Is Your Sleep Hurting Your Health?
By Sara Butler
Health is your chiropractor’s number one concern. Chiropractors want to help you live the healthiest and most productive life you can, and a major factor in your overall health is your sleep. There are things you may be doing when you’re counting sheep that are having a detrimental impact on your health. Your chiropractor wants to help you discover what that might be. Here are some of the most prevalent sleep habits chiropractors run into that can be hurting more than helping your health.
Stomach Sleeping
If you ever admit to your chiropractor that you’re a stomach sleeper, get ready for the cringe. Stomach sleeping is the worst position you can sleep in when it comes to the health of your neck and back. The position adds unnecessary stress and pressure on the spine as well as the muscles that support it. This pressure creates an imbalance that your body seeks to repair, often resulting in damage to the way your entire body works together. Over time you will find that sleeping on your stomach leads to pain in your back and neck, and may just lead to pain and discomfort in other places on your body, too.
The solution is simple: Train yourself to sleep on your back or your side.
An Old Mattress
Your mattress has an expiration date, and you need to abide by it! Most mattresses, even high-quality ones, need to be replaced every 10 years or sooner. If you’re sleeping on a mattress that has seen better days, then it won’t provide the support your body needs as you sleep, resulting in back pain and poor quality sleep.
If you’re not sure if your mattress has expired, check with the manufacturer and find out its average lifespan. Then switch it out for a new mattress as soon as you can so you can start sleeping better!
The Wrong Pillows
Pillows are a lot more important than many people think. You need a pillow that is the right size for you as well as one that offers you the right kind of support. A pillow that is too thin or too thick can cause problems for your neck and back as you sleep, causing the muscles that support your spine to work overtime to keep your spine balanced and in a neutral position. If you wake up in the morning with a sore back, this may very well be the reason.
The solution is to find a pillow that is the right size for you and offers the right kind of support. Discuss your sleeping position with your chiropractor and see what kind of pillow they recommend for you and your spine!