Your neck is jam-packed with nerves, glands, tubes, blood and lymph vessels, and 48 different joints, plus your brain stem, spinal cord, spinal column, muscles, ligaments, tendons, fluids, meninges and more! It also balances your heavy head!!
If the head and neck are thrown or “snapped” back and forth very quickly you can end up with Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD). WAD is seen in car accidents, falls and in “collision” sports such as football and boxing. In addition to the disc and soft tissue damage WAD can cause spinal dysfunction, irritation and stretching and impingement to spinal nerves. Millions of people suffer WAD each year.
Other neck problems can be caused by poor posture, work habits and even birth trauma.
Neck problems and WAD can cause headache, numbness, coldness or “pins-and –needles” in the face, chest, arms, wrists or hands. They can also result in anxiety, insomnia, low back and neck pain, ear ringing, dizziness, eye pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and other symptoms.
Of course, in an accident, the first order of business is to attend to any life-threatening problem – for example, fracture, hemorrhage, shock and severe concussion. After that, the spine must be attended to.
Chiropractic has been a blessing to millions of people suffering from neck and WAD, saving many sufferers from unnecessary drugs and surgery.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Monday, 26 September 2011
HOW TO AVOID INJURIES
The majority of running injuries occur from overtraining. Avoid doing too much too soon. Your progress in mileage and speed should be a gradual one. An unrelenting increase in mileage from one week to the next will ultimately result in a breakdown. It is important to keep in mind the principle of hard days and easy days being interspersed and also hard and easy weeks. Mileage should usually only be increased approximately 10% per week. Every third week, you should drop back a small amount. For most runners one or two days a week, at least, should be devoted to rest or non-running activities. This gives your body a chance to recover and strengthen itself. Remember, pain is a warning, stop running and consult your chiropractor immediately.
Regular stretching may also help reduce injuries. Runners frequently develop tightness in the posterior muscle groups, such as the hamstrings and the calf muscles. The quadriceps and anterior shin muscles may become relatively weak, due to muscular imbalance.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT RUNNING SHOE
Joggers should wear a shoe with good cushioning impact. Running shoes are designed to provide maximum overall shock absorption for the foot. Such a shoe should also have good heel control. Although not a cure-all, these qualities in a running / sports shoe help to prevent shin splints, tendonitis, heel pain, stress fractures and other overuse syndromes.
A good running shoe should have a wide, cushioned heel and sole. The heel should be “rockered” at the back so that the heel strike is under the heel, not behind it. The shoe should be deep enough so that the toes do not press against the front and long enough to allow free motion and gripping during running. There should be about a thumb-nail length between the longest toe and the toe of the shoe. Unless there is enough space for the toes, the toe nails will be injured.
Running shoes should have “spring” in the forefoot; that is, the forefoot of the shoe should tilt up off the ground when the shoe is resting flat on the ground. The shoe should be flexible but not limp and the heel counter firm and padded to support the heel. The sole of the heel should be soft enough to absorb much of the shock of running. A soft neoprene sole is a great help in absorbing shock. Most running shoes have a cushion to support the arch. This is desirable to avoid the foot ‘going over’ or ‘pronating’.
Follow these simple guidelines when choosing your shoes:
• Don’t just go by size. Have your feet measured.
• Visit the shoe store at the end of a workout when your feet are largest.
• Wear the sock you normally wear when working out.
• Fit the shoe to the largest foot.
Running shoes should be regularly replaced as the shock absorbing capability will diminish gradually and may be inadequate after 350 – 550 miles. The upper part of the shoe may not show much wear, but the shock absorption may still be gone. If you are running 20 miles per week, you should be replacing your shoes between 4 and 8 months depending upon your shock absorption needs.
Regular stretching may also help reduce injuries. Runners frequently develop tightness in the posterior muscle groups, such as the hamstrings and the calf muscles. The quadriceps and anterior shin muscles may become relatively weak, due to muscular imbalance.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT RUNNING SHOE
Joggers should wear a shoe with good cushioning impact. Running shoes are designed to provide maximum overall shock absorption for the foot. Such a shoe should also have good heel control. Although not a cure-all, these qualities in a running / sports shoe help to prevent shin splints, tendonitis, heel pain, stress fractures and other overuse syndromes.
A good running shoe should have a wide, cushioned heel and sole. The heel should be “rockered” at the back so that the heel strike is under the heel, not behind it. The shoe should be deep enough so that the toes do not press against the front and long enough to allow free motion and gripping during running. There should be about a thumb-nail length between the longest toe and the toe of the shoe. Unless there is enough space for the toes, the toe nails will be injured.
Running shoes should have “spring” in the forefoot; that is, the forefoot of the shoe should tilt up off the ground when the shoe is resting flat on the ground. The shoe should be flexible but not limp and the heel counter firm and padded to support the heel. The sole of the heel should be soft enough to absorb much of the shock of running. A soft neoprene sole is a great help in absorbing shock. Most running shoes have a cushion to support the arch. This is desirable to avoid the foot ‘going over’ or ‘pronating’.
Follow these simple guidelines when choosing your shoes:
• Don’t just go by size. Have your feet measured.
• Visit the shoe store at the end of a workout when your feet are largest.
• Wear the sock you normally wear when working out.
• Fit the shoe to the largest foot.
Running shoes should be regularly replaced as the shock absorbing capability will diminish gradually and may be inadequate after 350 – 550 miles. The upper part of the shoe may not show much wear, but the shock absorption may still be gone. If you are running 20 miles per week, you should be replacing your shoes between 4 and 8 months depending upon your shock absorption needs.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Headaches
10-15% of the population suffer with headaches. Headaches cause the sufferer debilitating symptoms that often results in them having time off work or not being able to carry out daily activities.
There are many different types of headache, but the most severe and most commonly treated are migraines and tension headaches.
Migraines
It is still not clear exactly what occurs in the body to cause a migraine. The main thought is that blood vessel in the head change diameter leading to a reduction in blood flow or that there is restriction to the upper neck vertebra resulting in nerve irritation and migraine symptoms.
Most migraine suffers experience their first attack in their early 20’s and women suffer three times more then men.
Common symptoms of migraine include unilateral, moderate to severe pain with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, change in vision, sensory changes and light and sound sensitivity.
If you suffer from any of the above symptoms for the first time it is important that you seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Tension headaches
These are a result of stress causing tense muscles in the back of the neck. This can be due to emotional stress, work stress, anxiety and environmental factors.
Tension headaches create a dull pain on both sides of the head that can last for a long time. Tension headaches are often tolerated by the patient and they may suffer each day with pain.
Treatment
Chiropractic treatment is not like taking an aspirin, a temporary measure to mask the pain. If headaches are a persistent problem, a chiropractor will take a full case history and perform an appropriate examination to determine the source of pain. Once the information has been obtained they can then give a treatment plan specific to your needs.
Gentle Chiropractic mobilisation and manipulation of the neck, deep tissue work, muscle strengthening and stretching exercises are performed and self-help advice given to sufferers. Posture correction and nutritional advice can often help prevent the frequent return of headaches.
Unfortunately a lot of over the counter medication is only effective in reducing the pain of attacks and rarely reduces their frequency.
Self Help
• Make sure that you do not sleep on your front – this causes your neck and spine to twist
• Cut out ‘trigger’ foods one at a time until you find which ones are aggravating the problem. E.g. Chocolate, red wine, cheese, tomatoes, processed food, MSG
• Relax in a quiet environment
In the event of an attack
• Drink lots of water ( 2-3 glasses should suffice)
• Lie down and try to rest
There are many different types of headache, but the most severe and most commonly treated are migraines and tension headaches.
Migraines
It is still not clear exactly what occurs in the body to cause a migraine. The main thought is that blood vessel in the head change diameter leading to a reduction in blood flow or that there is restriction to the upper neck vertebra resulting in nerve irritation and migraine symptoms.
Most migraine suffers experience their first attack in their early 20’s and women suffer three times more then men.
Common symptoms of migraine include unilateral, moderate to severe pain with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, change in vision, sensory changes and light and sound sensitivity.
If you suffer from any of the above symptoms for the first time it is important that you seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Tension headaches
These are a result of stress causing tense muscles in the back of the neck. This can be due to emotional stress, work stress, anxiety and environmental factors.
Tension headaches create a dull pain on both sides of the head that can last for a long time. Tension headaches are often tolerated by the patient and they may suffer each day with pain.
Treatment
Chiropractic treatment is not like taking an aspirin, a temporary measure to mask the pain. If headaches are a persistent problem, a chiropractor will take a full case history and perform an appropriate examination to determine the source of pain. Once the information has been obtained they can then give a treatment plan specific to your needs.
Gentle Chiropractic mobilisation and manipulation of the neck, deep tissue work, muscle strengthening and stretching exercises are performed and self-help advice given to sufferers. Posture correction and nutritional advice can often help prevent the frequent return of headaches.
Unfortunately a lot of over the counter medication is only effective in reducing the pain of attacks and rarely reduces their frequency.
Self Help
• Make sure that you do not sleep on your front – this causes your neck and spine to twist
• Cut out ‘trigger’ foods one at a time until you find which ones are aggravating the problem. E.g. Chocolate, red wine, cheese, tomatoes, processed food, MSG
• Relax in a quiet environment
In the event of an attack
• Drink lots of water ( 2-3 glasses should suffice)
• Lie down and try to rest
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Gardening and Back Pain
Gardening for some of us is just a chore but for others it is our primary leisure activity and a source of much enjoyment. Whichever category you fall into it is essential to prepare your joints and muscles prior to descending on your garden.
The main reason people get back pain is because they underestimate the amount of muscle involvement required to perform gardening activities. With many of us, these muscles have not been used through the winter months and therefore are prone to injury and overuse. Digging, prolonged stretching and bending over while planting puts undue stress on the ligaments and joints in the lumbar spine, neck and extremities. When a joint is overused it will become inflamed and tender, triggering a protective muscle spasm leaving you with that horrible dull ache for several days after gardening.
If left untreated or exposed to repeated overuse, dysfunction within the joint may occur over time. This can potentially lead to irritation on spinal nerves resulting in referred pain into the extremities, with one example being Sciatica.
There are many ways to treat musculoskeletal pain. Chiropractic provides a non-surgical and drug-free treatment. It is a 100% natural approach to health care, as it is based on restoring function to our bodies on a skeletal, muscular and nervous system level.
Chiropractic Gardening Tips
1. Kneel on one knee rather then repeatedly bending from the hips
2. Try and vary the tasks into short bursts of different activity
3. If you suffer from knee problems use a cushion to kneel on or a gardening stool to sit on, this should avoid slouching
4. When digging, keep your back hollow and legs well apart. Use your legs rather then your back
5. Keep warm and covered up – this prevents muscles from becoming chilled
6. If you ache the next day, speak with your Chiropractor for further advice and treatment. They will advise you if you should use ice, heat or if further treatment is required
The main reason people get back pain is because they underestimate the amount of muscle involvement required to perform gardening activities. With many of us, these muscles have not been used through the winter months and therefore are prone to injury and overuse. Digging, prolonged stretching and bending over while planting puts undue stress on the ligaments and joints in the lumbar spine, neck and extremities. When a joint is overused it will become inflamed and tender, triggering a protective muscle spasm leaving you with that horrible dull ache for several days after gardening.
If left untreated or exposed to repeated overuse, dysfunction within the joint may occur over time. This can potentially lead to irritation on spinal nerves resulting in referred pain into the extremities, with one example being Sciatica.
There are many ways to treat musculoskeletal pain. Chiropractic provides a non-surgical and drug-free treatment. It is a 100% natural approach to health care, as it is based on restoring function to our bodies on a skeletal, muscular and nervous system level.
Chiropractic Gardening Tips
1. Kneel on one knee rather then repeatedly bending from the hips
2. Try and vary the tasks into short bursts of different activity
3. If you suffer from knee problems use a cushion to kneel on or a gardening stool to sit on, this should avoid slouching
4. When digging, keep your back hollow and legs well apart. Use your legs rather then your back
5. Keep warm and covered up – this prevents muscles from becoming chilled
6. If you ache the next day, speak with your Chiropractor for further advice and treatment. They will advise you if you should use ice, heat or if further treatment is required
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Pregnancy and Chiropractic
Chiropractic for a more comfortable pregnancy and labor
Pregnant women benefit greatly from Chiropractic care with benefits that can include the baby as well.
Pregnancy can be a time of joy and exciting anticipation, yet for some the experience is coloured by pain, discomfort and illness. This is often because pregnant women undergo many structural and hormonal changes that affect the spine, nerves, joints, ligaments, connective tissues, centre of gravity and stability. Your Chiropractor can ensure that the spine, pelvis and related structures are balanced, moving easily and free from dysfunction.
When free of vertebral dysfunction, the mother-to-be experiences pregnancy at a greater level of comfort, health and vitality and can better handle the rigor of childbirth.
During pregnancy there are many medications that are unsafe to use. Chiropractic’s approach to pain is another reason why it is valued during pregnancy.
Pregnant Women Have Special Concerns
There are so many things pregnant women worry about: staying pregnant, carrying the baby to full term, morning sickness, the baby developing normally, backaches, leg pain and if their labor will be safe and (hopefully) easy.
Can Chiropractic care help ease their minds? Chiropractic care has been observed to help pregnant and birthing women for many years. Chiropractors have been performing spinal adjustments on pregnant women for over a hundred years and have noted that chiropractic spinal corrective care can help reduce pain associated with pregnancy.
Chiropractic Improves Baby’s Birth Position
Pre-natal Chiropractic techniques release stress on the pelvis and uterus, helping the unborn child to turn and position itself properly for a healthy birth presentation.
Pregnant women benefit greatly from Chiropractic care with benefits that can include the baby as well.
Pregnancy can be a time of joy and exciting anticipation, yet for some the experience is coloured by pain, discomfort and illness. This is often because pregnant women undergo many structural and hormonal changes that affect the spine, nerves, joints, ligaments, connective tissues, centre of gravity and stability. Your Chiropractor can ensure that the spine, pelvis and related structures are balanced, moving easily and free from dysfunction.
When free of vertebral dysfunction, the mother-to-be experiences pregnancy at a greater level of comfort, health and vitality and can better handle the rigor of childbirth.
Drugless Approach to Health
During pregnancy there are many medications that are unsafe to use. Chiropractic’s approach to pain is another reason why it is valued during pregnancy.
Pregnant Women Have Special Concerns
There are so many things pregnant women worry about: staying pregnant, carrying the baby to full term, morning sickness, the baby developing normally, backaches, leg pain and if their labor will be safe and (hopefully) easy.
Can Chiropractic care help ease their minds? Chiropractic care has been observed to help pregnant and birthing women for many years. Chiropractors have been performing spinal adjustments on pregnant women for over a hundred years and have noted that chiropractic spinal corrective care can help reduce pain associated with pregnancy.
Chiropractic Improves Baby’s Birth Position
Pre-natal Chiropractic techniques release stress on the pelvis and uterus, helping the unborn child to turn and position itself properly for a healthy birth presentation.
Monday, 12 September 2011
How is YOUR POSTURE?????
Spot the Early Signs of Postural Problems
• The head tilting to one side
• Forward Head Carriage
• Rounded Shoulders
• Stiffness and pain in the neck and between the Shoulder Blades
• Discomfort or fatigue sitting up straight for any length of time
• One Shoulder higher than the other or one hip higher than the other
• Uneven wear on your shoes
• The head tilting to one side
• Forward Head Carriage
• Rounded Shoulders
• Stiffness and pain in the neck and between the Shoulder Blades
• Discomfort or fatigue sitting up straight for any length of time
• One Shoulder higher than the other or one hip higher than the other
• Uneven wear on your shoes
Sleep , Insomnia and Chiropractic
It’s really a pretty bizarre phenomenon: for about seven or eight hours a day all thinking and almost all motions stops, and you become oblivious to external reality, experiencing another reality of fleeting symbols and images- an existence mysterious , unknown, and (at times) frightening. Is it any wonder that in Greek Mythology Hypnus, the god of sleep is the brother of Thanatos, the god of death?
Sleep constitutes such a large part of our lives that it simply must be very important. And it is! The effects of its absence tells us so. Without satisfying sleep, proper physical and mental function is virtually impossible. Sleep regenerates us, heals us, balances us.
Insomnia
Are you having trouble sleeping nights? Waking up tired? Waking up in the middle of the night? You’ve got lots of company. A 1991 Gallup poll found that one person in four has insomnia occasionally and nine percent chronically and that problems with sleeping at night cause problems during the day(and vice-versa).
Dealing with Insomnia
Somnology, the study of sleep reveals that there are three types of insomnia: transient insomnia, which is caused by a temporarily stressful situation, or even a large meal; before bedtime and last a few nights; short-term insomnia, which may last for a few days to several week s as a result of a more severe and extended form of emotional stress; and chronic insomnia which usually arise from a more deep-seated physical or emotional problem. Chronic insomnia may be caused by alcohol or drug use; anxiety, fear, mania or depression; obsessions, compulsion; chronic pain.
Health Practices Known to Hasten Sleep
Go to be at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning no matter what time you fall asleep – this trains your body-mind to accord to a regular rhythm.
Don’t lie in bed if you can’t sleep-you’ll only get frustrated and feel even more tense. Get up and watch TV or otherwise try to relax until you feel sleepy.
Avoid coffee, tea cola, and cocoa, all of which contain caffeine, six hours before bedtime.
Do not eat large meals or engage in heavy exercise before bedtime.
Don’t take naps.
Don’t try to catch up on sleep on weekends.
Use your bed only for sleep and sex – don’t bring your work to bed.
Get regular exercise to reduce body tension.
Try as best you can to avoid boredom. If you’re not really awake during the day, you can’t really be asleep during the night.
Sleep Medications
Frequently, of course, insomniacs resort to sleep medications. Because it is easy to develop tolerance to these drugs, it’s common for users to gradually increase the suggested dosage and continue taking the pills for longer and longer periods of time.
Presecription sleep medications include Dalmane, Doral, ProSom, Restoril, Valium, Xanax and Halcion. All of these drugs tend to leave people with a medication hangover and memory loss the following day. Halcion, the number one sleep medication (over seven million prescriptions in 1990), gas stirred controversy because of its side effects: it can make a person anxious, confused and excitable the next day and has been accused of bringing about violent behaviour. Halcion has been banned in Great Britain.
In over-the-counter (non-prescription) sleep medications, the sleep-inducing ingredient is usually antihistamine. The main side effect is dry mouth, although other side effects are common. It’s best to consult the Physicians Desk Reference(PDR) when taking any drug, whether prescribed or not! Finally, it is important to remember that sleeping pills do not correct the cause of sleeping problems. Rather than continuing merely to treat the symptom, an insomniac must explore the question why it is that he/she cannot sleep/
Herbal Remedies
Tehre are also effective herbal remedies, such as passion flower, wild oats, valerian, and skullcap. Nonmedical remedies include vitamins such as tryptophan (found in milk); warm (not hot) baths or bathing your feet in hot water to draw the blood from the head; relaxation therapy.
Relaxation Study
In a University of Alabama study, one group of insomniacs learned to use relation techniques to help them to got to sleep; a second group used sleeping pills. Although the group taking sleep pills fell asleep immediately, they continued to awaken during the night just as often as they did without the pills. After about two weeks of practicing relaxation techniques, the relaxation group learned to fall asleep immediately and stay asleep for longer periods.
At this point let us ask: What did Charles Dickens, Benjamin Franklin, Rudyard Kipling, Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Allan Poe, and Cary Grant have in common? The answer is heavy snoring.
Heavy Snoring
Nine out of ten snorers are men, most of them over age 40. They tend to be overweight (which make for extra fat tissue in the airway) and/or to be smokers. Alcohol and sedatives are known to contribute to snoring (by slackening the throat and tongue muscles). High blood pressure too, is known to be a cause. Because some people snore only when sleeping on their backs, sleeping on the side sometimes helps reduce and even eliminate snoring, as can elevating the head.
Although there have been anecdotal instances of snoring ceasing after chiropractic care, no studies have as yet been performed. Where, in fact, snoring is being caused by lazy tongue or throat muscles, a healthy nerve supply to that area might well make a difference.
Sleep walking, Night Terror, and Bed Wetting
Characterized as parasomnia is a group of unusual sleep behaviours that are believed to be related. The most common are sleep walking(somnambulism); night terror (awakening frightened, screaming, and excited with no memory of the cause); and enuresis (urination during sleep). These disorders usually begin in early childhood and normally stop by adolescence. Clinical experience has shown chiropractic to be especially helpful in cases of parasomnia. Any of them may be associated with underlying emotional stress, and here psychological counselling can be helpful also.
The Chiropractic Approach
Nearly a hundred years of clinical case histories have shown chiropractic to be of great benefit for sleeping problems. In fact, “better sleep” is a report that new patients commonly give their chiropractor.
The brain and nervous system regulate the sleep-wake cycle, and by relieving the spine of nerve blockages, chiropractic helps insure a healthy nerve supply from the brain to the rest of the body. This natural, drugless approach to health care should be explored by anyone suffering from sleep problems of any kind.
Sleep constitutes such a large part of our lives that it simply must be very important. And it is! The effects of its absence tells us so. Without satisfying sleep, proper physical and mental function is virtually impossible. Sleep regenerates us, heals us, balances us.
Insomnia
Are you having trouble sleeping nights? Waking up tired? Waking up in the middle of the night? You’ve got lots of company. A 1991 Gallup poll found that one person in four has insomnia occasionally and nine percent chronically and that problems with sleeping at night cause problems during the day(and vice-versa).
Dealing with Insomnia
Somnology, the study of sleep reveals that there are three types of insomnia: transient insomnia, which is caused by a temporarily stressful situation, or even a large meal; before bedtime and last a few nights; short-term insomnia, which may last for a few days to several week s as a result of a more severe and extended form of emotional stress; and chronic insomnia which usually arise from a more deep-seated physical or emotional problem. Chronic insomnia may be caused by alcohol or drug use; anxiety, fear, mania or depression; obsessions, compulsion; chronic pain.
Health Practices Known to Hasten Sleep
Go to be at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning no matter what time you fall asleep – this trains your body-mind to accord to a regular rhythm.
Don’t lie in bed if you can’t sleep-you’ll only get frustrated and feel even more tense. Get up and watch TV or otherwise try to relax until you feel sleepy.
Avoid coffee, tea cola, and cocoa, all of which contain caffeine, six hours before bedtime.
Do not eat large meals or engage in heavy exercise before bedtime.
Don’t take naps.
Don’t try to catch up on sleep on weekends.
Use your bed only for sleep and sex – don’t bring your work to bed.
Get regular exercise to reduce body tension.
Try as best you can to avoid boredom. If you’re not really awake during the day, you can’t really be asleep during the night.
Sleep Medications
Frequently, of course, insomniacs resort to sleep medications. Because it is easy to develop tolerance to these drugs, it’s common for users to gradually increase the suggested dosage and continue taking the pills for longer and longer periods of time.
Presecription sleep medications include Dalmane, Doral, ProSom, Restoril, Valium, Xanax and Halcion. All of these drugs tend to leave people with a medication hangover and memory loss the following day. Halcion, the number one sleep medication (over seven million prescriptions in 1990), gas stirred controversy because of its side effects: it can make a person anxious, confused and excitable the next day and has been accused of bringing about violent behaviour. Halcion has been banned in Great Britain.
In over-the-counter (non-prescription) sleep medications, the sleep-inducing ingredient is usually antihistamine. The main side effect is dry mouth, although other side effects are common. It’s best to consult the Physicians Desk Reference(PDR) when taking any drug, whether prescribed or not! Finally, it is important to remember that sleeping pills do not correct the cause of sleeping problems. Rather than continuing merely to treat the symptom, an insomniac must explore the question why it is that he/she cannot sleep/
Herbal Remedies
Tehre are also effective herbal remedies, such as passion flower, wild oats, valerian, and skullcap. Nonmedical remedies include vitamins such as tryptophan (found in milk); warm (not hot) baths or bathing your feet in hot water to draw the blood from the head; relaxation therapy.
Relaxation Study
In a University of Alabama study, one group of insomniacs learned to use relation techniques to help them to got to sleep; a second group used sleeping pills. Although the group taking sleep pills fell asleep immediately, they continued to awaken during the night just as often as they did without the pills. After about two weeks of practicing relaxation techniques, the relaxation group learned to fall asleep immediately and stay asleep for longer periods.
At this point let us ask: What did Charles Dickens, Benjamin Franklin, Rudyard Kipling, Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Allan Poe, and Cary Grant have in common? The answer is heavy snoring.
Heavy Snoring
Nine out of ten snorers are men, most of them over age 40. They tend to be overweight (which make for extra fat tissue in the airway) and/or to be smokers. Alcohol and sedatives are known to contribute to snoring (by slackening the throat and tongue muscles). High blood pressure too, is known to be a cause. Because some people snore only when sleeping on their backs, sleeping on the side sometimes helps reduce and even eliminate snoring, as can elevating the head.
Although there have been anecdotal instances of snoring ceasing after chiropractic care, no studies have as yet been performed. Where, in fact, snoring is being caused by lazy tongue or throat muscles, a healthy nerve supply to that area might well make a difference.
Sleep walking, Night Terror, and Bed Wetting
Characterized as parasomnia is a group of unusual sleep behaviours that are believed to be related. The most common are sleep walking(somnambulism); night terror (awakening frightened, screaming, and excited with no memory of the cause); and enuresis (urination during sleep). These disorders usually begin in early childhood and normally stop by adolescence. Clinical experience has shown chiropractic to be especially helpful in cases of parasomnia. Any of them may be associated with underlying emotional stress, and here psychological counselling can be helpful also.
The Chiropractic Approach
Nearly a hundred years of clinical case histories have shown chiropractic to be of great benefit for sleeping problems. In fact, “better sleep” is a report that new patients commonly give their chiropractor.
The brain and nervous system regulate the sleep-wake cycle, and by relieving the spine of nerve blockages, chiropractic helps insure a healthy nerve supply from the brain to the rest of the body. This natural, drugless approach to health care should be explored by anyone suffering from sleep problems of any kind.
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