This week’s Topic of the Week.
Previously, I’ve talked about certain stressors that knock our atlas out of alignment, causing a deep twist in the spine and nerve irritation. This twist and irritation can cause headaches, neck and back pain, disc herniation, weakness, fatigue, high blood pressure, and digestive problems.
After we get the atlas back into its proper position, it can go back out of alignment. Lack of sleep is another major cause of this. (I’ve already talked about physical injuries, physical stress, and emotional stress.) Conversely, being in alignment can also help us sleep better.
Lack of sleep can become a physical stressor when we nod out and fight to stay awake. When we sleep, our muscles are relaxed, and the sudden jerking motion of forcing ourselves awake can pull us out of alignment.
Lack of sleep also causes the adrenals to go into overdrive to produce chemicals to help us stay awake. Some of the same nutrients needed to make these chemicals are required to repair our ligaments from daily wear and tear. (The ligaments are connective tissue that braces our bones, holding them in the proper place). With the adrenals in overdrive, we are in a “robbing Peter to pay Paul” scenario, and the ligaments become deficient, causing them to become weaker. This weakness can lead to the atlas slipping out of its proper position.
Studies show that chronic sleep loss also leads to weight gain, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and even shorter lives. Sleepy kids don’t learn as well, nor do they do as well in school. Newer studies show that lack of sleep depresses our immune system and increases our chance of catching colds.
It’s important to remember that each person’s sleep needs are unique. Factors such as age, health, and genetics all play a role in determining our sleep needs. While most people require 7-8 hours of sleep, some may need more. It’s also worth noting that only a few people can function well on only 6 hours of sleep.
Melatonin is a chemical our brains produce to tell us it is time to sleep. It is produced when it becomes dark. If you are having trouble sleeping, it is important to be in a dark room. Being on the computer, watching TV, and reading by a bright light will depress melatonin production and keep us awake. Limit these activities before bedtime.
Finally, some people complain that the urge to go to the bathroom gets them up several times a night. A nutritional imbalance usually causes this. Please let me know if you are suffering from this.
References:
Lack of Sleep Could be Deadly, By Tina Hesman Saey. Science News. Feb. 12, 2010
The Claim: Lack of Sleep Increases the Risk of Catching a Cold. By Anahad O’Connor. New York Times. September 21, 2009.
Nighttime Computer Users May Lose Sleep. WebMD Health News. June 19, 2003
