Sleep is one of the most important components when it comes to general health and wellbeing, yet the vast majority of us can’t seem to ever get enough of it. It is recommended that the average adult get between seven to eight hours of sleep each night, but between screen time, restlessness, getting up to go to the bathroom or get some water, and the like, hardly any of us are fully rested. We spend up to ⅓ of our lives sleeping, and it’s important that the sleep we get is high quality. Sleep is when our body recharges, heals, resets, and regroups. Studies have shown that individuals who don’t get enough sleep are at risk for mood shifts, lowered immunity, heart disease, weight gain, and high blood pressure- so it is no insignificant matter.
Evidently, when we don’t get enough sleep, our health will begin to decrease as a result. At Athens Upper Cervical Chiropractic, we frequently work with patients to improve their sleep quality as a facet of improving their health. Like we’ve been talking about, if the neck is not aligned properly, the body cannot function properly. A misaligned neck vertebrae can cause pinched nerves, irritated muscle groups, poor communication between the brain and the body, and yes, it can deteriorate your sleep quality. If the central nervous system is impaired (as it can be when the neck is misaligned) your sleep quality and actual hours asleep will suffer as a result.
At our chiropractic office in Athens, we take x-rays and 3D images to diagnose misalignments in the neck and upper cervical spine, and we perform gentle adjustment to work the bones of the neck back into their proper place. By improving the alignment of the neck, we are allowing for proper protection of the brain stem, working to alleviate any pressure or stress on the spine and neck, and improving the functioning of the nervous system. According to the national sleep foundation, ⅓ of people who have seen a chiropractor and have received an adjustment have seen an improvement in their sleep quality. By improving the alignment of the upper neck, we’re improving functioning of the brain stem, and improving the quality of sleep our patients are getting each night. In a simpler sense, we’re removing any stressors on the upper neck (and thus the brain stem) and that is helping improve sleep quality.
If you are struggling with chronic fatigue, less than ideal sleep quality, or insomnia, contact our office today and schedule an appointment. If it’s an upper cervical issue, you are one step closer to better rest and better energy levels throughout the day. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about our office or our process as well, so reach out today!