreover, people usually sleep on mattresses or pillows using sheets or other covers or mattress protectors. So the chance of any allergy caused by direct contact with latex mattresses is quite low. This process is unlike those of gloves and other natural rubber products which are stretchable and hence are treated using cold-dipped process. In this process all the allergy causing proteins are not completely removed and there is a greater possibility of people who are prone to latex allergy developing the same.
A number of popular mattresses use the QUL seal which is an assurance that the manufacturer uses low-allergen natural latex followed by the above mentioned cleaning process. This leaves hardly any allergy causing proteins behind. Most of the manufacturers are of opinion that the allergy could be due to the dust particles in the mattress or cover. Very few instances of allergy due to the use of latex mattresses have been reported, but a few mattresses which were tested did show the presence of varying levels of allergy causing proteins in the tested brands. There are no standards available to measure the amount of proteins that cause latex allergens.
A few cases of people who had latex mattress allergy symptoms have been reported, but these could be a reaction in general to latex and not specific to mattresses. Since there is no conclusive research evidence available, it is better for people who are hyper allergic to latex to get professional advice or to avoid all products made from latex including latex mattresses and latex pillows
Eco Terra Mattresses are 100% natural latex foam mattresses. The coils inside these mattresses are encased in fabric. There is absolutely no chemicals used and hence it is very safe to use. The air does not get polluted due to these chemicals. These mattresses are very good for the spine and causes no back pain. With a 20 years warranty, these mattresses are an excellent buy.
The only deterrent to buying these mattresses is the affordability. The Eco Terra mattresses are quite expensive. It is a medium firm mattress and a few sleepers may not find these mattresses comfortable enough.
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