SLEEP IS IT OVERRATED?

By: Dr. Ed Green


Many of us do not get enough sleep. It is estimated that the average person spends a third of their lifetime SLEEPING, A THIRD!!!! It is very important that we get sleep and get good sleep. In fact, lack of sleep can contribute to some of the following issues: depression, acid reflux, irritability, hormonal changes, decrease in tissue recovery, appetite issues and many more. For a full list of sleep complications you can visit (http://www.sleep-deprivation.com/articles/types-of-sleep-disorder/lack-of-sleep/index.php)

Sleep is something that we need in order to properly heal and recover from injuries. For those individuals who are suffering from many forms of chronic pain and or fatigue, sleep is vital to you. In this article I will cover some ways that you can help increase your sleep and make sure that it is the right type of sleep. There can be many issues keep us from getting a good nights sleep. Some of the top issues that keep us from counting those sheep are:

1) Uncomfortable beds
2) Poor diet
3) Over use of medications or alcohol
4) Injury
5) Lack of intimacy
6) Improper napping (too long or too close to normal bed time)
7) Stress

These are just a few of the items that can cause one to lose sleep. Our bodies need sleep. They need, depending on the person, between 6-9 hours of sleep. Many of us don’t get that, or if we do, it is interrupted sleep from the issues above.

So how do we get a good nights sleep?

- First thing I always try to do is go BLAND before bedtime.

- Do not watch any TV shows that cause any form of excitement at least 1 hour before bedtime.

- NO CAFEEINE after noon.

- Try and keep a normal bed time. Sets your internal clock and keeps your biochemistry more balanced.

- Keep the TV out of the bed room. The bedroom should be for sleep and private times.

- Chiropractic adjustments also help with getting a great night’s sleep. If you are sore and have pain an adjustment will help ease that pain so that you can fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer. Since muscle attaches to bone, by adjusting the joints the pressure is relieved throughout the muscles. This helps restore the biochemistry and neurology and relaxes the body.

- Having something in the background like a small fan or a radio set to a timer allowing some gentle white noise will help to distract your mind to fall asleep quicker.

There are countless things that can be done to allow one to fall asleep faster. The use of prescription sleep aids may be indicated in certain cases (however these come with side effects that can be worse than the condition you are suffering from) so please check with your Medical Doctor if you are a candidate for them. In the mean time one can also take some natural Melatonin, which is naturally produced in the human body. You can get Melatonin in supplement form and it will help you to fall asleep more naturally. During the busy holiday hustle and bustle we all need to make sure and get our sleep. Sleep is the one thing that all of us do not get enough of. Getting the proper amount of sleep will help with the stress of holidays, family issues and of course WORK. I hope that this brief article will help those who are suffering from lack of sleep and at least get you started in the right direction of what to do. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at CSI Moorpark, 805-531-1188.

I wish you all the best and HAPPY HOLIDAYS.


Dr. Ed Green
Clinic Director, CSI Moorpark
www.gotcsi.com