When patients come to see us at Devine Chiropractic in Raleigh Hills, many express concerns about sleep, or a lack of it. Yes, chiropractic care is about addressing subluxations, misalignments of the vertebrae, and bringing harmony back to the central nervous system (CNS). An added bonus of a happy and relaxed central nervous system is that it contributes to an overall sense of wellbeing, relaxation, and makes for a better night’s sleep.
We all have a sleepless night every now and then. It’s very common to lose sleep because of external disruptions: you’re up late to meet a deadline, console a fussy baby, or lovingly listen to your partner snore. The next day you’re dragging, yawning, or you might even have trouble concentrating. Short-term, or acute, sleeping issues can be resolved with a restful night or two. For other people, sleep is more elusive. Chronic lack of sleep is called insomnia. There are two types: sleep-onset insomnia and maintenance insomnia. Sleep-onset insomniacs have trouble falling asleep, maintenance insomniacs have difficulty staying asleep.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea falls under the umbrella of maintenance insomnia and is a sleep disorder that affects roughly 22 million Americans. Sleep apnea can be structural in nature, called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), where a large tongue, tonsils, or adenoids block off the airway. Apnea can also be a dysfunction of communication between the brain and the body, this type is called Central Sleep Apnea. Either way, because apnea sufferers stop breathing during the night, sometimes up to hundreds of times a night, the body never enters a restorative sleep and the body is greatly deprived of oxygen.
A recent Huffington Post article noted that 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough sleep. What’s “enough” you ask? Sleep requirements vary person to person. The amount of sleep you need depends on your gender, women usually need more. And can depend on your particular stage in life; i.e. infants require the most shut eye. On average, adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
In essence, you need sleep as much as you need to breathe and eat. It’s a nonnegotiable. Sleep is like a reset button for the body and the brain. If you are unable to press that “reset” button, the body never gets an opportunity to fully heal and recharge. Insomnia accelerates aging in the brain: the brain is unable to flush out free radicals, form new neural pathways, or release growth hormones. Sleep deprivation leads to a weakened immune system and you may find yourself getting sick more often and also needing more time to recover. Chronic lack of sleep can increase inflammation in the body and lead to chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Daylight savings time is November 5th this year, if you are tired of being tired, or want to improve sleep before the clocks change, make an appointment with us today!
By: Jodi Franken, NC
RESOURCES:
Almendrala, A. Oct, 2016. More Than A Third Of Americans Don’t Get Enough Sleep. Retrieved from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/americans-arent-getting-enough sleep_us_56c61306e4b0b40245c9687b
https://sleepapnea.org/learn/sleep-apnea-information-clinicians/