What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that varies from person to person. Insomnia can make it difficult to fall asleep, difficult to stay asleep, or difficult to get back to sleep once you have woken up too early. It can be extremely frustrating because though you cannot sleep, you often feel exhausted. Insomnia not only affects your mood but also your health, work performance and quality of life. The average adult needs between 7-8 hours of sleep per night, though some people function normally with less than 7 hours.
Most people will have insomnia at some point in their life due to stress or trauma, but this type generally goes away as the person recovers or the stress decreases. However, when insomnia lasts for a month or more it is considered to be chronic and may be associated with other health conditions or side effects of new medications.
Blair Chiropractic and Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
Science is continuously evolving, and we know that the upper neck and brainstem play a vital role in a good night’s sleep. The brainstem, which sits just inside the hole at the bottom of the skull above the Atlas vertebra, controls and regulates many of the involuntary (subconscious) activities of our body such as our breathing, heart rate, and internal clock (circadian rhythm). The brainstem communicates with the hypothalamus to control the transitions between wake and sleep. Together, they produce a brain substance called GABA, which reduces the activity of arousal centers allowing you to fall asleep. Once you fall asleep, the brainstem also plays a special role in REM sleep; allowing muscles to relax which prevents you from tossing and turning at night. Many people who suffer from either acute or chronic insomnia report having a stressful event or trauma prior to the onset of symptoms. Due to the susceptible nature of the upper neck to both stress and trauma, and its connections with the brainstem, it is an important and overlooked area that should be evaluated if you are suffering from insomnia. A Blair Chiropractor will take a health history and carefully examine your upper neck and brainstem function using neurologic tests and 3D Upper Cervical Imaging. The Blair Chiropractic Technique’s gentle adjustive procedure can be an effective option because it not only helps return the neck to its normal relaxed state, but it also tends to relax the brain allowing for better sleep.