The simplest way to try get a better nights sleep...

When you wake up in the morning, how often do you truly feel refreshed and ready to take on a new day? Or more often that not do you wake wishing you were able to get a few more hours? 

Quality sleep is vital for our wellbeing and health. The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep per night. I use the word quality for a reason..if you are in bed for 7-9 hours but waking frequently, lying awake for hours, unable to go to sleep easily, then I would not describe this as quality sleep. 

Health benefits of a quality nights sleep:

- Waking happy and in a good mood

- Allows the physical body to rest

- Lowers your blood pressure and heart rate

- Allows healing and repair of the body

- Regulates your appetite and weight 

- Supports growth and development 

- More energy and alert

- Improved concentration

There are many reasons you might wake, some of which might not be avoidable. These may include; tending to young children, menopause, needing to go to the bathroom (nocturnia), heartburn, heart issues, breathing problems and some medication.

How to get a better nights...

A simple piece of advice I give my patients is renewing their pillow. How old is your pillow? Does it still support your head and neck? Or do you wake with a headache and pain in your neck? Often, easily over looked is the pillow we sleep with. I commonly see in clinic, neck pain and headaches, especially after a patient has gone on holiday and slept in a different bed. 

There is a huge range of pillows to choose from. Thick, firm, thin, quilted, feather and so on. Also there is a large range in prices from $20 to hundreds of dollars. My advice is always to try them out, ideally on a display bed if possible. Everyone is different with what they need and prefer. I personally like a thinner pillow with a thicker one. I am very sensitive to using the correct pillow and sleeping with my husbands pillows is guaranteed to cause a headache for me. 

Osteopaths commonly treat patients for headaches, neck and back pain. Often as a consequence of this pain, is a disrupted nights sleep. Osteopathy is a gentle, hands on form of physical therapy to treat aches and pains. Book online or contact us today.