Sleep

Sleeping is one of the main ways in which we rest our bodies and allow for critical daily recovery processes to occur.  While experiencing uninterrupted quality sleep, our bodies regenerate and recover from the day’s activities and stresses.

Research shows that not getting enough quality sleep affects many aspects of daily life, including memory, problem solving, immune function, and even your body’s ability to heal.  Lack of sleep leads to changes in nervous system function and levels of various hormones in your body – leading to feelings of stress and altering physiology, hindering your ability to function at your best.

Quality Vs Quantity

Quality sleep is better than quantity, as quality sleep ensures that all stages of sleep are experienced to an adequate degree.  To help achieve quality sleep, points such as hours, posture and environment need to be considered.

How much sleep do you need?

Adults need on average 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night.  Individual requirements do vary according to age and individual needs – newborns for example require several periods of sleep throughout the day, and teenagers need more sleep as they are growing and developing.

As we are asleep for 7-9 hours, the posture that we sustain for such an extended period of time is also important.  Ideally, we should be sleeping on our back or side.  Stomach sleeping involves twisting your neck, which then places too much tension on your spine and nervous system. 

Get a routine and stick to it.

Routine is helpful – trying to get to sleep at the same time each night helps your circadian rhythms establish a pattern, and as a consequence your brain and nervous system go through the replenishing patterns that help establish good health.  Avoiding caffeine and other stimulants and limiting alcohol intake also help create a good sleeping routine.

Invest in a good mattress and pillow.

As we spend at least 1/3 of our day in bed sleeping, having a good mattress and pillow are crucial in providing a good sleeping environment.  The right mattress and pillow are essential in helping maintain a healthy and supportive nights sleep. 

A good mattress will support your body weight evenly and encourage your spine to stay in its natural alignment.  Here at Ginninderra Chiropractic we stock a range of pillows, and can recommend you to stores that sell mattresses specially designed to help you get a good nights sleep, that have been developed with chiropractic input. 

Speak with us today about booking a sleep consultation so that we can address your specific sleep issues.