Insomnia and What You Can Do About It

Can’t make it through the day because of your night?

We all know that getting a good night’s rest is an important part of maintaining good health. And, we know that missing out on sleep can affect how we function, our energy and our moods.
So, if you’re having problems falling or staying asleep, let’s do something about it! There’s a lot you can do naturally before relying on a sleep aid, so give a natural solution a try before reaching for a pill.
About 10% of us experience chronic sleep difficulties. Unfortunately, the number of people using prescription drugs to treat insomnia has increased, while the true causes for insomnia are left unaddressed. So, let’s take a deeper look.

What Exactly is Insomnia?

Here are a few indicators that you may be dealing with insomnia:

• Trouble falling asleep in the evening
• Waking up repeatedly throughout the night
• Waking up too early in the morning, unable to get back to sleep
• Waking up feeling tired instead of refreshed

Drowsiness or fatigue during the day, problems concentrating, low energy and irritability; even weight gain are all problems associated with not getting enough sleep. The lack of sleep can take physical tolls on your body as well, such as poor posture or dark “bags” under your eyes. And, we know how much you want to avoid that… so read on.

Some Causes of Sleeplessness:

Emotions running wild. For some, lack of sleep may be a sign of grief, unhappiness, depression or other emotional concerns. For others, anxiety, worries or an ongoing mental to-do list get in the way of getting to sleep.
Food and drink. Sometimes, excessive amounts of food, alcohol or caffeine before bed can make falling asleep and staying asleep challenging. So avoid evening use of alcohol, food, caffeine or smoking as that could help you sleep better.
Exposure to light. The body’s biological clock, which regulates our sleep-wake cycles, is strongly affected by light. Melatonin, an important hormone, affects both our desire to sleep and the quality of our sleep. Darkness enhances melatonin production, while light inhibits it. Therefore, those who don’t get enough exposure to direct sunlight, can suffer similar types of insomnia.
Being inactive. Regular exercise will tire you out so you’ll fall asleep faster! If you’re having a hard time fitting exercise into your schedule, try fitting a family walk with the dog or even a friend once a day to get some fresh air and a little exercise.

What Can You Do To Get Some Rest?

Chiropractic care for proper function and sweet dreams. In our practice, many of patients report vastly improved sleep patterns after beginning regular chiropractic care. Why? The act of removing interferences in the nervous system often helps with the natural processes of the body, including sleep. You could be one of many who start getting a full night’s rest and enjoy feeling refreshed in the morning after visiting us.

Get a full nights rest after your chiropractic adjustment and enjoy feeling refreshed in morning.

Relax. Little changes in your day can make a huge difference at night. Read, listen to music, write in a journal or take a warm bath before bed. Also, try to avoid upsetting discussions, stressful work, etc. before bedtime so you can relax. Then, dim the lights throughout the house and stay off technology to give your mind a hint it’s bed time.
The Last Resort. Sleep problems are not the result of a sleeping pill shortage! While convenient (and potentially addictive), drugs merely mask the real problem. And while you may sleep, the quality of your sleep from a drug-induced stupor is hardly the rejuvenation you need! But you knew that.
See what’s possible when you have a better working nervous system! By utilizing today’s chiropractic care and tweaking your routines, you can get better, more refreshing sleep to make each day just a little brighter!
Give us a call so we can help ensure you stay on track and get the rest you need to wake up on the right side of the bed!

One Size Doesn’t Fit All!

Your adjustment will be tailored to meet your individual needs.

You may have noticed that from one visit to the next, your adjustments all seem the same. “Seem” is the key word!
To those without a chiropractic degree and professional experience, the timing, angle, force and intent may appear to be the same on each visit. Even more inaccurate is the assumption that all patients are adjusted in the same way. Not true!

Every Chiropractor Is Different

There are many tools available to assist in an evaluation of your spine on each visit. These tools may include skin temperature readings along your spine, leg length measurements, posture, range of motion or even a high-tech tool called surface electromyograph. These and other objective measurements, combined with years of training and experience determine the care you receive on each visit.
That’s just the start. Your care is also based on a highly refined sense of touch. “Feeling with the hands” by gently pressing on muscles and spinal joints is called palpation. This form of ultra-sensitive touch provides volumes of information about joint stability, function and the approach that should be used. Nothing, not even an observant spouse or friend who accompanies you on your visit, can substitute for this special form of experience.

Individualized Care Just for You!

Your care is unique and your adjustments are tailored specifically to your individual needs. Your adjustments are unlike anyone else’s. That’s just one reason why we think you’re so special!

 

It’s a scientific fact that your nervous system controls everything.

Chiropractic is Scientific Nervous system and chiropractic It’s a scientific fact that your nervous system controls everything. How do you define “scientific?” If you define it as the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment and then testing the resulting hypotheses, then today’s chiropractic is quite scientific. Because it’s based on the scientific fact that the nervous system controls and regulates virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body.

Don’t be misled by the “low-tech” nature of chiropractic adjustments! There are a growing number of studies that suggest the chiropractic approach to reducing nerve disturbance along the spine, may enhance the ability of the brain and nerve system to control and regulate the body. These include published research documenting the results of chiropractic care on asthma, infantile colic, immune function, dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), improving vision and brain function, lower back pain, one’s overall health status and many others.

The “scientific” argument is largely a red herring and the sign of a double standard. Medical economist David Eddy, MD, Ph.D., observes that only 15% of medical procedures have ever been scientifically verified, and the other 85% of common medical procedures have no “scientific basis!” Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding. Ask our delighted patients whether chiropractic is scientific.



References: Gray’s Anatomy, Henry Gray F.R.S.Smith, R. Where is the wisdom? BMJ 1991; 303(Oct 5): 798-799. Paul Shekelle, MD, MPH, Head of a back study of RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, 1992, Medicine, Monopolies and Malice, pp. 49, 199, 208. John Carey, Medical Guesswork. Business Week, May 29, 2006, 73-79.

Keep it Simple. Easy, Affordable Ways to Slim Down and Stay Healthy

 

Are your kids, family or life making it impossible to exercise for an hour everyday? We understand. The pressure to exercise can feel really overwhelming and if you can’t meet your goal it’s easy to feel discouraged.
Here are some easy changes you can make in your life that can make a difference in how you look and feel. Sometimes keeping it simple is the secret to success.

Jump! Jump! Skipping ropes, aka jump ropes aren’t just for kids. Get your cardiovascular system revved up and ready to go. This is one calorie-burner that works every muscle, delivering a full-body workout that slims and tones (quickly). Do it for 5 minutes before you hop in the shower in the morning, or while you wait for dinner to cook in the oven–you’ll be surprised how much energy you’ll have afterwards.

Bark in the Park! Get your dog and go for a walk. In one study, people who walked their dog 20 minutes a day, five days a week lost an average of 14 pounds in a year! Let your best friend help you become more active. Plus, a tired dog is a happy dog. Remember to grab your headset and you can double-up on those phone calls to family and friends. Or, you may have a neighbor or friend who would love to join you.

Feel the Beat! Listen to some fun, energetic music while you exercise. New music can make exercise exciting and keeps you going and maybe even helps you workout harder. Music is a great distraction, so it doesn’t seem as though you’re working as hard. So make a fun playlist and get moving.

Get a Gym Ball. This popular new trend provides a fun way to improve flexibility, balance, strength and tone. Use one as your desk chair to help strengthen your core and improve posture. Or, take a few breaks to do sit-ups or pushups throughout the day. Remember, when it comes to your goal, start small, you’ll be more likely to succeed.

Hydrate. Drinking plenty of water can help tame your appetite and make you feel more energetic! So, spruce up your water with some lemon or oranges, or add a splash of juice. Even herbal tea can be a nice way to hydrate without getting bored of H20. Want to spice things up a bit? Enjoy coconut water every once and a while for extra hydration after a workout or busy day.

 

Catch some extra Zzzzzzz’s. Recent research found that sleep deprivation increases food cravings and decreases the amount of leptin in your body – a hormone that helps burn more energy. So don’t skimp on sleep if you want to slim down. How? Cut out a little television or cut back on technology so you can get to bed early. Trust us, you’ll be happy and alert come the morning.
You don’t have to get fancy to exercise, and you certainly don’t have to join an expensive gym or spa either. So, start small and set goals and before you know it you’ll be feeling and looking better!