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Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Help with Sleep Apnea?

5/30/2025

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Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Help with Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is more than just loud snoring or waking up tired—it's a serious health condition that can interfere with your breathing, reduce oxygen flow to the brain, and raise your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

While CPAP machines and lifestyle changes are often part of the treatment plan, many people are exploring complementary options that address the root cause of dysfunction in the body. One such avenue?
Upper cervical chiropractic care.
​

At Healthy Living Spinal Care in Hickory, NC, Dr. Joey Miles is helping patients from Hickory, Lenoir, Conover, Lincolnton, Statesville, and nearby communities discover how the alignment of the top vertebrae in the neck may play a larger role in breathing—and potentially, sleep quality—than most people realize.
​

Understanding Sleep Apnea


There are two primary types of sleep apnea:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Caused by the relaxation of throat muscles that block airflow.
  • Central Sleep Apnea: A neurological issue where the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Some people also experience
complex sleep apnea, a combination of both. Common symptoms include:
​
  • Loud, chronic snoring
  • Gasping or choking during sleep
  • Daytime fatigue and irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Morning headaches

While sleep apnea is often linked to weight, age, or anatomical structure (like a narrow airway), another contributing factor is often overlooked--
the upper cervical spine’s impact on nervous system function and airway control.

What Is the Upper Cervical Spine?


The
upper cervical spine includes the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae—the top two bones in your neck. They support the skull, protect the brainstem, and allow for head movement. This area is particularly important because it houses and protects the brainstem, which acts as a communication highway between the brain and the body.

Even subtle misalignments in this region can lead to:
​
  • Disrupted nerve signaling
  • Changes in muscle tone in the throat and airway
  • Impaired regulation of breathing patterns
  • Increased tension or compression affecting sleep posture

That’s where upper cervical chiropractic comes into the picture.

How Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Help?

How Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Help?

Upper cervical chiropractic care is different from traditional chiropractic. It’s highly focused on the alignment of the atlas and axis, and adjustments are extremely gentle and precise. At Healthy Living Spinal Care, Dr. Joey Miles uses advanced imaging and measurements to detect misalignments and provide customized care that supports optimal nervous system function.

Here’s how this may benefit those struggling with sleep apnea:
​

1. Supports Brainstem Function


Since the brainstem plays a central role in regulating
autonomic functions like breathing, correcting interference in the upper cervical spine may help improve the brain’s ability to send consistent, accurate signals to respiratory muscles—potentially reducing episodes of central sleep apnea.
​

2. Improves Airway Muscle Control


Proper nerve communication ensures that the muscles in your throat, soft palate, and tongue function appropriately. Misalignments in the upper neck may contribute to
abnormal muscle tone, which can lead to airway collapse during sleep. Restoring balance at the top of the spine could promote better control of airway patency.
​

3. Reduces Tension in the Neck and Jaw


Tight muscles and postural imbalances in the neck or jaw can affect
sleep position and airway openness. Upper cervical care may relieve undue tension and promote better alignment, helping the airway remain more open at night.
​

4. Promotes Natural Sleep Cycles


When nerve interference is reduced, the body can shift out of “fight or flight” mode and into “rest and repair.” Patients under upper cervical care often report
deeper, more restorative sleep, even if they don’t suffer from diagnosed sleep apnea.
​

Who Can Benefit?


While upper cervical chiropractic care is not a cure for sleep apnea, it may be a helpful addition to a comprehensive treatment plan—particularly for:
​
  • Individuals with central or mixed sleep apnea
  • Those with no response or limited tolerance to CPAP therapy
  • People who experience sleep apnea-like symptoms but haven’t found an identifiable cause
  • Patients who prefer a non-invasive, drug-free approach to supporting nervous system function

Dr. Joey Miles will work closely with your healthcare providers to ensure your care plan is
safe, coordinated, and tailored to your health goals.
​

What to Expect from Care


At
Healthy Living Spinal Care, your first visit will include a thorough consultation, posture analysis, and advanced imaging to assess the alignment of your upper cervical spine. If misalignment is found, a personalized adjustment plan is created to gently restore balance to your spine and nervous system.

Adjustments are:

  • Precise – Based on individualized imaging
  • Gentle – No twisting, cracking, or popping
  • Effective – Focused on long-term correction, not temporary relief

Most patients find upper cervical adjustments to be surprisingly relaxing—and many report improvements in sleep, breathing, and energy levels within weeks of beginning care.
​

Take the Next Step Toward Better Sleep


Sleep apnea doesn’t just leave you tired—it puts your long-term health at risk. If you’re ready to explore new ways to support your breathing, energy, and sleep quality,
upper cervical chiropractic care might be the missing piece.

If you're in Hickory, NC or surrounding areas like Lenoir, Conover, Lincolnton, and Statesville, Dr. Joey Miles is here to help you breathe better, sleep deeper, and feel like yourself again—naturally.
​

Medical Disclaimer


​This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with your physician or a licensed sleep specialist for diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. Chiropractic care is not a substitute for medical treatment but may be used as a complementary approach.
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How To Manage A Pinched Nerve With A Chiropractor for Migraines In Hickory

Neck pain in Hickory, or soreness in other parts of your body, can come from a variety of different sources. These range from arthritis to tendonitis to torn cartilages in your joints. This also doesn’t include the variety of other conditions that have back pain in Hickory as a common symptom. One common such example is getting a pinched nerve in the upper part of the spine, also known as cervical radiculopathy. This generally occurs when bone spurs start to appear around the discs in the spine. When everything is working well, the discs should absorb the shocks between each individual vertebra. A bone spur is a small bit of bone that is formed as we age and discs get weaker. When things go properly, bone spurs support the vertebrae as they get weaker, However, in some cases, those spurs press on nerve roots, leading to other symptoms.
 
Symptoms of Pinched Nerves
How do you tell that the soreness you are dealing with stems from a pinched nerve? No matter what area it’s in, you’re going to need to have an in-depth exam of the affected area to be absolutely certain. As an example, a pinched nerve is generally localized in one area. Another thing to note is that these are normally very sharp soreness. By comparison, if you simply overexerted a muscle, the sensation would likely be a duller strain. In some cases, a pinch may never have any other symptoms. Some people feel a sensation of pins and needles in a certain area. Others may feel numbness or weakness when trying to lift something.
 
Depending on where you feel your symptoms and the exact nature of them, your medical professional may be able to determine if it is a pinched nerve or not quite quickly. Generally, though, an exam will still be administered. These start by testing sensitivity, strength, and reflexes. You may be told to do different stretches and movements to determine what leads to symptoms and what relieves them. You’ll also likely need to provide details about your pain. For example, be sure to have a record of when the pain started, and any activities that you do that cause soreness to flare up. If it is soothed by certain activities, be sure to mention those as well. Your doctor might also ask if you have had other health changes or recently increased your physical activities. If the spinal nerves are impacted, they can manifest in surprising ways, like bladder and bowel issues.
 
Say that your standard exam isn’t enough to get to the root of these issues. Your doctor may instead decide to do imaging tests to figure out what’s causing the pinched nerve and where it is. This is mostly administered through X-rays or MRI scans. An X-ray can showcase details going on with your bones, but won’t show your discs and nerves. With this said, they can be useful for determining if you have narrow vertebrae or bone spurs. An MRI is able to do more, showing how healthy your nerves and discs are in detail. In some cases, an X-ray may be done to a certain area to check for bone injury. Lastly, if the issue is due to injured ligaments or tendons, an ultrasound may be needed.
 
Working With Your Fibromyalgia Chiropractor In Hickory
So, if you suspect that a pinched nerve is behind your soreness, or know it for a fact, what can you do? One asset that you have is doing a posture adjustment. To start, try and find a position that helps you feel comfortable with your soreness. After this, you can adapt your lifestyle and living spaces to help you stay in that posture as much as possible. For a lot of people, doing this in the workplace is a major source of problems. One way to get around this is by using a standing workplace. These help prevent pinched nerves, treat existing ones, and just lower overall soreness. You can either ask the HR department to modify your existing space or buy your own.
 
Another thing to note is that whenever you are dealing with a pinched nerve, you want to make sure that you are as rested as possible, along with lowering any activity that leads to soreness. Try and keep the cycle of rest going until your symptoms subside. After this, you can begin to start testing things together. For certain types of issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be able to use a splint to protect your wrist.
 
You have a lot of options that you can do at home to help lower soreness from pinched nerves. For example, a gentle stretch can help provide relief, but you don’t want to overextend yourself. Focus on smaller movements, and if you find yourself getting sore again, try and do something less intensive. Think about applying heat to your muscles in the affected area to help them loosen. Heat also supports healing by promoting blood flow. Generally, you want to apply it for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can also do ice instead if you prefer. Simply get some ice, wrap it in a washcloth, and apply it to the area for 10-15 minutes as well.
 
If you want additional help, consider looking into NSAIDs. These can help quite a bit with mild soreness and can be brought over the counter. With that said, just make sure that you read and stick to the recommended dosage. These aren’t going to be able to provide total coverage as well. If you find that you’re dealing with consistent, extreme, or repeated soreness, reach out to a medical professional. On top of performing the exams before, they may be able to provide a prescription for more powerful medication. They may also recommend a specialist like a chiropractor in Hickory. This will help you get the treatment you need.

Healthy Living Spinal Care
1055 13th St., SE , Hickory, NC 28602

828-485-2990

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