Getting enough sleep is essential for keeping our bodies healthy and functioning correctly. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies have a more challenging time repairing damage, regulating hormones, and managing our daily responsibilities. Getting quality sleep is essential for our health and productivity. Unfortunately, many people don’t get enough sleep, contributing to several health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. In addition to causing various physical issues, insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, can make it difficult to focus on schoolwork and other tasks, leading to various economic and social problems. The good news is that chiropractic care can improve your sleep quality. Chiropractic adjustments, which focus on the function of the nervous system, have been shown to treat sleep disorders and enhance sleep quality.

Sleep Better With Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic treatment involves spinal adjustments which improve blood flow and supports your body’s ability to relax. Sleep quality is directly related to your overall health and wellbeing. The quality of sleep is determined by the amount of time you can remain in a state of deep sleep, the number of times you wake up during the night, and the number of times you experience insomnia. When you sleep better, you can better regulate your hormones, which can help you lose weight and increase your energy levels. You also have a better ability to focus on schoolwork and other tasks, leading to greater productivity and a better quality of life.

Health risks when we don’t sleep well

Chronic sleep deprivation affects our mood, concentration and ability to learn and remember things, leading to poor performance at work and school. It also puts us at greater risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. In addition, insomnia can increase the risk of depression. Poor sleep can disrupt our circadian rhythm, which regulates our body’s cycle of sleeping and waking. When the process is disrupted, it can lead to other health problems, such as fatigue and difficulty concentrating. The lack of sleep can also increase the risk of accidents, such as being involved in a car accident while you are asleep.

The benefits of getting regular sleep

The primary health benefits of regular sleep are increased energy levels and better weight control. When you sleep well, you can better regulate your hormones, which can help you lose weight and increase your energy levels. Unfortunately, insomnia also increases the risk of other health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, because poor sleep can disrupt our circadian rhythm, which controls our body’s cycle of sleeping and waking, it can also lead to other health problems, such as fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

How our body responds during restful sleep

Faster healing

Sleep helps us recover from physical activity. We go through about seven hours of sleep each night. While we sleep, cells produce more protein needed to repair tissue damage to our bodies. As a result, muscle injuries heal faster during sleep. In addition, muscle injuries and other traumas heal faster while sleeping. This is because our bodies don’t release cortisol and adrenaline when we sleep, which makes it easier for our muscles to regenerate.

Cells produce more protein which is required to repair damage when we sleep. If you’ve ever been injured, you know how painful it feels to move around. But when you rest, your body repairs itself. Without adequate sleep, our body cannot properly regulate serotonin, which affects our mood. Serotonin controls the dopamine in our brain, which is associated with happiness and motivation. A study published in 2005 found that people who slept less than five hours had lower levels of serotonin and showed symptoms of depression.

Reduced depression

Lack of sleep causes changes in the hormone system, leading to increased stress hormone levels such as cortisol. Cortisol increases blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and muscle tension. These factors cause anxiety and depression. However, when our serotonin levels are where we want them to be, we feel happier and more motivated. A 2013 study found that those who slept fewer than six hours per night had higher levels of inflammatory markers associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Another study found that individuals with chronic insomnia had higher proinflammatory cytokines levels than healthy subjects.

Reduced inflammation

Chronic inflammation is often associated with asthma, arthritis and cancer. Inflammation occurs when white blood cells called macrophages migrate to a site of injury and begin producing chemicals that attract other immune cells. For example, macrophages secrete substances that irritate nearby tissue and cause pain. They also have chemicals that destroy pathogens and foreign material. Studies show that sleep deprivation increases the production of the chemical interleukin-6, which triggers the activation of the innate immune response. In addition, interleukin-6 stimulates the production of other inflammatory mediators and plays a role in many autoimmune diseases.

Common Causes of poor Sleeping Poorly and what to do about it

The most common causes of poor sleep are insomnia, which occurs when you can’t fall asleep, and sleep apnea, which occurs when you stop breathing. In both cases, the primary solution is to improve your sleeping environment to be conducive to sleeping. For example, if your bed is too warm, you may be unable to fall asleep. You may also want to consider investing in bedding explicitly designed for people who sleep comfortably without a pillow. Sleep position also plays a role in how well you sleep.

How to improve your sleep quality (and your health!)

The first step in improving your sleep quality is to reduce or eliminate things that affect your sleep quality. The goal is to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. You may also want to consider taking a nap during the day to make up for any missed sleep. You can also improve your sleep quality by eliminating caffeine and alcohol from your diet, which can interfere with your ability to fall and stay asleep.

Effective Ways to Improve your sleep quality

Keep a regular sleep schedule: maintaining a regular sleep pattern trains your body to sleep at specific times that can help you to fall asleep faster and more efficiently. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

Chiropractic treatment: In addition to improving your sleep quality, chiropractic treatment can also improve your overall health and wellbeing. Studies show that chiropractic care can enhance sleep quality and reduce pain and stress.

Better pillow: Quality pillows support your neck and reduce tension on your neck muscles. Investing in a quality pillow can significantly impact your sleep quality compared to standard pillows.

Psychotherapy and counselling: Behavioural therapy can help you cope with stress and anxiety that can prevent you from sleeping well.

Breathing Exercises: Breathing exercises can help you relax and have been shown to improve concentration, memory and overall wellbeing.

Book an appointment!

In addition to chiropractic care, practicing proper sleep hygiene can significantly impact your quality of sleep. If you’re suffering from sleep issues or a sleep disorder, chiropractic care can help. Book an appointment with one of our chiropractors today. You’ll be amazed at the difference chiropractic adjustments can make.