Why your Osteo wants you to sleep

Did you know that sleep is good for you? You might be thinking well that’s obvious isn’t it? However, you might be surprised to hear that nearly 10% of the Australian adult population (that’s over 1.5 million people) suffer from some form of sleep disorder and are living with consistent, insufficient levels of sleep.

Now when you’ve come in to see us, or next time you’re in for a bodily complaint, we may have asked, or ask you about your sleeping habits. This is because as Osteos we pride ourselves on being thorough and delving into a person’s life to see what lifestyle factors could be contributing to their issue, pain or injury - it’s what makes us such awesome practitioners!

Lack of sleep, or sleep deprivation is just one important factor we will consider when conducting your initial consultation. Sleep is relevant for all types of complaints and seeing as it is Sleep Awareness Week between the 5-11 August this year, we thought we would write a little blog outlining the reasons why we want you to improve your sleep habits. We’ll keep this short, after all, we don’t want you falling asleep on us!

The benefits of sleep are numerous, complex and as with a lot of things to do with our amazing bodies, not yet fully understood. Some of the important benefits include:

1.     It helps to achieve peak physical health.

After a busy day running around after the kids, being in the gym pumping iron, shooting hoops on the basketball court, or working long hours on a computer — your body needs time to recover and repair from the days strains and stresses. Sleep is when a lot of this recovery takes place. If you want all the hard yakka in the gym to pay off, then make sure you get regular, high-quality sleep. During a deep sleep period, your body releases hormones which help your muscles to recover, strengthen and build mass. This is similar when recovering from injury. You might be asleep, but your body is still busy working away trying to put things right and keep you functioning for when you rise the next morning. Inadequate sleep has also been linked to increased rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease (including high blood pressure and stroke), kidney disease and diabetes. Being sleep deprived may also affect your immune system’s ability to fight off common colds and flus (which are in surplus during the winter months!)

2.     It helps to maintain healthy brain function and mental well-being.

Did you know that being well rested improves your ability to learn? And after a day of learning, a long sleep helps you to consolidate and reinforce what you have learned during the day. So, you’ve been to see your Osteo and they have you performing some new stability exercises for your shoulder or body rotation mobility exercises to help improve your golf swing. You’ve been practicing and practicing between sessions, and because you are sleeping well, your body is more likely to adapt and remember those movement patterns better than someone who is sleep deprived. You can expect to be more focused, creative and have better problem-solving skills if you are getting the Zzz’s in. You are also less likely to experience depression, mood swings and lack of motivation. Win, win, win!

3.     It helps you to stay safe.

Between the years 2013-2017, more people were killed in car accidents relating to tiredness and fatigue than those relating to alcohol and drug intoxication. But it isn’t just those on the roads who are at risk. Think about all those working in healthcare, coal mines, air flight, factories and other mechanical-related industries - fatigue is a potential killer for anyone! Even us Osteos need sleep (yes, it’s true!), so that we can safely manage our patient loads and be alert to any possible health problems that come through our door. A decent sleep allows us to be the best possible practitioner for you.

So next time you’re battling with yourself on whether to binge-watch your favourite TV series long into the night or go to bed, bed might be your preferred option (maybe just watch one episode… Or two). Then? Lights out!

Five immune-boosting tips

Winter is coming…

It’s that time of the year where you start to notice people sniffling, sneezing, coughing and blowing their noses. The colder weather always seems to bring with it an influx of cold and flu outbreaks doesn’t it?! Well the main reason for this is because your immune system isn’t quite firing on all cylinders, which means (particularly for the elderly and the very young) it cannot keep the nasties at bay like it could if it was fighting fit! We’ve outlined five things you can start to incorporate in your daily life to help get your immune system strong, so you can avoid time lost running around with the grandkids, playing for your team, or going to work… Yes you DO love to work!

1. EAT PLENTY OF NUTRIENT RICH FOODS:

It seems an obvious statement, but it really is that simple. Fill out your diet with foods rich in antioxidants (specifically those rich in vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals zinc and selenium). They help your body fight off those cell damaging ‘free radicals’ that naturally occur in the body as a result of the body using oxygen to function. Examples of antioxidant rich foods include fruit and vegetables (such as carrots, citrus fruits, capsicum, broccoli), almonds and brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, meat, shellfish and legumes.

2. GO GREEN:

No, we aren’t talking politics, we are referring to your choice of tea (a much less stressful choice don’t you think?!). Green tea is packed full of antioxidants called ‘catechins’ which have been shown to improve immune function. Green tea is steamed rather than fermented (like black tea) and so retains a higher antioxidant content than its black sibling. Green all the way!

3. EXERCISE REGULARLY:

It has been shown that regular, moderate-intensity exercise can help to strengthen your immune system by improving circulation of immune cells, allowing them to work more efficiently. But, too much high intensity exercise can have the opposite effect. So we suggest regularly going for a jog, swim, or gym session (whatever you love doing), but everything in moderation!

4. SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP:

It has happened to all of us. Early mornings, late nights, chaotic lifestyles, not enough hours in the day! The daily grind continues and then BOOM - you’re hit with a terrible cold. Your body needs sleep to recover, repair and strengthen. If you aren’t getting enough sleep on a regular basis, your immune system may weaken, leaving you unable to fight off those horrible germs. Aim for at least 7-9 hours of good sleep, every night.

5. ALWAYS FIND TIME TO LAUGH:

When you laugh, your ‘happy’ hormones are released and you ultimately feel good, providing a great way to escape daily stress. Prolonged stress can lead to your immune system becoming depressed and weakened, leaving you open to an array of health issues. We recommend at least 1000 laughs a day… Yeah OK we’re joking, but how about regularly taking in a comedy show? Or find other ways to de-stress, such as meditation, yoga and practicing mindfulness.

We hope we’ve helped you to see how important it is to have a high-flying immune system. Keep it strong and there’ll be nothing stopping you from leading an active, fulfilling life. Whatever your goal is, being able to look after the grandkids every week, or playing 80 minutes on the footy pitch, your Osteo will be able to advise you on ways to stay healthy, whatever the issue!

Fatigue - When to Worry?

Experiencing tiredness is not uncommon for a lot of us. Many of us have busy lives, juggling family, work and staying active. It’s hard and it’s tiring. Our bodies are pretty resilient, but there will always be a point where the body needs a break, giving you a sign to slow down and step back. This often results in the BEST night's sleep of your life and you wake up feeling refreshed and ready for it to all begin again.

But are you experiencing an extreme tiredness that no amount of sleep seems to remedy? If this is the case, then you are possibly suffering from fatigue relating to a medical condition. There is every chance you are experiencing some other symptoms too. Luckily, we are about to educate you on some of the common causes of fatigue, so you know what to look out for, and can nip it in the bud quick time…

1.     IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA: A common condition where you tire very quickly, feel heavy in the muscles, have a sore tongue and may develop brittle nails. Women with heavy periods are especially prone to this condition.

2.     HYPOTHYROIDISM: Also known as an ‘Underactive Thyroid’. You may experience weight gain, constipation, dry skin and muscle weakness. This one is also more common in women.

3.     DEPRESSION: You don’t just feel low with this condition. Depression may keep you awake at night, or wake you early in the morning, disturbing your sleep cycle and leaving you feeling exhausted!

4.     ANXIETY: In extreme cases where anxiety disrupts daily life, fatigue is often experienced alongside those uncontrollable feelings of irritability and worry.

5.     CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME: This is fatigue felt over extended periods of time (4-6 months +). You may also experience a general feeling of being unwell following exertion, headaches, muscle pain, sleep disturbance and loss of memory or concentration.

6.     GLANDULAR FEVER: A viral infection that can leave you feeling fatigued for months even after the infection has cleared. You may also experience a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, swollen tonsils, headache, fever and rash. Antibiotics are usually unsuccessful in treating this infection.

7.     DIABETES MELLITUS: Fatigue is a common symptom of all types of diabetes. Other symptoms to look out for include increased thirst, hunger and urination. Weight loss is another common symptom.

8.     COELIAC DISEASE: An autoimmune disease where the body reacts to gluten in the diet, leading to fatigue, diarrhoea or constipation, as well as bloating, wind, nausea and vomiting, weight loss or gain, and anaemia.

9.     SLEEP APNOEA: Imagine being constantly disrupted while you’re trying to sleep because your throat narrows or closes, which interrupts your breathing… You can see how you’d be exhausted constantly. You may be told you snore loudly, experience morning headaches and frequently wake up with a dry mouth or sore throat.

10.  RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME: This is the constant urge to move your legs at night, leading to poor quality sleep. Other symptoms include involuntary night time jerking, unpleasant crawling sensations and deep aching throughout the legs.

Now you know what to look out for, don’t put up with fatigue. Take notice of what your body is telling you and ultimately make sure you get your symptoms investigated through your GP. Luckily, your beloved osteo also trained to pick up on such things. We’ll make sure you get the correct referral you need if we suspect the reason for your sore muscles and joints is not just because you played a bit too hard on the weekend! Don’t worry, we have your back (no pun intended… Sort of)!