A recent study came out linking a lack of sleep to a higher risk of dementia. Published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, it reported that people aged 50 or 60 who sleep six hours or less were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia. This compared to people who slept seven hours or more.
Quality sleep and good health are not exclusive. A better night’s sleep keeps you more focused, usually in a better mood, and with better daily stamina. Also, when you get enough sleep you tend to eat fewer foods that are bad for you.
There are many things that can cause a person to have trouble sleeping. Depression, mental health, poor sleep habits, and chronic pain are a few of them.
Chronic pain, such as pain in the spine, neck, hips, and legs, can cause discomfort. It can block you from getting comfortable and restful sleep. Successful sleep requires a certain level of comfort. Pain often keeps the body from reaching that state of comfort. As a result, pain impacts your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
If chronic pain is the reason that you have trouble sleeping, then a chiropractor may be able to help you.
Why try a chiropractor for better sleep?
A chiropractor is a licensed professional who works to adjust and manipulate the body’s muscular and skeletal system. This regains mobility, improves posture, and more. It alleviates all kinds of pain and gets the blood flow moving throughout the spine. Also, it’s a natural process and helps to destress tendons, muscles, and soft tissue. Chiropractic work is also a non-invasive treatment. It usually requires a few sessions of about an hour or so to get results.
People see chiropractors to reduce their pain. Often, that pain is affecting their sleep habits. Through regular adjustments, they have been able to ease many of the symptoms. Thus, this helps them to sleep much better.
How to know if a chiropractor is right for you
Decisions about your health should not be made lightly. If you’re unsure about whether a chiropractor can help you, consider taking these steps first:
- Identify what is causing your sleep distress. If it is pain keeping you awake, a chiropractor may work for you.
- If a friend or family member has gone to a chiropractor, ask them about their experience.
- Go speak with a chiropractor in person. Many offer free no-obligation consults. Try and stay away from chiropractors that are offering cheap deals. They tend to provide lower-quality care and upsell you to services you may not need.
It’s important to get thorough, quality sleep.
If you aren’t getting the right amount of sleep or you are waking up throughout the night. This wears on your body over time. Much like in the study that we are referring to, it can eventually give you adverse health effects. These effects contribute to all kinds of issues in the long term. Dementia is only one. Lack of sleep can also contribute to lower immunity, weight gain, and fatigue. Not to mention, you just don’t feel 100%
So if it is pain causing you to lose sleep, maybe it’s time to try chiropractic care.