Chiropractor Chandler AZ
Acupuncture Treatments to Improve Sleep
Struggling to sleep at night can be frustrating and affect your long-term health. When you think about ways to get more sleep, being poked with needles probably doesn't come to mind. Acupuncture treatments have been linked to improved sleep and have been shown to help treat insomnia.
What Are The Symptoms & Causes of Sleep Troubles?
There are several signs that you are not getting enough sleep. Your symptoms may include:
- Difficulty falling asleep at night.
- Waking up during the night.
- Waking up too early.
- Not feeling well-rested after a night's sleep.
- Daytime tiredness or sleepiness.
- Irritability, depression, or anxiety.
- Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks and remembering.
- Increased errors or accidents.
- Ongoing worries about sleep.
Anxiety and worry can negatively affect the balance of the organs and activate the mind. This makes it harder to sleep. Your organs must work together, and your mind must be at rest to achieve REM sleep. Other factors may include:
- Caffeine. Caffeine stays in the bloodstream longer than most people realize. It can take eight to 14 hours to eliminate the total amount of caffeine you consume.
- Hormones. Reproductive hormones change when women are pregnant, menstruating, or entering menopause. They disrupt the brain chemicals that regulate sleep.
- Alcohol. Alcohol shortens the time it takes to fall asleep, it reduces REM sleep, and it increases non-REM sleep. This adds up to a poor night's rest.
- Eating. Having too much or too little food at bedtime can interrupt sleep.
How is Insomnia Diagnosed?
Depending on your situation, the diagnosis of insomnia may include:
- A physical exam. Your physician may conduct a physical exam to look for signs of medical problems that may be related to insomnia. Sometimes, a blood test may be done to check for thyroid problems or other conditions.
- Sleep habits reviews. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a couple of weeks to determine your sleep-wake pattern and level of daytime sleepiness.
- Sleep study. If you have signs of another sleep disorder, you may need to spend a night at a sleep center. Tests are conducted to monitor and record body activity as you sleep.
Medical Treatments to Improve Sleep
Once your physician has confirmed your sleep troubles, he or she may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). This is generally recommended first before prescribing sleep medications. CBT-I helps you develop good sleep habits and avoid the behaviors that keep you awake at night.
Prescription sleeping pills like Lunesta, Rozerem, and Sonata can help you fall asleep, stay asleep, or both. Physicians don't recommend relying on prescription drugs for more than a few weeks, but several sleep medications are approved for long-term use. Over-the-counter sleep aids are also available.
Home Remedies for Insomnia
There are several things you can incorporate into your daily routine to improve your sleep.
- Create a sleep schedule. Your wake time and bedtime should stay consistent from day to day.
- Stay active. Incorporating regular activity helps to promote a good night's rest. Exercise should be completed a few hours before you plan to go to bed.
- Limit naps. Taking a nap during the day can make it harder to fall asleep at night. If you need one; however, try to limit a nap to no more than 30 minutes.
- Check your medications. Some prescriptions may be contributing to your insomnia. Check the labels to see if they contain caffeine or other stimulants that may keep you awake.
- Avoid large meals. A hardy meal and large beverage before bedtime may cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and use the restroom.
Click Here to Receive a $40 Certificate for your 1st Acupuncture Treatment and Evaluation.
Acupuncture Treatments to Improve Sleep
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, night time is considered the yin time. It is during this time when your body takes care of itself instead of daily activities. Proper sleep is necessary for the body to repair itself and is also essential for the proper functioning of organs such as the liver, which does most of its detoxification while you are asleep.
Your organs replenish themselves during two-hour increments throughout the day. If you are consistently waking up in the middle of the night, one or more of these channels are not being replenished.
Acupuncture can focus on which specific channels are affected by the decreased sleep quality by first addressing the root cause. There are specific points in the body to help with stress, depression, anxiety, etc.
The video below describes how acupuncture is performed and commonly asked questions. Many people seek acupuncture for their forearm muscle and elbow joint pain; it is also very effective when combined with conservative therapy and medical treatments.
Conservative Treatments For Better Sleep
In addition to acupuncture, Massage Therapy can help you sleep better. Research has shown regular insomnia massage therapy reduces pain and anxiety. It also increases an overall sense of relaxation, which can restore your sleep pattern. Additional benefits of massage include lower blood pressure, relaxed muscles, better circulation, stronger immune system, and stress reduction.
Conclusion
Learn more about Acupuncture in our Chandler AZ Clinic. Alpha Chiropractic and Physical Therapy provides treatment for many patients in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, and Maricopa. Most patients have never seen a clinic that combines treatments from different providers into improving your pain.
Therapy and treatments for many types of conditions can be improved with a combination of acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy. Learn more about our unique Chandler Chiropractic Clinic.
Click Here to Receive a $40 Certificate for your 1st Acupuncture Treatment and Evaluation.