Missoula chiropractor | Chiropractor Missoula Your Health-The Road to Wellness. Article #1-Sleep
This is the first article in a series on “Your Health.” “Your Health” is also available in video format Youtube-Missoula Chiropractor. I am Dr. Shaun Stuto an author, speaker and Missoula chiropractor. Over a series of articles we will dissect and explore the various factors which contribute to wellness. We hear this token buzzword “wellness” all the time on television and in newspapers/magazines. Nobody is spending a lot of time defining it however. In simple terms, wellness is the point along the health spectrum that lies between “excellence” and “perfection.” It is the polar opposite of death and disease. Wellness is a journey and not a destination. The joy and fulfillment is in the process and implementation of certain actions and behaviors that make up a “well” person. The factors that make up a well person might include a good height:weight ration, low blood pressure, a healthy diet, active lifestyle and low mental stress. When does excellent health become perfect? There is no exact point when it can be distinguished.
Sleep is the first aspect of wellness we will explore. The most important aspect of wellness is a nervous system free of disturbance. This is made possible through a well adjusted spine. The spine houses and protects the nervous system. When a person becomes stressed chemically, physically or emotionally, this can create a disturbance to the nervous system which only a chiropractor can detect and correct. The second most important aspect of health is a tie between a healthy diet and proper sleep. How much sleep do you need to feel your best in the morning? How much sleep are you actually getting per night? How many nights per week? It is common for me to have patients tell me they are experiencing an 80-120 hour/month sleep deprivation. These people feel the best on 7-9 hours of sleep per night and they average only 5-6. Does this sound like you perhaps?
Sleep on the other hand is under your control. How much sleep is appropriate for you? How much sleep are you actually getting? I commonly encounter patients with an 80-120 hour/month sleep deficiency. These patients average 5-6 hours of sleep per night and need 7-9 to feel their best. Do you fall into this category? A sleep deficiency can have marked effects on your overall health. Usually the sleep deprived individual is stressed, chronically tired, irritable and in many cases a “people pleaser.” This type of person feels compelled to be the perfect child, the perfect parent, the perfect worker, friend etc…It is no surprise that this type of person eventually burns out. They cannot maintain this lifestyle without adequate rest. Most often the sleep deprived person develops insidious aches and pains. They do not understand why their neck or lower back hurts. This is the person who always complains of “sleeping wrong.” How can you sleep wrong? In this case, the bodies’ own innate intelligence is fighting back as a defense mechanism to the stress it is under from a lack of sleep. The unexplainable pain is a built in distress signal the body uses to put the person down and force them to rest.
How much sleep should we be getting? On average most people do best on 7-9 hours/night. Except for an elite athlete who is training hours per day and burning thousands of calories, the average person should not need more than 7-9. If you need less than 6 hours/night see your doctor and if you need more than 9 see a psychologist. It is quite possible that underlying emotional stress and depression could be the real cause of your need for so much sleep.
Comfort is the most important aspect of sleep. If you aren’t sleeping well, you will not heal. You will not recover from workouts, stress, and life. We all lead high stress and high paced lives and we must maximize the time we get in bed. I coined the phrase “invest in your rest!” It means spend the money for a high quality bed. Make price a non-issue. You will thank me for it!
For Dr. Shaun Stuto, the Sleep Number bed is the best choice. We spend 1/3rd of our lives in bed. Shouldn’t we ensure that we get the highest quality rest? Of course! The beauty of the Sleep Number bed is that the firmness is independently adjustable from side to side. This is the answer for couples with different mattress preference. Now one person isn’t left to toss and turn. Both parties can benefit from sleeping on their customized mattress firmness. How many households spend $1000′s on a fancy couch and flat screen T.V. but want to get away with a $300 bed. It just doesn’t add up. How old is your bed? Where did you get it? If you don’t even have answers to these questions, don’t read another line. Go buy the bed now! Invest in YOUR rest!
We have covered the essentials for effective sleep. Sleep 7-9 hours per night on a high quality bed. A sleep deficiency and poor sleep quality can lead to poor health, physical pain, and emotional stress. Such stress could lead to cravings for sugar. Poor sleep can actually make you fat! On the contrary, a high quality bed can actually help you feel more energy and lose weight.
Make health and wellness a top priority now. You owe it to yourself. Ensure optimal function of your nervous system by committing to regular chiropractic care. Implement a regular exercise routine and healthier eating habits. Last, get more sleep and a higher quality of sleep through a top quality bed. Aim for 7-9 hours of undisturbed sleep on a consistent schedule each night. Go to bed within 1/2 hour of your scheduled time each night and get up at the same time every day. When you follow this simple plan you will experience unbelievable changes in the way you feel, your energy and your attitude.
This is “Your Health.” I am Dr. Shaun Stuto and I wish you a life of abundance.
Dr. Shaun Stuto is a chiropractor near 59808 and owner/founder of Transformation Chiropractic. Transformation Chiropractic is a chiropractic wellness center in downtown Missoula, Montana. Visit our site today and learn more about how you can start creating a life of abundant health.
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