For adults, the recommended amount of sleep is between 6 and 9 hours a night. For many people, however, getting enough sleep can be a challenge. It is estimated that between 50 and 70 million Americans are affected by sleep problems. Chiropractic care can help to treat many of the underlying causes of sleep problems and chiropractors can help support people to improve their sleep health.

What causes sleep problems?

Part of the reason why treating sleep problems can be so difficult is that it can have a wide range of causes, all of which can work together to make sleep difficult to achieve.

Common causes of sleep problems include:

* Chronic pain, especially back pain
* Migraines/headaches
* Stress and worry
* Anxiety and depression
* Neck misalignment
* Poor sleep routine/sleep environment

How poor sleep affects health.

One night of sleep deprivation can have profound effects on functioning the next day and can leave you in a bad mood, with poor concentration and memory. If sleep deprivation is a chronic problem it can have a serious impact on both your physical and mental health.

Not getting enough sleep can increase your risk of:

* obesity
* heart disease
* diabetes
* high blood pressure
* risk of injury
* anxiety and depression

How chiropractic care can help with sleep problems.

Most health practitioners try to avoid prescribing sleep medications nowadays. They can have quite unpleasant side effects and they can be addictive. Beyond medication, however, it can be hard to find the right treatment for sleep problems within traditional medicine. Chiropractic care approaches treatments from a different perspective than traditional medicine. It focuses on all aspects of the individual's physical health, emotional health, and lifestyle before creating a treatment plan to help them with their needs.

Chiropractic adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments are a manual therapy where the chiropractor works to restore the spine's proper alignment, through the use of short, sharp thrusts to the vertebrae. It can help to relieve back and neck pain that could be preventing sleep. And it also lowers the amount of stress hormones, such as cortisol, in the body.

Massage therapy

Massage therapy can reduce muscle tension. This can reduce any aches and pains that could be reducing sleep duration and quality, and it can also promote relaxation.

Advice about sleep health

Chiropractors are qualified to give advice about the best sleep health. This can include advice about the best sleep position, mattress and pillow, and how to develop a healthy and relaxing sleep routine.

Advice about exercise and nutrition

It can't be overstated how important taking care of your body is to your overall health, as well as your sleep. Exercise, in particular, can help to promote good sleep. Chiropractors are able to give personalized advice about exercise and nutrition.

There are many other chiropractic treatments available that have the potential to help with sleep problems, and your chiropractor will be able to go through a thorough treatment plan with you.

Sleep problems are becoming more common, with our modern stressful lifestyle. But poor sleep can contribute to several mental and physical health problems, and can even shorten your life. Chiropractic care can provide a comprehensive range of treatments that can address the underlying causes of poor sleep.

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Learn more about Palmercare Chiropractic Washington, DC