Chiropractic does more than help your back: it can also improve your sleep!
If you have a difficult time falling asleep or have trouble remaining asleep, you are not alone. Many people experience sleep difficulties at least a few times during their lives. This can be attributed to many things: jet lag, anxiety, digestive issues, an uncomfortable mattress, too much noise, too much caffeine, muscle aches, the room not dark enough, and inability to get into a comfortable sleep position.
When you don’t get enough sleep, you can feel tired and grumpy the next day. However, when you are unable to get sufficient sleep for days or weeks at a time, you can develop chronic issues and more serious problems.
Here are some of the types of issues caused by long term sleep deprivation:
Headaches: Lack of sleep can cause migraines and tension headaches.
Irritability: Lack of sleep can make you impatient. Things that do not normally get on your nerves can upset you.
Difficulty focusing: People who are sleep deprived are unable to concentrate on routine tasks. They are more prone to make errors at work.
Forgetfulness: When you don’t get enough sleep, you misplace your car keys, forget your phone and don’t remember appointments.
Lack of Appetite or Binge eating: A lack of sleep can make your body feel “off schedule.” You might find yourself snacking at unusual times. You might also drink more caffeinated beverages and eat sugary snacks in order to feel more awake.
Lack of energy: You wonder how you will make it through the day. You start counting the hours until you can rest again.
Restlessness: You can’t get comfortable in your favorite chair. Your thoughts wander from one thought to another.
Improper digestion and weight gain: Your body requires enough sleep in order to correctly digest and process food. Without enough rest, your body cannot relax enough to break down food efficiently. This can cause abdominal bloating, stomach pain, gastrointestinal issues and weight gain.
Brain fog: Sleep deprivation can adversely affect your ability to think clearly, resulting in feeling “spaced out,” disoriented, and confused. It takes more effort to direct your thoughts.
Exhaustion: Not only do you feel too tired to go to the gym or exercise; you barely feel able to complete daily tasks. You stop walking the dog. You stop playing with the kids. Dirty dishes and laundry might begin to pile up.
Endocrine system / adrenal fatigue: The endocrine system is the part of the body that regulates the hormones and neurotransmitters inside the blood stream. When your body does not get enough sleep or rest, your body chemistry is altered due to ineffective ratios of daytime and nighttime hormones. This can cause a reduction in energy, stamina, focus, digestion and an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Slower reaction times when driving your vehicle: A lack of sleep can cause slower driver response to quickly changing traffic patterns. Reaction time is extremely important when driving, especially on busy highways or during the morning school bus gauntlet.
Some of the problems which make it difficult to achieve a restful night of sleep are rather unavoidable. (Such as that time when a national cheerleading competition happens to be occurring in the resort where you are staying. And you get to hear the cheerleaders practicing their cheers at one in the morning.) While other challenges are easier to reduce or eliminate entirely, like musculoskeletal aches and the ability to quickly find a comfortable sleep position.
People who struggle with getting enough hours of sleep have often already tried over-the-counter sleep aids, medications, and supplements. They already know to avoid caffeine late in the day and to dim the house lights in the evening. But many people are unaware of how chiropractic treatment can aid them in restoring a healthy sleep pattern.
Chiropractic can help you to get the proper amount and quality of sleep that you need. Chiropractic can improve your sleep in the following ways:
Chiropractic adjustment can reduce joint irritation and muscle strain, thereby making it easier for you to find a comfortable sleeping position. Chiropractic works by gently positioning the bones of the skeleton into the optimal position that reduces inflammation. This restores proper movement to the joints in your body. The faster you get comfortable, the more quickly you are able to relax and drift off to sleep.
Chiropractic manipulations improve your posture, so that your head rests more comfortably on your pillow. If you own a decent pillow, your neck and head should be able to easily find a position in which to relax.
Chiropractic treatment can prevent night time muscle cramps and spasms. A skilled chiropractor can treat muscle irritation at the source. By precise joint manipulation, the muscles connected to the joint will have less inflammation and relax throughout the night.
Chiropractic treatment can help you to feel more relaxed. If you find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night, this may be an indication that you need to schedule a series of appointments with your local chiropractor. Your skeletal alignment is of paramount importance. If your bones and joints aren’t in an anatomically correct position, you will struggle to find a comfortable sleep position.
Chiropractic adjustments can reduce feelings of parasthesia (unusual uncomfortable sensations in the arms and legs). If you have restless leg syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, or fibromyalgia, you may receive some relief through gentle chiropractic treatment. This will often decrease uncomfortable sensations of numbness, tingling, skin crawling, sharp “electric” stabbing, and muscle tightening.
Chiropractic treatments often have a calming effect on the body. Certain types of chiropractic adjustments, such as when your chiropractor carefully aligns the tiny bones at the top of the neck, cause the body to relax. Many patients report that they feel much calmer and more at ease after their chiropractic visit.
If you are struggling to get a good night’s sleep, consider scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor. Rather than taking over-the-counter sleep aids and medications, try a more natural approach, and restore your body to health through chiropractic.