Sleeping Well Can Keep You Healthy

Bottom Line:

New research has shown that not only can a good night’s sleep keep you mentally sharp, but it can also help you stay healthy by strengthening your immune system. For years physicians have believed that sleep supports the healing process, and now new evidence has been discovered that indicates sleep also plays a role in regulating your immune function. Your immune system is the complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that protect your body from disease, so keeping that system functioning at its highest level is very important to your overall health and wellness.

Why it Matters:

While you’re asleep, your central nervous system is in constant communication with your immune system. Many immune system functions operate on a 24 hour cycle, just like your sleep schedule. In fact, your T-cells, which are some of the most important immune cells, are very, very active while you’re asleep. Everyone may not require the same amount of sleep, but the research is clear: getting a good night's sleep will help bolster your immune system.

-        Your body uses sleep as its time to rest and recover.

-        Sleep patterns are tightly linked to your immune function.

-        Chronic sleep issues promote inflammation and pain.

Next Steps:

Sleeping well has been proven to be an essential part of staying healthy. Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, can make it extremely difficult to get a good night's sleep and leave you feeling tired and sleepy all day. If you have experienced difficulty sleeping, let us know. We have an upcoming workshop where we’ll be discussing not only the causes of many of these issues, but also the action steps you can take to FINALLY get a great night of sleep!

Science Source:

Sleep and immune function. European Journal of Physiology. 2012

The Best Sleep Position

Bottom Line:

One of the most common questions we get from patients is: “What's the best sleeping position?” Considering you spend nearly one-third of your life sleeping, this is an important question to ask! Top researchers have found one of the best positions to sleep is on your side with your head supported, shoulders centered, and a pillow between your legs. This allows for the best alignment of your spine and reduces the pressure on your neck, low back, hips, and legs – all of which leads to a more restful night of sleep.

Why it Matters:

Sleeping is the time where your body can maximize rest and recovery. Not only can a lack of sleep cause grogginess the next day, but chronic sleep issues can lead to depression, insomnia, and even make aches and pains worse! If you have ever woken up with a “crick” in your neck, you know how taxing an awkward sleeping position can be on your spine. Maintaining a neutral position and keeping your spine in alignment overnight is an essential part of waking up energized and ready to conquer the day.

-        Chronic sleep disturbances have been linked to depression and many common pain syndromes.

-        Maintaining proper spinal alignment at night can decrease your aches and pains.

-        Sleeping on your side with your head and legs supported is the best sleep position for your spine.

Next Steps:

Tonight, when you lie in bed, take a look and make sure your nose and belly button are in alignment. If they are, it’s a good sign your spine is in both an optimal and comfortable sleep posture. Then, take a small pillow and place it between your knees to give your legs and hips that proper added support. Following these quick tips will help you get into the best position to have a great night's sleep.

Science Source:

National Sleep Foundation. www.sleep.org

Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School 2018

The Connection Between Posture and Headaches

Bottom Line:

Ergonomics is the study of the posture and positioning of your body. It sounds pretty boring until you consider that millions of people are suffering from headaches every day that are related to their posture! Whether it’s an assembly line, a computer, a tablet, or your phone, you’re likely spending a lot of time looking down. Research has found that up to 20 pounds of pressure is placed on the neck for every inch the chin extends forward or down. This increased pressure can irritate the tissues of the neck leading to everything from premature degenerative changes to chronic headaches.

Why it Matters:

Maintaining a healthy posture not only helps reduce the stress and pressure on the spinal joints of your neck, it also helps dramatically reduce your headaches. The first step in regaining proper posture is to establish normal motion. This is why Chiropractic adjustments are likely to become your new best friend! Our care is focused on finding the areas of your spine that aren’t moving correctly and gently helping them regain their normal range of motion. After we’ve worked with you to restore proper movement, we can then focus on strengthening the muscles that support your neck and back. This personalized type of care is how we’ve been able to help many people (just like you!) establish better posture and reduce the frequency and severity of their headaches.

·        Every inch of forward head posture adds up to 20 lbs. of pressure on your neck.

·        This added pressure can contribute to tension headaches.

·        Research has shown that Chiropractic care can dramatically improve your posture and, in turn, reduce your headaches.

Next Steps:

Take a look around your workstation the next time you’re at the office. Is it set up in a way that's ergonomically correct? If not, or if you're not sure, just let us know! We would be happy to set up a time to come to your office, evaluate your workplace, and share our specific recommendations to help keep you and everyone you work with feeling great! 

Science Source(s):

Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults with Headache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Volume 34, Number 5. 2011

Efficacy of Manual and Manipulative Therapy in the Perception of Pain and Cervical Motion in Patients with Tension-Type Headache: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. (2014) 13, 4-13

Decreasing Tension Headaches

Bottom Line:

Quick question: do you know anyone who isn’t interested in reducing the stress in their life? We’ll give you a minute. Still thinking? That’s what we thought! There aren’t too many of us who couldn’t benefit from reducing the stress in our daily lives. Between family, work, and the latest political thread on social media, the stress can be overwhelming! Chronic everyday stress can also significantly impact our brains and bodies, causing everything from fatigue and depression to debilitating headaches.

Why it Matters:

Headaches caused by stress are often classified as tension-type headaches. Pain at the base of the skull that starts in the neck and wraps around to the front of the head is common with tension headaches. Research has shown that Chiropractic adjustments effectively treat and correct the cause of these headaches, providing both relief from symptoms and lasting results. In fact, in addition to reducing tension in the muscles supporting your neck, adjustments can also improve your range of motion and reduce your overall feeling of stress. This unique combination of benefits is why millions of people rely on Chiropractic care to help them find relief.

·        Chronic stress can contribute to tension headaches.

·        Chiropractic care is one of the best ways to reduce stress on your musculoskeletal system and spine.

·        Adjustments have been shown to reduce the frequency, severity, and intensity of tension headaches.

Next Steps:

You don’t necessarily need to make drastic changes to your life to reduce your daily stress level. Picking up a new hobby, taking a few minutes to read before bed, or enjoying a relaxing activity like yoga can all help. If you would like to discover even more ways to help reduce your daily stress, we invite you to attend our complimentary workshop coming up soon. We’ll be covering everything you need to know to reduce stress and end your headaches now!

Science Source(s):

Do Manual Therapy Techniques Have a Positive Effect on Quality of Life in People with Tension-Type Headache? A Randomized Controlled Trial. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. February 2016

Preventing Menstrual Migraines

Bottom Line:

For many women, monthly menstruation means monthly migraines. In addition to hormone changes, your diet, physical activity and stress levels all contribute to this pattern. While pregnancy and menopause are two ways to eliminate these types of headaches, we also have a few more practical ways to find relief!

Why it Matters:

New research recommends Chiropractic adjustments as part of an evidence-based approach to reducing the pain associated with migraine headaches. Regular adjustments can both help reduce the stress on the muscles that support your neck and improve your range of motion. By keeping active, reducing your stress, maintaining enough hydration, and staying well adjusted, you’ll give your body the best opportunity to manage those monthly hormonal changes and take the first step towards ending your migraine headaches! 

·        Hormonal changes cause monthly migraines for millions of women.

·        Stress has been shown to have a significant impact on hormonal balance.

·        Adjustments are recommended as an evidence-based approach to reducing both migraine headaches and overall levels of stress. 

Next Steps:

Did you suffer from migraine headaches before coming into our practice? If so, stop by the front desk and let us know! Sharing your journey and how Chiropractic care helped you find relief may inspire someone else in our community to take action and find a natural solution to their headaches.

Science Source(s):

Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults with Headache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Volume 34, Number 5. 2011

Finding Headache Relief Without Drugs

Bottom Line:

Waking up with a headache or consistently getting one by the end of work each day is not fun (or normal). Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors, none of which are a shortage of medication in your body! As a matter of fact, if you have been relying on drugs to find relief day after day, there is a variety of new research that encourages you to reconsider.

Why it Matters:

Relying on medications to find relief each and every day places an enormous amount of strain on your liver and other internal organs. What’s more, researchers have found that a common “side” effect of many popular headache mediations is…more headaches! And if that wasn’t enough to encourage you to think differently about how to treat your headaches, new research has found an increased risk of heart attacks in people who had taken NSAIDs (or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). It’s easy to see why our firm belief is that the best way for most people to find relief from their headaches is through natural healthcare such as combination of Chiropractic and light stress-relieving exercise like yoga.

·        Headache medications often have dangerous side effects.

·        Research has shown little to no evidence that such drugs are effective at treating headaches.

·        In a recent study, over 30% of participants saw a 100% improvement in the frequency and severity of their headaches after receiving Chiropractic care.

Next Steps:

Our workshop on finding natural solutions and relief from headaches is coming up soon! We’ll help you discover the causes of many common types of headaches, share tips on reducing their impact in your life, and review the steps you can take to ensure that you don’t have to suffer from them in the future. Share this with a friend and be sure to let us know how many people will be attending the workshop with you!

Science Source(s):

Dose-Response and Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation for Chronic Cervicogenic Headache: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. The Spine Journal. 2010

Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache: a single-blinded, placebo, randomized controlled trial. BioMed Central. 2017

Neck Pain, Posture and Headaches

Bottom Line:

You know that feeling - the one where you start to feel a headache coming on. For many people, it is a daily occurrence and often begins in the neck and shoulders. That’s right - tight muscles around your neck can result in tension headaches. What’s more, if you sit at a computer all day, your posture may also be contributing to a decreased range of motion, premature degenerative changes in your spine, and headaches - but there’s good news! There are a few simple steps you can take to help you feel less pain, increase your energy, and fend off those degenerative changes. New evidence-based guidelines strongly recommend a combination of exercise, stretching, and Chiropractic adjustments to help reduce neck pain, headaches, and muscle tension.

Why it Matters:

Chronic neck pain can rob you of the things you love. Enjoying your hobbies, taking a few moments to relax, and time with your family can all be affected. However, neck pain and headaches don’t have to be a part of your daily life. By understanding the latest research, you can take massive action to improve your health. Check out the next steps below to find a few tips to help you take your life back from pain.

-        Research recommends a combination of Chiropractic, exercise, and stretching to reduce neck pain.

-        Chiropractic has an extremely high patient satisfaction score of over 90%.

-        An amazing 85% of people receiving Chiropractic adjustments for acute neck pain experienced significant improvement.

Next Steps:

It’s exciting that research has continued to showcase that you’re in charge of your health. Your habits and lifestyle can make a massive impact. Start reducing neck pain today by taking breaks every 45-60 minutes and stretching out your neck and shoulders. Take a brisk walk during lunch or hit the gym a few times a week to increase your activity levels. Finally, don’t forget about getting adjusted. Research proves that Chiropractic adjustments are a smart decision!

Science Source(s):

Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise with Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain- A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, Volume 156, 2012

Perceived Value of Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Exercise Among Seniors with Chronic Neck Pain: A Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2014

Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults with Neck Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Volume 37. 2014

Outcomes from Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Symptomatic Cervical Disk Herniation Patients Treated with High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2013