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What sleeping position is best for you?

Chris Cooper • Jul 23, 2022

Your body repairs & restores itself when you sleep.

Your body repairs and restores itself when you sleep. Depending on how well it maintains the natural curve of your spine, your sleeping posture might either aid or hinder this process. People frequently experience brand-new aches and pains when they first get out of bed, sometimes as a result of their sleeping position.


We sleep or rest for a third of our lives, therefore it's critical to pick a sleeping posture that promotes physical recovery. While an unhealthy position might exacerbate discomfort or stiffness in the back, arms, or shoulders and result in poorer-quality sleep, a good sleeping position can reduce pressure on your spine.


Depending on your unique health state and what feels comfortable for you, the ideal sleeping posture encourages a healthy spine alignment from the hips to the top of the head.


Having said that, some are seen as healthier than others. Particularly, sleeping on the side or back is said to be healthier than doing so on the stomach. It's simpler to maintain your spine supported and balanced in either of these sleeping positions, relieving strain on the spinal tissues and allowing your muscles to unwind and heal.

Don't feel compelled to change your position, though, if sleeping on your stomach is comfortable to you. The correct mattress and pillow can reduce your risk of pain and enhance spinal alignment.


If you suffer from back pain, pregnancy, allergies, acid reflux, or any medical problem, changing sleeping positions can be beneficial to you. For more restful sleep under these circumstances, it can be worthwhile to attempt a different sleeping position.


It can take some time to become familiar to a new sleeping position, but it is achievable. Use pillows to assist your body to the new posture while being patient with yourself.


More than 60% of people sleep on their sides, with men sleeping on their sides for longer than women each night. We divided our evenings equally between all positions as children, but as adults, side sleeping becomes a definite preference. Because our spine's flexibility declines with age, side sleeping may be more comfortable for senior citizens.


The advantages of sleeping on your side are numerous. When supported by pillows, it encourages proper spinal alignment and is the sleeping position least likely to cause back pain. In addition, side sleeping may lessen snoring and heartburn, making it a preferable sleeping position for those who suffer from sleep apnea or acid reflux.


Pregnant women are advised to sleep on their side with their knees bent, according to experts. The strain of a growing tummy is relieved when resting on your side, allowing the heart to pump and the blood to circulate freely throughout the body. The left side is especially advised since it relieves pressure on the liver and promotes normal blood flow to the heart, kidneys and uterus.


You can occasionally switch to sleeping on your right side to reduce pressure on the left hip if sleeping on your left side during pregnancy causes you any discomfort. Pillows at the small of the back, between the knees, and under the belly can also help you relax.


On your side with a cushion or blanket placed between your knees is the ideal sleeping posture for lower back pain. Back or neck discomfort sufferers may find relief from their symptoms by sleeping on their sides.

A pillow's thickness should correspond to the space between your neck and shoulder. By using a thicker pillow, you can reduce stiffness and soreness while sleeping on your side and keep your neck in good alignment with your spine.


Please note: People with shoulder pain should avoid sleeping on their sides. When sleeping on your side, you run the risk of developing discomfort or tension in your shoulders, so it's a good idea to switch positions sometimes along with finding the right pillow and mattress for you. Make sure your mattress has enough give for your hips, shoulders, and upper spine to sink in deeper than the middle of your spine.


The second most frequent sleeping position is on the back, which offers many advantages over lying on one's side. Flat on your back, it's simple to maintain spinal alignment and distribute your weight evenly, avoiding any potential neck or back pain. As long as you prop yourself up in an upright position, sleeping on your back can also help you feel less congested from allergies or a stuffy nose.


The greatest sleeping position for neck pain is on the back since it avoids the misalignment that might happen when lying on one's side or stomach. Use a pillow that supports the neck while allowing your head to drop further to reduce neck pain. Good options include pillows made of memory foam or pillows with a head divot. You can also use a flatter pillow for your head and roll a cloth under your neck as an alternative.


Aim to keep your arms in similar positions when you are sleeping on your back. For instance, it is better to have both arms by your sides rather than one resting on your forehead because the unevenness in the spine might lead to shoulder or neck problems.


Use cushions to raise your upper back so you are more upright and avoid collapsing your spine if you have allergies or a stuffy nose. By adopting this posture, you can maintain an open airway and possibly empty your nose. Be careful not to lay flat on your back as this can exacerbate nasal congestion.


The worst sleeping position for those who snore or have sleep apnea is on their backs since doing so puts you at risk for an airway collapse. More than 50% of people have position-dependent sleep apnea, which means that lying on one's back makes the condition worse.


Additionally, while some people find relief from resting on their backs, others find that it makes their back pain worse. A tiny gap between your lower back and the mattress surface, which can result in painful tension in the lower back emerging depending on how firm your mattress is. You can fix this by putting a thin pillow there or, alternatively, by putting a pillow under your knees. In either case, you'll reduce pressure and preserve your spine's natural curve. Throughout the night, you can alternate between sleeping on your back and your side.


For pregnant women, it is not advised to sleep on their backs since the expanding baby may put additional strain on the heart and hinder blood flow. Additionally, those who have acid reflux should refrain from sleeping on their backs. In this position, acid reflux attacks become more common and can begin as quickly as a minute after transitioning to the back position.


Finally, as we age or gain weight, the pressure of gravity on the body makes it more difficult to breathe while lying on our backs. For elderly people and those who are heavy, switching to the side may be preferable.


The least preferred sleeping position is on one's stomach. According to research, less than 10% of the time we spend sleeping is in this position. There are certain advantages to stomach sleeping. Namely, by widening your airway as you sleep, the stomach position can aid to reduce snoring. However, because you must breathe against gravity in this posture, it may require more energy from you and make your sleep less restful.


The stomach position offers the least amount of back support of any sleeping position and puts more strain on the spine, which might occasionally result in pain when you wake up. Your neck and head will almost always twist out of line with the rest of your spine if you sleep on your stomach since you have to sleep with your head facing one side.


Your hips and stomach will sink into a soft mattress if it isn't firm enough which will make laying there uncomfortable and straining out your spine. Over time, your spine may suffer from this kind of uneven sleeping position.


Aches and pains are easily brought on by the stomach sleeping position if the proper pillow and mattress aren't used. Even yet, it is feasible to get a good night's rest in this position. If you like to sleep on your stomach, experiment with using a very thin pillow or none at all. By doing this, you can prevent further spinal misalignment and discomfort caused by tilting your neck back and upward. In order to further straighten your spine and ease pain, place a thin pillow beneath your hips.


Additionally, sleeping on your stomach might cause certain spinal alignment problems, which a firm mattress will help you avoid. If your mattress is firm, you won't likely sink too far into it and cause your spine to become out of alignment.


The ideal sleeping position for you is one that allows you to experience a restful night of undisturbed sleep and wake up feeling rejuvenated and pain-free. Don't feel pressured to alter your current sleeping position if that describes it. However, if you believe a different position could make sleeping more pleasant for you, try it out. Use the aforementioned techniques to aid in your self-adjustment to the new role while being patient.


The quality of your sleep is significantly influenced by your sleeping position. One of many methods you might attempt for better sleep is to switch things around.

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