If you’re like the rest of us, you start most days excited for that moment, around 12-14 hours later, where you can crawl back into bed. Why? The older we get, the more that adequate rest becomes a priority.


And with daylight savings time right around the corner, we want to make sure you’re not just dreaming of a good night’s sleep - we want to ensure that you are, in fact, sleeping well.


At Dr. Gena Chiropractic, a favorite family chiropractor in Plantation, we are committed to educating you about all aspects of living a healthy lifestyle. As it stands, only about 21% of Americans get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night, according to this article in The Good Body, and what’s more…



...Around 60% of Americans experience sleep problems in adulthood!


Just so you know, being sleep deprived can mean so much more to your body, mind, and soul than just a few extra yawns throughout the day. Aside from affecting your mood, ability to focus, and energy levels, sleep deprivation has some scarier side effects than you may realize.



Sleeplessness Can Affect Your Mental Health

According to WebMD, “The most common sleep disorder, insomnia, has the strongest link to depression. In a 2007 study of 10,000 people, those with insomnia were five times as likely to develop depression as those without. In fact, insomnia is often one of the first symptoms of depression.”


Not Getting Enough Shut Eye Ages Your Skin

Those puffy, saggy eyes can absolutely be attributed to lack of adequate sleep. When you aren’t sleeping enough, your body will end up releasing more of the stress hormone cortisol which can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.


Sleepiness Puts You at Greater Risk for Accidents

WebMD has also highlighted the fact that sleep deprivation was a factor in some of the biggest disasters in recent history, including Exxon Valdez oil spill, the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl and many others. 


On a smaller scale, lack of sleep poses a big risk to your driving safety.  Drowsiness can slow reaction time as much as driving drunk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that fatigue is a cause in 100,000 auto crashes and 1,550 crash-related deaths a year in the U.S. The problem is greatest among people under 25 years old.


So what can you do to ensure that you’re sleeping enough, and how can Dr. Gena Chiropractic help your sleep issues?


First things first,” Dr. Gena says, “You need to set a curfew for yourself each night. Choose a time that makes sense for you to go to bed, and commit to it each night. Practice a nightly routine that can help relax and prepare your body for sleep, such as using a mediation app, reading a book you love, or journaling. Try to avoid television and handheld devices as they can actually interrupt sleep patterns.”


Some other tried and true healthy sleep tips include:


Cut off your caffeine consumption around 4pm. Anything later than this can disrupt your ability to fall asleep, as caffeine can stay in your system for up to eight hours.


Get more sunlight during the day. There’s a reason why a day at the beach leads to the best sleep you’ve had in years. Natural sunlight or bright light during the day helps keep your circadian rhythm healthy. This improves daytime energy, as well as nighttime sleep quality and duration.


Lose the afternoon nap. Sure it may give you a nice afternoon boost, but even a quick power nap can affect your quality of sleep once you hit the hay for the night. 


Don’t drink alcohol. If you’ve been experiencing sleep issues repeatedly, try cutting out your evening cocktail or glass of wine. Alcohol is known to disrupt sleep patterns.


Visit your chiropractor! The most common thing we hear after a patient’s first visit chiropractic adjustment is “Wow, I slept like a baby!” How does this happen? Chiropractic care removes the interferences from your nervous system that can be contributing to your sleeplessness. A chiropractic adjustment can result in more regulated hormone levels, thus letting you sleep more soundly.


For more information on getting your best night’s sleep, visit Dr. Gena Chiropractic today. Located just minutes west of Fort Lauderdale, we want to make sure there is nothing standing in the way of your rest!


Your health is in your hands, but our hands are here to help!

Locations

Office Hours

Monday

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tuesday

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Wednesday

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday

Closed

Saturday

9:00 am - 11:00 am

Sunday

Closed

Monday
10:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesday
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Wednesday
10:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday
Closed
Saturday
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Sunday
Closed