If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone. An estimated 84 million Americans report not getting enough quality sleep every night. While this can be frustrating, there is a simple solution. Chiropractic care, which is often associated with back and neck pain, can play a major role in getting better sleep.
Misalignments in the spine can disrupt the nervous system, leading to discomfort, restlessness, and insomnia. Chiropractic adjustments can help the body relax and function more efficiently by restoring proper alignment and reducing tension. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of good sleep, how your chiropractor can help you get better sleep, and why you may need more sleep following chiropractic care.
The Importance of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Getting plenty of good sleep every night is essential for maintaining great health. Without adequate sleep, you may struggle to perform everyday activities. Poor sleep can make it difficult to perform tasks at work and focus when spending time with your loved ones. Additionally, poor sleep increases your risk of developing a variety of health disorders.
Individuals who get poor or inadequate sleep are at an increased risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. Additionally, sleep is essential for recovering from everyday strain. It allows your brain and other organs to repair themselves, ensuring long-term health.
How Much Sleep Do Adults Need?
The amount of sleep an adult needs will depend on a few factors. However, on average, most adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night. If your sleep is frequently interrupted, such as by a newborn baby or due to insomnia, you may need to get more sleep. Additionally, if you’ve recently dealt with sleep deprivation, you’ll need additional sleep.
It is also important that you get more sleep while you’re pregnant. During this period, the hormonal and physical changes may result in poor sleep, leading to a need for more sleep than normal. Finally, older adults may struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep. This means they may also need more sleep than their younger counterparts.
If you are struggling to get adequate sleep every night, you may want to speak to your doctor. In some cases, you may temporarily be prescribed a sleep medication. However, some patients benefit from sleep studies to identify undiagnosed sleep disorders like sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders, or REM sleep behavior disorder.
How Chiropractic Care Helps You Get Better Sleep
If you want to get better sleep every night, you may consider taking a sleep medication. However, in many cases, this only temporarily provides the relief you’re looking for. Instead of relying on medications, you may want to turn to a chiropractor to get better sleep. There are several great ways your chiropractor can help you get better sleep, including:
Addressing Chronic Discomfort
Whether you were recently in an accident or have struggled with pain for years, your chiropractor can address the root cause of your pain. Through comprehensive care, they can alleviate or eliminate this pain, helping you relax when you go to sleep at the end of the night. This treatment relies on your body’s natural healing ability, helping you avoid taking medications that only provide temporary relief.
Stress Reduction
You may not think of your chiropractor when considering stress relief options. However, if you’re stressed due to chronic discomfort or injuries, scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor is a great way to find relief and reduce stress levels. By reducing stress and allowing your body to relax, your chiropractor can create the perfect environment, allowing you to get better sleep every night.
Hormone Regulation
Spinal misalignments caused by injuries or poor posture may impact your body’s ability to produce melatonin. This naturally occurring hormone is essential for regulating your body’s sleep-wake cycle. When you visit a chiropractor, they can address these spinal misalignments, reducing your discomfort and allowing your body to produce melatonin more efficiently, ensuring you get better sleep at the end of the day.
Lifestyle Recommendations
The things you do throughout the day have a major impact on the sleep you get at the end of the night. In order to help you get better sleep, your chiropractor may make lifestyle change recommendations, like increasing your physical activity levels, improving your posture, and reducing your screen time. These recommendations, in conjunction with regular chiropractic care, can help you ensure you get great sleep every night.
Will You Need More Sleep After a Chiropractic Appointment?
If you’ve recently attended a chiropractic appointment, you may wonder whether you will need more sleep. In many cases, if you are seeking chiropractic care to address a major injury or chronic discomfort, it is best to try to get more sleep. Your body does a lot of its essential healing while you’re sleeping, as it releases growth hormones that aid in recovery.
When you get inadequate sleep following a chiropractic appointment, you may not achieve the level of healing you’re hoping for or anticipating. Even one additional hour of sleep after a chiropractic appointment can help you heal more thoroughly. If you’re going to invest in this care, make sure to budget for more time to sleep if you want to ensure you feel your best.
Let Us Help You Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Getting better sleep every night is essential for ensuring you have the energy and strength to perform everyday activities. If you’re experiencing increased stress or discomfort that is impacting your sleep and want to schedule a chiropractic appointment to address it, turn to our Muscle & Joint Chiropractic team for expert support.
Our team is dedicated to providing the best chiropractic care for patients across the Tooele County area. Whether you’re dealing with minor aches and pains or major stress, we have the training, tools, and experience to help you feel your best. With the support of our team, you can trust that you’ll get better sleep.
If you want to learn more about how our team can help you get better sleep, don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule an appointment.