How to Minimize Back and Neck Pain for Restful Sleep
Although the common wisdom is that we spend a third of our lives sleeping, a lot of us don’t get the quantity or the quality of sleep we need. Our hectic lifestyles and the 24-7-365 availability of distractions including cable tv and the Internet can cause us to cut down on the seven to nine hours of sleep that experts recommend we get each night. But despite the fact that we aim for an adequate quantity of sleep, neck and back pain and other problems can prevent us from getting the quality of sleep we need. Cotinue reading this article to learn about how to minimize back and neck pain.
When lower back pain, neck pain, snoring, or a sleep disorder prevents us from getting the sleep we need, we accumulate what experts term a «sleep debt.» 1 or 2 nights of restless or inadequate sleep won’t harm us, but a pattern of sleep disruptions can have serious repercussions on our health, ranging from mental fuzziness and mood swings to cessations of breathing or even death. According to the National Sleep Foundation, «Sleep deprivation has been linked to health problems including obesity and hypertension, negative mood and behavior, decreased productivity, and safety issues in the home, at work, and when traveling.»
Back and Neck Pain Causes Sleep Disruption
When pain in the back or neck pain causes sleep disruptions, it may be time to purchase a new mattress. Mattresses that use natural fibers, especially cotton, have the tendency to harden over time, while box springs can begin to sag. A mattress that has outlived its usefulness forces you to sleep in positions that cause or exacerbate lower back pain and neck pain. While a new mattress set is an investment, it is one that will repay you a hundredfold in the form of mental alertness and physical energy that originates from getting restful sleep.
Sleep culprits like neck pain and snoring can often be alleviated with a new pillow. Special posture pillows are available that provide back and neck support, and also can raise your head enough to reduce snoring. A sleep posture pillow may take a period of adjustment, since your body will have to get used to a new position, but the positive effects should start within a couple of weeks.
Snoring can be a sign of bad back posture
Severe snoring can sometimes be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where the tissues at the back of the throat block the airway. The bed partner of a person with sleep apnea is often the first to know something is wrong, since he or she can hear the person snoring and hear pauses in breathing, usually followed by a snort or a loud snore.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, it’s important to have the condition properly diagnosed through a sleep study conducted overnight in a sleep lab. Like a sleep posture pillow, a CPAP machine takes some getting used to.
The common wisdom is that we spend a third of our lives sleeping, many of us don’t get the quantity or the quality of sleep we need. Even if we shoot for an adequate quantity of sleep, back pain and other problems can prevent us from getting the quality of sleep we need.
So What Causes Back and Neck Pain
So if you are getting up with backpain or neckpaing, more than one or two days straight, you should look into this. It could be caused inadequate or restless sleep or it may be associated with your back. The best thing to do in these cases, is to seek the advice of a professional. A qualified chiropractor can analyze your situation and provide you with different options of treatment to help you put an end to sleep disruptions. Back problems can have serious repercussions on our overall health, ranging from reduced mobility to body pain and even death in extreme cases. If you suspect you have back issues, it’s important to have the condition properly diagnosed ASAP. Chiropractic treatment could be the best option for how to minimize back and neck pain.