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Migraine – so much more than just a headache!

As we head into Migraine Awareness Week (3rd to 8th September), here are a few facts about this disabling condition that might surprise you:

  • Migraine is the world’s third most common illness, suffered by one in seven people across the globe and eight million people here in the UK;
  • Migraines affect twice as many women as men and can also strike at young children;
  • Most sufferers have an average of 13 attacks a year, lasting between four hours and three days;
  • The World Health Organisation (WHO) categorises chronic migraines as more disabling than blindness, paraplegia, angina or rheumatoid arthritis;
  • The illness costs the UK around £2.25 billion per annum, taking into account the cost of medication and the 25 million days of sick leave!

(Sources: Migraine Trust/ Migraine Action)

 What is migraine?

Migraine is, therefore, an absolute headache in every sense of the word. But more than that, it’s actually a complex neurological condition that can affect the whole body. Usually (but not always) there’s a painful headache preceded or accompanied by disturbed vision or aura. This can present with, for example, flashing lights, blind spots, zig zag patterns, pins and needles, numb limbs, confusion and difficulty in speaking. Not all sufferers experience aura, and other common symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound and smells. Attacks can vary in frequency and severity with an often enormous impact on someone’s work, family and social lives.

There is no known cause or, sadly, any cures currently on the horizon. What we do know is that most sufferers have a genetic predisposition and that their migraines can be triggered by one or more factors – stress, alcohol intake, the environment, hormones (women) and lack of food or sleep. It’s no longer helpful just to blame chocolate, cheese and red wine, and the best way of pinpointing your particular triggers is to keep a daily ‘migraine diary’.

Professor Peter Goadsby, Professor of Neurology, King’s College London, describes migraine as “an inherited tendency to have headaches with sensory disturbance. It’s an instability in the way the brain deals with incoming sensory information, and that instability can become influenced by physiological changes like sleep, exercise and hunger”.  (Source: Migraine Trust).

Best treatments for migraine

Most treatments focus on controlling the pain, severity and frequency of attacks via the use of medication.

Having said that, complementary therapies such as Western medical acupuncture – piercing the body with fine, sterile needles at certain points to regulate pain – has had some success in reducing the need for medication and the frequency of attacks..1 This approach has been endorsed by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), particularly for patients who do not respond to certain medications.

Osteopathy is also popular because it helps relieve symptoms whilst understanding and addressing the underlying, sometimes multifactorial, factors involved. The treatment utilises a variety of osteopathic techniques.

Kind words from migraine sufferers

I’ve seen many patients struggling with migraines.  One said:

“I had been suffering from headaches since childhood. Over the years, these had become more frequent and debilitating to the point where it was most unusual for me to have a day free of headache. Headaches became migraines and I felt ‘better’ when the migraines had retreated to the state of ‘mere’ headaches.

I was recommended to Robin who set about releasing the tension in my upper back and neck through a series of manipulations and cranial massage. He also gave me some shoulder and neck exercises to do at home. I was asked to keep a ‘headache diary’ showing severity and frequency in order to plot any improvements.

After around 5 or 6 sessions the headaches became less severe and didn’t turn so readily into migraines. About 8 weeks into treatment I had a major headache which, when it subsided, disappeared completely. Thereafter I began to get not only headache-free days, but headache-free weeks. The cycle had been broken.”

So if you’re suffering from migraines why not book an appointment with me to see what can be done to alleviate the symptoms and cause of your migraines.

 

1 Migraine Trust/Vickers A. et al. Acupuncture for chronic headache in primary care: large, pragmatic, randomised trial BMJ 2004;328;744-9.

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Taking Mindfulness back to basics

‘Mindfulness’ has become quite the buzzword in recent years.  A quick Amazon search revealed over 100,000 items across books, CDs, activity kits including colouring books, daily task sets and so on.  So big business.  And thereby lies my issue with it.

At a most basic level mindfulness is simply about paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you.  Something that’s easy to overlook in our fast paced lives with so many calls on our time and distractions to hand – particularly electronic ones.  But mindfulness can have huge benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing.

The problem is that this very simple practice has, in my opinion, been highjacked by commerciality.  One could be forgiven for thinking that in order to benefit from mindfulness, one requires a darkened room and candle.  Or perhaps a lycra outfit and an App.  As a minimum.  But that’s simply not the case and I’d hate for people to be put off from giving it a go because they feel they don’t have the necessary ‘paraphernalia’.

Keep it simple

I swim regularly.  I go to the pool and swim lengths.  And this is an excellent time for mindfulness.    I keep count of the lengths, notice my breathing patterns, my form and the feel of the water.  I don’t think about anything else.  There is no room to do so.  This provides a refreshing break for both body and mind.  But it would work equally well were I to use my dog walking time to notice the world around me.

Tips for Mindfulness

As I said, it’s all about being in the moment:

  • Start by bringing awareness to your senses: notice what you can you see, smell, taste, touch and hear? This is a really helpful way to keep yourself in the moment.
  • If your mind wanders, just notice it and gently bring it back to your senses.
  • Try this for just a few minutes at a time but during that time, try to get completely absorbed in your awareness of the moment.

When we fill our awareness in this way there is no room in our minds for worry or rumination.  Which is a good thing and can lead to decreased stress and anxiety, better management of the emotions and enhanced mental health and cognition.

So why not give it a go?  You may be heading off on holiday soon and a walk on the beach or a swim in the pool could be the ideal starting point for your mindfulness journey.

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The body-mind detective and the case of the referred pain

There are many things that can go wrong with the human body. Hardly surprising, given its 206 bones, 600 muscles, 900 ligaments and 100 billion nerve cells, plus the 12 major organs.  All with the potential to be adversely affected by accidents, injuries, postural issues, bad habits and general wear and tear.  Not to mention state of mind, environmental factors and genetic inheritance.

So it’s perhaps unsurprising that the symptom that initially prompts a patient to make their tat first Osteopathy appointment isn’t necessarily the cause of the issue. For example, with lower back pain, it’s possible that the real problem lies in the neck but is felt elsewhere thanks to connective tissue chains running throughout the body. Similarly, knee issues could be referred pain from a hip or foot problem.

Holistic approach

I believe in treating the person and not just the problem they present with.  But with increasing pressure on GPs there is unfortunately not always time for this on the NHS.  But this ‘body-mind detective’ role – systematically locating and treating the root cause of often very complex problems – is one I greatly enjoy!

I have the time to take a full history to build up a picture of my patient’s routines and habits to see where things might be going awry. With headaches or migraine sufferers for example, I quiz them about their diet, sleep patterns, how often they exercise and how they feel emotionally.

I can also employ several additional techniques to determine the cause of a patient’s symptoms:

  • Naturopathy – based on the idea that the human body knows best how to heal itself naturally. We work with patients to identify factors that may be undermining their health and develop an individual plan to tackle problem areas.
  • Autogenic training – a potent relaxation therapy with powerful abilities in restoring, healing and developing mind and body. We teach patients a set of lifelong skills and exercises to use whenever and wherever they want.
  • Western Acupuncture – fine needles target trigger points associated with certain ailments to help with pain relief and so on.
  • Low Level Laser Therapy (or LLLT) –  low power or ‘cold’ laser light is used on problem areas to alter cellular function, improve outcomes and speed up the body’s natural healing process.

Kind words

I’ve seen many patients who have been struggling with an issue for a long time.  One had this to say:

“Robin’s treatments have helped reduce my back and neck pain which had plagued me for years. He has taught me how to reduce re-occurrences through exercise and lifestyle change – I was very despondent before I came to see him and he continues to help me hugely; I’m very grateful.”

So if you’re suffering from anything from a niggle to a nightmare in your back, neck, shoulders, elbows or knees why not book an appointment to see if we can solve the case and identify the source of your problem?  Then we can work together to improve your overall health as well as relieve pain.

 

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Hot weather and subsidence – what’s actually going on in your body?

Happily, this long run of glorious weather looks set to continue for at least another month. But it’s got me thinking about a favourite analogy that I use in clinic which, oddly enough, relates to subsidence!

Homeowners in London will be only too aware of this pest, which occurs when the ground moves downwards beneath a building’s foundations causing it to sink. It commonly occurs when the clay soil (on which most of the South East is built) shrinks, thanks to an extended period of dry weather and is made worse by the presence of tree roots desperately searching out moisture. Older houses built on clay with minimal or no foundations are particularly at risk.

Interestingly, the first signs of subsidence are not, as you might imagine, in the lower floors but at the top, where small cracks appear and doors refuse to close properly. So, although the problem is under the house, the symptoms themselves appear higher up!

What’s all this about subsidence? 

The same is true of the human body. For example, you might have pain in your head or neck, not realising that the real cause of the problem lies in your lower back. I see this frequently. It can be confusing but, with careful and patient detective work, we get to the bottom of what’s going on. One of my patients, 28-year-old DM, came to me suffering with lower back pain but, as you’ll see, from the testimonial below, it didn’t take long to realise that the real problem lay further down:

“Robin was recommended to me by a work colleague after I suffered severe lower back pain on my right side. During my first visit, Robin confirmed my lower back was locking and going into spasm. After giving Robin information about a long term knee problem, he worked out I was weight bearing onto my right side to avoid pressure on my left knee, which was aggravating my lower back. I was given successful treatments on my lower back but was told this would be only a temporary solution. Robin suggested we address the main problem – my left knee.

I was very sceptical at first – I’ve had constant knee pain for the past 9 years. I have seen numerous physiotherapists, none of which have made any difference. I’d almost accepted the fact that I was going to have to live with the pain.

However, Robin started the treatment and to my amazement, very quickly, I noticed a difference to my knee. I started to feel a lot more stable, more confident, a lot less pain – I was even able to walk without my knee giving way. My quality of life has changed dramatically.

I have started skipping, playing tennis and even dancing, which I haven’t been able to do in 9 years. My lower back has also been fine. Thanks Robin!”

So, if in this hot weather you feel that cracks are starting to appear, please do get in touch.

 

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GDPR – How the soft opt-in relates to our practice

In the final days of the rush to comply with the much-anticipated GDPR legislation ahead of the 25th May deadline, we discovered a ‘soft opt-in’ ICO clause.

In plain English, this clause says is that if you give me verbal approval (during a Consultation, say) for me to send you my newsletter – in which there is always an ‘unsubscribe’ option – then your actual ‘opt-in’ written permission is not required after all, which is a great relief to everyone!

The actual wording – and this is taken from Page 2 of the GDPR Advice Sheet: Communicating with Patients (©Technology Tamed Limited 2018) headed ‘Marketing to Existing Patients’ – is:

‘The ICO has produced some specific guidance on communicating with existing “customers”, confirming that in most cases you do NOT have to contact your existing patients before May 25th to obtain their explicit permission to continue communicating with them.

This is what the ICO says: “131. Although organisations can generally only send marketing texts or emails with specific consent, there is an exception to this rule for existing customers, known as the ‘soft opt-in’. This means organisations can send marketing texts or emails if: · they have obtained the contact details in the course of a sale (or negotiations for a sale) of a product or service to that person; · they are only marketing their own similar products or services; and · they gave the person a simple opportunity to refuse or opt out of the marketing, both when first collecting the details and in every message after that.” *

Although this is not mentioned specifically in the GDPR Regulation text the ICO has confirmed that soft opt-in is permitted under GDPR. This means you may continue to email or text existing patients to tell them about new goods and services such as new therapists joining your practice as this would be deemed to be soft opt-in.

Note that you must provide a simple method for your patient to opt-out of receiving further marketing communications. This means having a clear option to unsubscribe from marketing emails (which is easy to do if you use a program such as Mailchimp) and in text messages giving the option for the patient to reply using a term such as “STOP” to remove them from the marketing database.’

You may remember that the ICO is short for the Information Commissioner’s Office, an independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.

I hope that’s clear for everyone and that we can now all move forward in the knowledge that we are all compliant!

* Source: https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1555/direct-marketing-guidance.pdf

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Ringing the little changes

 

Sometimes the symptom that patients presents with can be almost a red herring. Which is where my approach of treating the person as a whole, not necessarily just the symptom, can prove invaluable.  Recently, for example, a patient came in with lower back pain. The lower back is influenced by muscle and fascial (connective tissue) chains, both above and below where the symptoms are felt.  In this case, the upper back was affecting the lower and the neck was affecting the upper back. But a very simple change to the patient’s pillow brought improvements to the upper back, which in turn improved the lower back. All of which got me thinking about the small changes that can make a big difference.

It’s very easy to get into bad habits when sleeping, working and or at leisure. Usually, we don’t even realise what we’re doing until niggling back or neck pain becomes a constant companion. But there are a few little changes that can be surprisingly effective.

Spotlight on….your pillows

If you frequently wake up with a stiff, sore or painful neck (cervicalgia) or suffer with persistent headaches, your pillow(s) and/or sleeping position could be to blame.

Containing seven of the spine’s 33 vertebrae, your neck has to work hard 24/7. For a start, it supports a head that weighs in at a hefty 4.5-5.5 kilos (10-12lbs) when upright. It gets some relief when you’re horizontal (and hopefully asleep) but it still needs help. Your pillows should retain their shape and offer proper support to keep both head and neck correctly aligned, with your spine in the same position as if you were upright.

But like Goldilocks, you need to be choosy. Beware pillows that are too soft (causing a curvy, floppy neck), while an overly hard one will give you a pain in the neck. Too many pillows cause the spine to curve upwards while those that are too low make the spine curve downwards.

There are many different types of pillows with a wide variety of fillings – synthetic fibres, foams or down and feathers.  Also specially moulded neckcare pillows.

How to buy and use pillows

  • Avoid sleeping on your stomach – this position twists/strains the neck;
  • Test pillows before buying and check labels for quality assurance;
  • Choose fillings carefully – some people react badly to down or feathers;
  • Replace pillows every two or three years.

When I advised my patient to trade in his thin, worn pillow for a new, supportive one, he was reluctant at first but it made a huge difference. Here’s what he had to say:

“It took about four days to get used to it and I can’t believe the difference it has made to the way I feel when I wake up. My neck and shoulders are now incredibly flexible and free every morning.”

Are you sitting actively?

Do you have a job where you sit down all day? Are you slumped over a computer or laptop? Do you leave the office with tight shoulder muscles and a stiff neck?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to at least one question, Active or Dynamic Sitting – where your seating allows or encourages you to move – could increase your stability and strengthen your core abdominal muscles.

A rocking chair with its back and forth motion is a basic example but, nowadays, there many different seats designed to improve postural health. They work by continually adjusting your body’s movements to engage your core and help you maintain correct posture. These include the ‘Swopper Chair’. I not only highly recommend this, but use it myself. It adapts itself to me, not the other way round, and keeps me moving at all times for optimum health. I’ve mentioned this in a previous blog and you can read about it here.

 

Laptops – blessing or curse?

Today, most of our working and leisure time is spent slouched in front of a screen of one sort or another.

Laptops are the worst culprits. Unlike most desktops, the laptop screen is lower than eye level and we move our head down and forward so our eyes are optimally positioned. This results in hunching and tight muscles at the front of the neck and chest.

You should always be aware of how you are sitting and moving. It’s also important to review your desk set up and computer use. For extended computer sessions, use a desktop or a place your laptop on a desk. The next step is to raise your screen, using a specially designed and adjustable laptop stand or riser – or even a pile of books under your laptop – so that your eye level is around one third down from the top of the screen. This position moves your head up and back naturally, so you feel more comfortable, less hunched and your chest is more open. If you do buy a laptop riser, think about how portable it is (if you need to take it to work, for example) and how easily you can adjust it to your own requirements. The example below, which is both lightweight and portable, prevents undue neck strain although you would probably need to purchase a second keyboard. Or you could check out this example which is available on Amazon. Finally, if you’d like to explore how we can help you to make those little changes, please get in touch.

 

 

 

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IS THE WEATHER MAKING YOU SAD?

The clocks have gone back and as well as signalling the onset of shorter days, it can also trigger what has affectionately been dubbed the ‘Winter Blues’ – or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

But what is SAD, how do I know I have it and what can be done to tackle it?


What is SAD?

SAD is often known as ‘Winter depression’ or the ‘Winter blues’ and this mainly due to most sufferers experiencing symptoms during the winter months, although there are some cases where SAD sufferers experience it all year.

Typically, symptoms begin in Autumn as the days begin to get shorter and increase to their most severe point during the Winter months – December to February, often improving as spring begins and fading completely during the Summer months. This can continue in a repetitive fashion year after year.

And, the reason seasonal change has a link to SAD is because one of the main factors behind this condition is thought to be linked to our exposure to natural sunlight.


What are the Symptoms? 

As with most conditions, symptoms vary and not everyone will experience the same symptoms, or indeed all of them. However, they can include:

  • A continuous low mood
  • Feeling lethargic, with a lack of energy and desire to perform normal daily tasks
  • Sleep problems – falling asleep during the day, but unable to sleep at night
  • Anxiety, irritability, not wanting to interact with people
  • Depression or feelings of despair, worthlessness or guilt
  • Craving carbohydrates, sweet foods which can then lead to weight gain
  • Loss of libido or interest in physical contact

For some these symptoms, can have a serious effect on their daily lives, leaving them unable to perform even the simplest of tasks.


What is the cause?

While the exact cause of SAD is still not fully understood, it is often linked to the reduction of exposure to sunlight which is why it is more prevalent in the Winter months.

The prominent theory is that the lack of sunlight during this period, may stop a part of the brain called hypothalamus working properly, and which in turn may affect the:

  • production of melatonin– melatonin is a hormone that makes you feel sleepy; In SAD sufferers, the body may produce it in higher than normal levels
  • production of serotonin – serotonin is the hormone that affects your appetite, mood, appetite and sleep patterns – therefore a lack of sunlight may lead to lower levels of serotonin, which has been linked to feelings of depression
  • body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) – your body uses sunlight as its internal clock, triggering time for various important functions, such as when you wake up. Therefore, lower light levels during the winter may disrupt this and lead to symptoms of SAD

In addition, there is some indication that genes also play a factor in making some people more vulnerable to the symptoms of SAD, as in some cases it has appeared to run in the family.


What can be done to combat SAD?

There are a range of treatments that those suffering with SAD can explore to reduce the symptoms, and help those with severe cases to regain some normality to their daily routines.

These include:

  • lifestyle changes – including increasing the amount of natural sunlight you receive as possible, exercising regularly, eating a better diet and managing your stress levels;
  • light therapy – where a special lamp called a light box is used to simulate exposure to sunlight. There are many different versions available on the market.
  • talking therapies – such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling
  • medication – if your symptoms do not improve your GP or medical professional may suggest a course of medication, such as an anti-depressant.

If you feel like you are experiencing symptoms of SAD, and wish to discuss with us more detail the ways in which we could help, please get in contact today via email or by telephoning 020 8815 0979.

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Taking the strain out of neck pain

Teenagers constantly checking their mobile phones, employees hunched over computer screens all day and silver surfers feeling the after-shocks of years spent at a desktop, the sharp discomfort of ‘tech neck’ can strike at any age.  Neck pain associated with badly positioned screens in offices, sedentary lifestyles and looking down – attractively double-chinned – at mobile phones is common in this tech focussed world, and can become uncomfortable.

According to The Institute of Osteopathy, tight neck and upper back muscles, stiff joints, and trapped nerves are common effects of spending too long being hunched over screens, and if left untreated, can cause splintering pains through the shoulders and hands. But there are some simple adjustments that could make a difference:

  • Set the computer screen so that’s it at eye level
  • Do some simple neck exercise through the day
  • Make sure that a lunch break gives the neck, as well as the mind, a rest, by getting away from that screen
  • Drink plenty of water through the day – the discs between the vertebrae in the spine consist mainly of water so keeping hydrated will ensure they stay healthy.

And if the problem persists?  Occupational therapies like osteopathy can be successful in helping with the symptoms through the use of gentle manipulations, soft tissue massaging, and joint movement.

Robin Kiashek has over 20 years’ experience of Osteopathy and allied therapies and offers safe, gentle and effective treatment for a wide range of patients. There are some fantastic testimonials from people who came to see Robin with upper back and neck pain here.

So, whether you’re a serial surfer, or a deskbound double-chinner, there are things you can do to lessen the discomfort of ‘tech neck’.  And if you’d like to discuss how Osteopathy might help you specifically then please do get in touch with Robin.

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What we could learn from our pets

Have you noticed how your cat and dog always have a good stretch when they wake from a nap?

Well maybe we should follow suit because when we sleep we lie in the same position for an extended period and this can lead to stiff muscles that become tight through the lack of movement.  So if we were to act like the animals and start the day with a stretch it would really help to:

 

  • Loosen and realign muscles
  • Iron out any kinks from sleeping in an odd position
  • Signal the brain that it’s time to get up and start using those muscles again
  • Get the circulation going.

And since we start the day all warm after our night under the duvet, the body is already at a temperature ideal for effective stretching.

Stretch it out

Stretching is in fact one of the best ways to keep your muscles healthy, here’s how:

  • Regular stretching strengthens muscles and increases flexibility
  • Increased flexibility in turn benefits joints
  • Both of which will give a better range of motion for day-to-day activities

In fact, stretching daily as a stand-alone activity can boost muscle and joint health, decrease the risk of day-to-day injury by improving flexibility, reduce tension and improve posture.

And while the ‘morning stretch’ so readily employed by our furry friends is a great way to wake up and get going, a more targeted stretching routine for specific parts of the body will have the greatest benefit to you muscle and joints.

Boost your energy

Stretching at work can also help to avoid repetitive strain injuries that are caused by many office-based duties, as well as boost your energy! Simple overhead arm stretches or leg raises under the desk are a great way to start, but don’t be afraid to get up and do a few squats to get your circulation going too.  Here’s my five tips to get a better stretch:

 

  1. Make sure to stretch evenly on both sides of the body
  2. Hold each stretch for about 30 seconds
  3. Never bounce while you stretch
  4. Focus on the different muscle groups – shoulders, neck, calves, thighs, hips, arms and the lower back.
  5. Breathe! Exhale while going into a stretch and then hold it as you inhale.

And if you are still feeling the strain, and are starting to feel a little stiffness in your neck, arms or lower body then why not consider a course of osteopathy to aid the release of this tension and provide relief from bad posture and tight muscles?

Get in touch to find out more

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SLEEP TIGHT, SLEEP RIGHT

Hints and tips for achieving a better night’s sleep.  For a happier, healthier you.

Sleep is a hugely popular topic of conversation. And with over 60% of us unhappy with the amount of shuteye we get* it’s not surprising that it’s often the first thing we discuss with our partners in the morning – especially when young children are involved! Read on to find out why sleep is so important, how our bodies can be affected when we don’t get enough and some top tips for getting a blissful night’s rest.

*Dreams UK Sleep Survey 2016

Why is a good night’s sleep so important?

Sleep plays a significant role in brain development and is essential to maintaining cognitive skills such as speech, memory and innovative and flexible thinking. It’s also vital in protecting our physical health.

And whilst most of us know that a lack of sleep often leaves us feeling grumpy and sluggish, how many of us realise the huge impact it can have on other areas of our lives, including our physical and emotional health?

Tell-tale physical signs

The physical impact of not achieving the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night can bring a range of issues:

  • Sallow skin;
  • Dark circles under the eyes;
  • A lowered immune system;
  • Increased chances of developing chronic illness such as diabetes and heart disease;
  • Imbalance in the hormones that tell us whether we are hungry or full, which could result in weight gain;
  • Reduced energy levels;
  • Higher insulin levels which could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes;
  • Decreased ability to heal, build muscle mass or repair cells and tissues;
  • Back and neck issues from poor sleep positioning;

Emotionally drained

But the impact of poor sleep isn’t limited to physical issues, it can also have a significant emotional effect:

  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Irritation, anger or hostility
  • More easily annoyed
  • Fuzzy thinking and difficulty in making decisions
  • A lack of positivity
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Increased anxiety
  • Forgetfulness

Stress and sleep

Like sleep, or the lack of it, stress is another factor that affects many of us and I’ll be looking at this in more detail in my next newsletter. But increased stress levels can have a significant effect on the quality and quantity of sleep so it’s well worth considering whether you feel anxious and if you can pinpoint stress factors in your life that could be addressed.

What can I do?

So, what can you do to combat the signs of sleep deprivation and reduce the impact it has on your life? Here are some tips for getting that all important 8 hours:

  • Don’t go to bed on a full stomach – avoid heavy or large meals within a few hours of bedtime. They could lead to discomfort and keep you awake;
  • Avoid alcohol before bed – initially it may make you sleepy but can cause wakefulness after a couple of hours and make it difficult to get back off again;
  • Stop the stimulants – caffeine and nicotine are best avoided in the run up to bed time. The effects of caffeine can last for up to 8 hours, so that late afternoon coffee could be causing a problem;
  • Create a calm environment – cool, dark and quiet are the ideal elements to promote a good night’s sleep;
  • Develop a wind down routine – calming activities such as taking a bath, reading a book or performing relaxation techniques could all aid sleep;
  • Timing is key – try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day to re-inforce your body’s sleep/wake cycle;
  • Power down – switch off computers and phones at least an hour before bed;
  • Pillow perfection – make sure your pillow is the correct size and firmness for you. It should fit snuggly into your neck and shoulders so that it fully supports your head;
  • Check that mattress – the recommended lifespan of a mattress is eight years so it might be time for a trip to the shops;
  • It’s all about the base – Your mattress should suit your physical needs, which isn’t necessarily always a hard mattress, as is often the case. In addition, your mattress of choice also needs support. Placing a mattress on slats will not benefit the longevity of it. Consider investing in a divan which is itself sprung and onto which your mattress rests. This combination will be much more beneficial.

But if you are still feeling the effects of lack of sleep and need something extra to help you combat the impact this is having on your life, then why not come and see me?

As an Osteopath and Naturopath (with clinics in North London and Soho, Central London) registered with both The General Osteopathic Council and The British Naturopathic Association, I am committed to helping my patients achieve physical and emotional wellbeing.

I will work with you to address your presenting symptoms and to understand the cause of them. I will also support you to improve your overall health. Plus, there is some encouraging evidence which suggests that acupuncture has a role to play in helping people to deal with longstanding sleep problems and that might be something we could explore.

So why not get in touch today to find out how you can start the journey to a better night’s sleep?

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