You can really suffer after a night of tossing and turning. But when you are well rested, you wake up feeling great. This isn’t a coincidence. Sleep is a critical component of living a healthy life. We are often happier, more energetic, and most productive after a good night’s sleep. But even knowing the benefits, few of us get the recommended six to eight hours of sleep every night. Dr. Harrison of Ideal Spine Health Center has valuable tips to improve your sleeping habits, so you can be the best version of yourself everyday.
Change Your Sleeping Position
Many try to mask the kink, curve, or pinch in the spine by popping a few aspirin or racing into Starbucks. These temporary solutions won’t address the problem or help realign your body. Start with your sleeping position. The optimum sleeping position is one that keeps the spine as close to its natural alignment as possible. To attain this, sleep on your back. This helps keep your hips evenly aligned. To make this position more comfortable and relieve low back pain, position a pillow beneath your knees. If you struggle to remain on your back throughout the night, it is also safe to sleep on your side. If you do so, always place a pillow between your knees in order to alleviate pressure on the hips and straighten the spine. Also avoid sleeping on your stomach. This position requires you to keep your head turned to one side, resulting in extended rotation of the neck for long periods of time. This reverses the normal curve of the spine and is often associated with teeth grinding, likely due to the pressure being exerted on the face.
Invest In A Good Pillow
In addition to sleeping position, the right pillow is instrumental in supporting and aligning your spine. Ideally, you should be using a cervical or down-filled pillow that cradles the head and neck. These pillows are firm enough to prevent your head from sagging, keeping the vertebrae in their natural curved position. For optimum results, position the pillow under your head, away from your shoulders. Choosing a pillow also depends on your preferred sleeping position. For back sleepers, use a contoured cervical pillow. If you prefer sleeping on your side, you’ll need a pillow with more height. The added thickness will accommodate for the width of the shoulders. Since we are all different, there is no perfect pillow out there. Experiment and find the one that works best for you.
Release Your Stress
Stress prohibits our nervous system and our brain from communicating properly, keeping our body from functioning as it should. Not surprisingly, this dysfunction directly affects our sleeping habits. When there is stress or pressure on our spine, our bodies cannot reach the level of deep sleep they need. A chiropractic adjustment can release any pressure on your nerves, restoring communication and harmony throughout your body. You will sleep peacefully once again.
If you have trouble sleeping or are suffering from back or neck pain, the doctors at Ideal Spine Health Center can help. Contact us today and call (208) 939-2502 to schedule your free chiropractic consultation and exam.