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Good morning and welcome to Episode 76 of the Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

This morning Dr. Trayford shares tip number 76, which is to invest in a quality mattress and quality bedding. Good sleep is so vital to your health that it is absolutely worth it to save up and buy a mattress that is right for you. Dr. Trayford recommends really taking time to test out many mattresses to find the right one!

Having come from a chiropractic background, even though I haven’t treated neck and back pain for many years. While it can be attributed to movement issues. People will always still to this day ask me what type of pillow or mattress they should be using.

It’s such a personal feel, we can’t make blanket recommendations.
The challenge with most people these days is that they can’t sleep.
Everyone has individual needs. The bottom line is that you need to invest in the most important brain health practice and that is sleep. You go into a mattress store these days and it’s like going to a car dealership.
You need to go in ready to bargain and haggle, talk to the managers and it can be a rather stressful process for people. So this is why we can’t make absolute recommendations.

Also, different people respond better to different types of mattresses, but typically, the firmer the mattress the better. Most people will have a better quality night sleep on a firm mattress, as opposed to a poor mattress that has been extensively padded with pillow tops and batting.

You need to invest in a quality mattress with a high spring count of quality springs that allows you to lay as flat as possible, yet conforms to your body. Whether you are laying on your side of your back you don’t want the mattress that is causing any parts of the body being pushed up or sinking down too far.
The bottom line is that you have to go to these places and lay on these beds for a while. When you go in you should assume that you’re going to spend an hour or two in the store. You want to lay down on the mattress for 10 or 15 minutes to see how your body is going to respond.

When you first lay down it takes a little while, before you fall asleep your body will start to shift position. Maybe even go back a couple of times to try a mattress a few times.

I understand that sometimes money can be an issues. But you really do want to buy a quality mattress. Even if it means holding off a little bit longer to save up to buy a quality mattress. Rather than getting one now. It’s worth it to save up more and get a quality one later.

The reality is that your mattress will last up to 5 to 10 years. So you should think of it as being a long term investment.

When it comes to your pillow if you have neck issues like Osteoarthritis, will vary. Ideally you want to find a mattress that will keep your head and neck parallel or in line with the bed.

The bedding. Some people are chemically sensitive. If this is the case, you might want to look at bedding that uses hemp and more natural fibers that are more conducive to not experiencing allergies while you’re sleeping.
Take a look at the materials your bedding is made from, because it can be just as important as how comfortable it actually is.

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →