Did you know that around 50 to 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder? Having issues with falling or staying asleep can have a serious impact on your overall health and well-being. There are several options to help you achieve better sleep, such as buying a supportive mattress and pillow, taking sleep medications, maintaining a bedtime routine, or using natural remedies like aromatherapy. However, receiving chiropractic care is another all-natural way to help improve your quality of sleep and treat certain sleep disorders. Keep reading to discover how chiropractic can help you get better sleep.
How Chiropractic Can Help You Get Better Sleep
If you are familiar with chiropractic, it will come as no surprise that chiropractors can help improve your quality of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation indicates that almost one-third of people that receive a chiropractic adjustment experience an immediate improvement to their sleep quality. Since getting enough sleep is essential for your long-term health and wellness, this is a top benefit of chiropractic.
For patients with sleep issues, some of the benefits of receiving regular chiropractic adjustments include:
- Improving the nervous system’s functions
- Promoting blood circulation and blood flow
- Reducing muscle tension that can cause restlessness at night
- Relaxing the body and mind
In addition to performing chiropractic adjustments, a chiropractor will likely recommend how patients can improve their quality of sleep even more. This may include suggestions for better sleep positions, doing specific postural exercises, and buying a more supportive mattress and pillow.
How Chiropractic Can Help Treat Sleep Disorders
For millions of Americans, they have more serious issues, such as sleep disorders. It can be frustrating to find relief and get quality sleep, especially when the issue has been ongoing for years. Two of the most common disorders are insomnia and sleep apnea, which will be discussed below.
Insomnia
Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders, which is when people find it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get adequate sleep. This disorder can be due to a variety of causes, such as psychiatric, an illness, bad sleep habits, environmental factors, using specific substances, or even a spinal misalignment. Chronic pain in the back and neck are common issues that can lead to insomnia, which isn’t surprising when you are living in constant pain.
Like any health condition, it’s best to see a specialist doctor that can determine the root cause of the sleep disorder. Once the disorder is diagnosed and the source is identified, the doctor will recommend various treatment options. When combined with other therapies, chiropractic care is an effective way to treat insomnia. Indeed, licensed chiropractors can perform specific adjustments to treat spinal misalignments. Specifically, the chiropractor may use a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) treatment, which is great for addressing issues with joint dysfunction too.
By receiving regular chiropractic adjustments, this all-natural care can reduce a patient’s pain and improve their quality of sleep. Oftentimes, patients quickly experience less pain and more relaxed muscles. Additionally, chiropractic care helps restore balance regarding the feel-good chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. In turn, this can help people feel more relaxed and happy, which can help treat insomnia.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is another common sleep disorder affecting over 22 million Americans. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common types of sleep apnea. OSA refers to when a person’s soft tissue inside their mouth and throat relax while they sleep and block the upper airways. This serious condition causes brief periods of not inhaling multiple times per hour while sleeping. These lapses last about 10 to 20 seconds, which is long enough to lower the oxygen levels and cause the body to wake up to restart breathing. Since these lapses can occur multiple times, it makes it nearly impossible to get a good night’s rest. If left untreated, this disorder can cause brain damage and other serious health risks.
Spinal Misalignments
As mentioned above, spine misalignments can contribute to various issues, including sleep disorders. These misalignments may be due to an injury, poor posture, or sitting too often on a regular basis. Misalignments within the neck and upper body can cause airway blockage. Chiropractors are trained to use targeted adjustments and soft tissue massages to relax a patient’s muscles, decrease tension, and help promote better breathing. Additionally, chiropractors will also suggest patients perform breathing exercises to help strengthen the soft tissues in their throat and mouth causing snoring and apnea.
At West Michigan Chiropractor, our Portage chiropractors are here to help you achieve better sleep through our chiropractic care. Learn more about chiropractic for sleep issues by contacting us today. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your health goals towards better health and wellbeing.