Sleeping Well

This episode of Hands on Health, is all about sleep. With over 70 million Americans suffering from some form of sleep disorder, Drs. Susan and Patrick Frain dive into some of the most common reasons we have trouble falling or staying asleep, and what to do about it. 

Some of the most common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and circadian rhythm disorder. In this episode, we will focus on insomnia. 

People with insomnia tend to have trouble falling, and staying, asleep. One of the reasons people have so much trouble with insomnia is because there are so many different causes. While there may be medical causes, such as Alzheimer's, there are also lifestyle causes. Having a poor sleep environment, not getting enough sunlight and exercise, or being deficient in various nutrients like vitamin D and Magnesium, can all wreck havoc on our sleep. 

The fastest way to a better night's sleep, is by identifying the cause of the problem. If we can figure out the cause, the solution isn't far behind. However, finding the cause isn't always as easy as it sounds, and we have to do a little trial-and-error. 

Here are our top 10 steps to a better night's sleep. 

1. Create an optimal sleep environment. This means a good pillow, good mattress, elimination of light and noise, and NO electronics! 

2. Exercise - Avoid within two hours of bedtime. 

3. Check your medication - Some medication can cause problems with sleep. 

4. Eat earlier. Eating too close to bedtime gets your digestive juices flowing, which can cause difficulty sleeping. 

5. Have your wellness doctor check various nutrient levels, such as vitamin D and magnesium. Deficiencies in these can cause poor sleep. 

6. Have a regular sleep schedule. 

7. Get at least 20 minutes of sunlight every day. 

8. Try relaxation/meditation exercises. 

9. Be careful of sleep aids like melatonin. 

10. Get a chiropractic checkup. Nerves that exit from the upper neck, go back up into the brain. Irritation to these nerves can cause them to be "restless", leaving you with a bad night's sleep.

Drs. Susan and Patrick Frain have a family wellness practice in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Their practice, which opened in 2003, focuses on helping families achieve better health through nutrition, exercise, and a balanced nerve system.

Drs. Frain are both graduates of Benedictine University in the Chicago area, and received their Doctor of Chiropractic degrees from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

This podcast is for information purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice.

For more information on any of the topics discussed in this episode, please email [e-mail].