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 health practitioners 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.

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 (you immune system’s “Navy Seals”), 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.

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!

Sleep Disturbances

Neck and back pain are the most common reasons people experience sleep disturbances. Patients talk about sleeping on the floor, or sleeping in a lazy boy, or even sleeping bent over their bed attempting to get into a position that helps them get those few precious moments of rest and relief. Talk about a pain! All you want is the ability to get some rest, yet every position seems to make things feel worse. Well, don’t worry – you’re in the right place to get back on track!

Your body needs rest to heal. If you are in pain, it can be challenging to find a comfortable position to rest. As Chiropractors, we understand this better than anyone. Chiropractic care has been shown to increase your spinal range of motion, decrease inflammation, and even reduce the pressure on the delicate nerves exiting your spinal column – all of which will make it much easier to find a comfortable sleep position.

– Finding a comfortable position to sleep when you’re in pain can be difficult.
– Adjustments reduce the stress on your spine, helping you more easily find a comfortable position to sleep.
– Sleep is essential to healing because your body is better able to accelerate the healing process when properly rested.

If stress has kept you up at night, you’re not alone. However, you can rest easy knowing you’re in the right place! Chiropractic adjustments can help reduce the stress in the muscles supporting your head and neck, allowing you to experience a more comfortable – and more restful – night of sleep.

Join us October 30th at 6:15pm for our “Sleep Better Tonight” Workshop!

Science Source:

Sleep and immune function. European Journal of Physiology. 2012

Neurophysiologic effects of spinal manipulation in patients with chronic low back pain. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2011

Dr. Craig Hazel’s mission is to help families THRIVE. After graduating from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, he went on to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy from Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas Texas. He is passionate about seeing children and families in his private practice at Synergy Chiropractic in Kanata Ontario. A sought after speaker, he has been featured regularly on TSN Team 1200, CTV and Rogers TV. He is also the Chairman of the Alliance for Chiropractic of Ontario.

Getting enough sleep can be difficult around the holidays. Well, let’s get real- many of us don’t have the best sleeping patterns to begin with, and the holidays can make it even more challenging. And when we don’t get enough sleep it can result in fatigue, difficulty making decisions, and even illness. But, by staying well adjusted and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, you can keep your energy up and reduce your chance of getting sick.

Why it Matters:

Did you know that your sleep patterns directly contribute to your overall energy levels? It’s true. Sleep plays a significant role in your overall health. Chronic sleep deficiency has been linked to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome, and more. While you are sleeping, your brain and central nervous system are hard at work preparing you for the next day. Believe it or not, sleep is also essential to your immune system. A lack of sleep has been shown to decrease your immune system’s ability to fight common infections. The good news is that getting 7-8 hours per night will allow your body to feel and function better.

•    Getting enough sleep will help you feel more energized with less fatigue
•    Lack of sleep has been linked to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more
•    Maintaining a consistent 7-8 of sleep can reduce your likelihood of getting sick

Next Steps:

Reading a few pages of a book, or listening to some calm music before bed can help slow your mind down and prepare it for a good night’s sleep. If muscle tension, spasms, or pain are keeping you up at night, please let us know. We would be honored to create a specific care plan to help you get more rest and recovery. Start your new year right by staying healthy and active!

Science Source:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. June 7, 2017.

Harvard Health Publishing. January 2006

Dr. Craig Hazel’s mission is to help families THRIVE. After graduating from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, he went on to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy from Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas Texas. He is passionate about seeing children and families in his private practice at Synergy Chiropractic in Kanata Ontario. A sought after speaker, he has been featured regularly on TSN Team 1200, CTV and Rogers TV. He is also the Chairman of the Alliance for Chiropractic of Ontario.

Eight hours of sleep (a third of your day) is what most health-care professionals suggest for their patients.  Does it matter what position you sleep in, as long as you sleep?  Definitely!  After a night of improper sleep posture, spinal bones can become misaligned (subluxated).

Some people sleep on their stomachs, while others sleep on their side or back.  The optimum sleep position is back-to-mattress, with the head and neck cradled in a cervical pillow.  The goal is to keep the spine as close to its normal alignment as possible, and sleeping on your back keeps your hips aligned evenly.  When the curves are over-exaggerated or reversed, you risk structural shifts in your spine (vertebral subluxations) and related disorders such as arthritis.

Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position for your spine because it torques the spine of the neck, reversing the normal curve, and forces rotation. It can also cause arm pain because it’s not unusual for a stomach sleeper to extend one arm over or under a pillow.  The pain, not surprisingly, is connected to the over-stretching of the arm throughout the night.  This prolonged position restricts the blood supply to the rotator cuff, which is a contributing factor to shoulder impingement.

Curiously though, sleeping on your stomach has been shown to alleviate sleep apnea.  So what to do?  Best thing is to get onto your side or back.  If you are a chronic stomach sleeper (I was for years), wedge a body pillow under your chest and work to be on an angle versus directly on your stomach.