Most of us are notorious for not getting enough sleep. Between work, family, and social events, our calendars are full and we are constantly on the go. It’s rare that we slow down enough to prioritize sleep, and more often than not, we’re not getting our recommended number of nightly hours of sleep. While this is a reasonable fix—simply going to bed earlier—what about when sleep seems to evade us, despite our best efforts?

Sometimes we struggle to fall asleep, tossing and turning for what seems like hours. Other times, we may fall asleep but then have a hard time staying asleep, finding ourselves awake at ridiculous times throughout the night. Not only are sleep difficulties frustrating, but they can leave us absolutely exhausted. This exhaustion makes us more prone to sickness, car accidents, relationship troubles, and struggles at work.

If you’re dealing with sleeping difficulties of any kind, know that you’re not alone. Also know that help is possible, and it doesn’t have to include medication with intense side effects or invasive procedures or equipment. Instead, you can turn to natural, safe, and effective chiropractic care to help improve your sleep.

Getting to the Root Cause

If you go to a primary care doctor for sleep troubles, they will likely prescribe medication and suggest altering your nighttime routine. While these things can bring about the desired outcome, they are not actually getting to the root cause of the problem and they may not be permanent long-term solutions. Instead of treating only the symptoms, we need to explore the cause of the problem.

In many cases, the root cause of sleep troubles can be linked to spinal subluxations. Subluxations are also called misalignments, simply meaning that one or more vertebra is twisted or shifted out of place. Even the tiniest misalignment can wreak havoc on the body, but it oftentimes doesn’t present as pain like we would expect. Instead, subluxations put pressure on the spinal cord and other nearby nerves, interrupting the messages sent from the brain to the rest of the body. This interruption can cause a slew of processes to go awry within the body, including those that impact sleep.

Hormones, sleep and wake cycles, and fight or flight responses can all be impacted by spinal misalignments, and these can all interfere with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Chiropractors aim to discover and correct the root cause of your sleep disturbances, allowing you to achieve a better night’s rest and wake up feeling truly refreshed.

Chiropractic Care and Sleep Improvements

Many studies have linked chiropractic care to improved sleep, both in children and adults. One study looked at a five-year-old boy with sleep disturbances and behavioral challenges. After every adjustment, his mother saw remarkable improvements in both his sleep and his behavior. Because of the way chiropractic helps the nervous system regulate, adjustments are a wonderful way to improve sleep difficulties and give you better rest.

To learn more about how chiropractic care can help you achieve a better night’s sleep, contact Dr. Cary Gentry at Waypoint Chiropractic in Bozeman.

Cawthra, L. “Chiropractic management of a 5-year-old boy with sleep disturbance and challenging behaviour: an evidence-based case report.” https://rcc-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Cawthra-L_Case-report_0315.pdf

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