Sleep is the body’s way of shutting down our conscious processes to enable us to heal from our ailments. Needless to say, the process of sleeping is integral to our health. After all, if we don’t sleep, how can we ever hope to recover from the stresses of life?
That being said, many people accumulate suboptimal amounts and quality of sleep each night. This can lead to a variety of issues, which can cause catastrophic outcomes for our health. In this article, we’ll dive into the topic of insomnia and investigate some possible solutions for the issue, including chiropractic care.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is often misconstrued. Many people think that insomniacs are those that never sleep, or that these individuals wander the streets all night long without the need for (or the ability to) rest.
Rather, insomnia is simply defined as having difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep. In fact, some researchers estimate that nearly one in three people would qualify for a diagnosis of insomnia by this definition.
What Causes Insomnia?
Insomnia can result from many different causes including, but not limited to the following.
Alcohol and Drug Consumption
Alcohol and other drugs wreak havoc on our health. One of the biggest health effects that these substances can cause is disrupted sleep. These substances, when abused and consumed excessively, can disrupt our hormonal pathways. Also, they may even affect our nervous systems in semi-permanent ways.
Stress
There’s no doubt about it: our lives are filled with stress. From worrying about our families, to worrying about our jobs, to worrying about our relationships; the stress in life seems to have no end!
Stress can often affect sleep in negative ways. It can cause us to wake up prematurely, have trouble falling asleep, and it can even prevent us from achieving deep, quality sleep.
Ambient Noise and Light
In the modern age, many of us have developed a nasty habit of falling asleep to the sound of the TV or radio. While these items may be comforting, they keep our brains in “half-alert” mode throughout the duration of our sleep.
Ideally, everyone should aim to find a way to fall asleep with as little light, noise, or other distractions as possible.
Who Develops Insomnia?
Truthfully, insomnia can affect anyone, of any age, or from any other demographic category. However, there does seem to be a trend that indicates that women, shift workers, and those of lower socioeconomic status tend to have higher rates of insomnia.
The reasons for this aren’t entirely known. However, if we look at the previous section and examine the causes of insomnia, these populations may be more likely to suffer from stress. So, perhaps that could be one reason why these individuals tend to have more trouble falling asleep than other members of society.
What are Some Effective Treatments for Insomnia?
Exercise is one key way to improve sleep without medications or expensive additions to your sleep routine. Essentially, regular exercise uses some of the stored energy within your body, making you more tired and more receptive to sleep.
Beyond exercise, there are a number of other tips and tricks that can help with sleep quality and duration. For instance, using blackout curtains, a face mask, or meditative techniques can help you to create the perfect environment that will enable you to get more and better sleep.
Last but not least, chiropractic care is a fantastic option for those who struggle with their sleep.
Chiropractors perform treatments, known as spinal manipulations, that push the spine back into correct alignment. Through these treatments, the brain and body are better able to communicate. This improved communication, in turn, can often lead to better sleep.
Are you having trouble with your sleep? Come see us at Awaken Chiropractic, your Parker chiropractor. Book your appointment today.
