Welcome to the first installment of “Your Health.” Please reference our video series on Youtube and also on our website Transformation Chiropractic Missoula, Montana Dr. Shaun Stuto is a Missoula Chiropractor, author, speaker, and the owner/founder of Transformation Chiropractic. The goal of “Your Health” is to explore and dissect many of the different aspects that encompass wellness. “Wellness” is a buzzword that we hear alot on T.V. and in other media. The big question is who is defining what wellness is? The concept of “wellness” is the polar opposite of disease and death. Wellness is at the far end of the spectrum of health and is not necessarily a destination. The concept and goal of wellness is in the journey of achieving it. Think of “wellness” as the point between “excellence” and “perfection.” Excellent health includes many factors such as a balanced lifestyle, low blood pressure, good height:weight ratio low mental stress, healthy diet and an active lifestyle to name a few. The point where excellent health actually becomes perfect cannot be precisely distinguished.

Sleep is the first aspect of wellness we will explore. The most important aspect of wellness is a nervous system free of disturbance. This is made possible through a well adjusted spine. The spine houses and protects the nervous system. When a person becomes stressed chemically, physically or emotionally, this can create a disturbance to the nervous system which only a chiropractor can detect and correct. The second most important aspect of health is a tie between a healthy diet and proper sleep. How much sleep do you need to feel your best in the morning? How much sleep are you actually getting per night? How many nights per week? It is common for me to have patients tell me they are experiencing an 80-120 hour/month sleep deprivation. These people feel the best on 7-9 hours of sleep per night and they average only 5-6. Does this sound like you perhaps?

Sleep deprivation can have a deleterious effect to your overall health. The sleep deprived person is often irritable, stressed, chronically tired and quite often a “people pleaser.” This is the type of person that feels they need to be the perfect spouse, child, parent, worker, friend etc…Not surprisingly, this type of person eventually burns out. They simply cannot maintain this lifestyle. Quite commonly they develop inexplicable symptoms that they do not attribute to a traumatic event. The most common are aches and pains of the neck and lower back. This person might commonly say “I must have slept wrong.” How do you “sleep wrong?” What is actually going on is their body is fighting back. The body possesses an innate intelligence built to protect. These unexplained pains are the bodies defense mechanism which will force the person to slow down and rest.

How much sleep should we be getting? On average most people do best on 7-9 hours/night. Except for an elite athlete who is training hours per day and burning thousands of calories, the average person should not need more than 7-9. If you need less than 6 hours/night see your doctor and if you need more than 9 see a psychologist. It is quite possible that underlying emotional stress and depression could be the real cause of your need for so much sleep.

The most important aspect of sleep is your comfort. You must be comfortable in order to maximize your recovery time. With the high stress, high paced lives most of us lead, it is crucial to maximize our time at rest. “Invest in your rest!” I coined the phrase and you should take it to heart. Invest in your rest means spend the money on the highest quality bed you can afford. Most people do best on a firmer mattress.

For Dr. Shaun Stuto, the Sleep Number bed is the best choice. We spend 1/3rd of our lives in bed. Shouldn’t we ensure that we get the highest quality rest? Of course! The beauty of the Sleep Number bed is that the firmness is independently adjustable from side to side. This is the answer for couples with different mattress preference. Now one person isn’t left to toss and turn. Both parties can benefit from sleeping on their customized mattress firmness. How many households spend $1000’s on a fancy couch and flat screen T.V. but want to get away with a $300 bed. It just doesn’t add up. How old is your bed? Where did you get it? If you don’t even have answers to these questions, don’t read another line. Go buy the bed now! Invest in YOUR rest!

You have now heard the essentials of sleep. Ensure you are getting 7-9 hours sleep on the highest quality bed. A sleep deficiency or poor quality of sleep can have devastating effects on a persons body, emotions and overall health. In fact, a poor nights sleep could be leaving you stressed and craving sugar. A lack of quality sleep could actually be making you fat!

Place your health and wellness on the top of your priority list starting today. You deserve it. Commit to regular chiropractic care and ensure the optimal function of your nervous system. Implement a healthy eating plan and exercise routine. Finally, get your sleep. Shoot for 7-9 hours of sleep on the highest quality bed you can afford.

I am Dr. Shaun Stuto. This is “Your Health.” I wish you a life of abundant health!

Dr. Shaun Stuto is a chiropractor near 59801|chiropractor near 59801 and the founder of Transormation Chiropractic in Missoula, MT. Call TODAY and Schedule an appointment (406) 728-1250

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