The Connection with Sleep and Digestion

Sleep01A good night sleep and smooth digestion can help your body not only stay strong and but also give you the strength to fight off illnesses. It makes sense that digestive conditions such as heartburn, indigestion, and nausea, can disrupt healthy sleep pattern. Studies have shown that many patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and “sensitive stomachs” experience increased symptoms the morning after a restless night.

A good night’s sleep allows your body to fully rejuvenate and rest from the prior day’s activities. It also ensures that your digestive organs have time for rest and repair. Lack of sleep also makes us more susceptible to stress, which can significantly influence digestive symptoms.   Daytime fatigue also tends to cause cravings for sugar and caffeine, which does provide a temporary energy boost but also irritate the digestive tract and lead to increased sleep disturbances.

Many of us do suffer from sleep problems. Either we cannot fall asleep or we wake up several times during the night. Some of us do not have trouble sleeping but we still wake up exhausted. Over time, poor sleep quality can contribute to a wide array of physical and emotional issues – anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, weight gain among other problems. Acupuncture is great for insomnia. Usually after three or four sessions most patients will see an improvement in their sleep quality.

Proper digestion and elimination are the keys to good health. A digestive system that functions properly allows us to get all of the nutrients from our food, which makes our immune system stronger.  Most people have some sort of digestive issue. Constipation, loose stools, nausea, heartburn, IBS, ulcerative colitis and many other issues are becoming more and more prevalent these days.

Acupuncture is great for the treatment of digestion issues.  Often times other symptoms will disappear if sleep and digestion are addressed first. Patients that were having issues with abdominal pain and loose stools are no longer an issue. Other patients no longer suffer from lower back pain after their constipation and bloating has cleared up. Neck pain, upper back tension, and anxiety can disappear with a good night sleep.

Many patients’ experience some relief from their digestive issues after the first few acupuncture treatment.  Schedule your acupuncture today and start sleeping better,  206-455-4172 or schedule online.

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