Chiropractic and Sleep
Are you getting enough sleep at night? When you are sleeping, do you often find yourself waking up during the night? Do you awake feeling un-rested? Probably the most common side benefit we hear those who have recently started with Chiropractic care is that they sleep so much better.
Sleep is vital for allowing the body to function at its best, and is one of the most important functions of the brain. Although everyone’s sleep needs vary, it is recommended that adults have about 8 hours a night. One of the first signs of altered brain and nervous system function can be a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders occur is due to the inability for the brain to filter sensory input. ‘Bumps in the night’ instead of being ignored cause neurological havoc and disrupt our sleep cycle, waking us. The consequences of untreated sleep problems include high blood pressure, memory problems, weight gain, headaches, and impotence. It can also cause job impairment, affect your relationships and cause accidents. Clearly this is not a healthy state to live in.
Stress is the most common cause of a dysfunctional nervous system and sleep disorders. While you would assume this to be from mental and emotional causes, this is not always the case. Physical stress (eg. a strain or tear) and chemical stress (eg. medication and food additives) also affect how your nervous system functions, and therefore your sleep patterns. Sleep medication often taken to treat sleeping disorders only masks the symptoms by sedating brain activity. The real problem is often still present.
One of the most common sleep-related problems is insomnia. It affects up to 40% of the population. Insomnia is not just being unable to fall asleep; it is also waking up several times during the night and finding it difficult to fall back to sleep, or waking up too early in the morning.
Chiropractic is now widely accepted and is the first choice for back pain and spinal related problems. What many don’t realize that the same mechanism that helps someone feel pain relief and allow their body to heal also helps improve their sleep. The chiropractic adjustment provides an enormous amount of neurological stimuli helping normalize brain and nervous system function. It is this normalization of nervous system function that results in less pain. It is also the normalization of brain function that improves sleep after an adjustment.
An adjustment also has a mechanical effect which greatly improves function of the spine and rib cage. An improvement in chest wall mechanics facilitates easier breathing, and improved oxygenation enabling a more restful sleep. This also helps reduce snoring!
A lack of sleep seriously affects the quality of your life and can be detrimental to your health. Chiropractic is a good option if you do not want to rely on prescription drugs. It also makes obvious sense to look to the cause of a problem.
Recent research shows your brain doesn’t deteriorate with age.
The gradual slowing of cognitive and mental faculties has until now been accepted as the unavoidable consequence of aging and the associated loss of neurons (nerve cells). For decades it was believed that the adult brain did not produce new neurons after birth. This notion however has been dispelled by research in the last ten years. The brain does, in fact, produce new neurons throughout your lifespan. The age association with brain deterioration is most likely due to a lack mental exercising that often comes with retirement. The good news is that no matter what your age you can build brain “muscle” and save neurons. Getting older doesn’t have to mean loosing your mind.
What Can You Do to Help Save Your Neurons?
Develop a regular mental workout plan to match your physical workout.
There are computer-based programs that have been developed to mentally challenge you with a variety of new stimuli. Alternately read, play chess, do Sudoku, complete puzzles (of all kinds — visual, linguistic, numerical), learn to play a musical instrument, take a class... to help develop your brain. It is important to do a mixture of activities and tasks that use both the creative and analytical sides of your brain.
Additionally:
- Eat well, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and take an Omega 3 & 6 blend. If you don’t already know about Udo’s Oil, talk to us. It is fantastic and great for your heart and skin as well.
- Get plenty of physical exercise.
- Reduce your stress.
- Get enough sleep.
- Get adjusted regularly! Adjustments massively stimulate your brain and nervous system.
Some Nervous System Facts
Our Nervous System is the most important system in our body. All other systems are subservient to your nervous system and are controlled by it.
Some Brain facts that may amaze you.
- It only weight 3 pounds (1-2% of your entire weight) but:
- 100 billion brain cells
- uses 30% of oxygen
- 25% of the blood
- uses 33% of water
- 40% of nutrients
- And has 100 000 miles of blood vessels
