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Chiropractic shows that sleep apnea might be a pain in the neck

By Dr. Michael Gottfried, DC
Posted 12/14/16

Did you think you might have sleep apnea but haven’t had it checked? For some, it’s an unwillingness to take part in a sleep study. For most, it’s the inevitable prescribed …

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Back to Health

Chiropractic shows that sleep apnea might be a pain in the neck

Posted

Did you think you might have sleep apnea but haven’t had it checked? For some, it’s an unwillingness to take part in a sleep study. For most, it’s the inevitable prescribed treatment: a CPAP mask. Depending on the cause of your sleep apnea, there could be another, mask-free alternative: chiropractic.

There are three basic types of sleep apnea, mixed, central and obstructive. The obstructive option is the most common and due to extra throat tissue or tonsils blocking the airway. Having your spine out of alignment, particularly the neck area, can impact your breathing, which is exacerbated by having the aforementioned extra throat tissue or tonsils blocking the airway.

Some of the issues associated with sleep apnea include:
• Restless sleep or insomnia
• Headaches in the morning
• Low energy or fatigue during the day
• Waking abruptly due to choking or gasping
• Loud snoring
• Sore or dry throat when you awaken.

Most significantly, sleep apnea can also lead to cardiovascular issues and heart distress.

A chiropractor can treat sleep apnea with a spinal adjustment and some deep tissue massage. The combination of these treatments relaxes your muscles and promotes proper breathing. Chiropractors can also help patients by teaching special breathing exercises that will bring more oxygen into your body and will essentially retrain your breathing habits.

For example, reading or watching TV in bed while lying down on your pillow, as opposed to sitting up, can cause misalignment of your neck and worsen your sleep apnea. Being overweight can also make your sleep apnea worse.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, please make an appointment to see your local chiropractor. By asking questions, you can get a better assessment on your condition and chart appropriate course of treatment.

Dr. Michael Gottfried is the president of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island and a practitioner at Aquidneck Chiropractic in Middletown. For more information or to find a chiropractor near you, visit richiro.org.

Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island

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