What Your Sleeping Posture Is Doing To Your Health

 

Guest post by Batool Ali

The importance of getting enough sleep each night is universally acknowledged; no doubt

about that.

It is necessary for proper functioning of the body and maintaining good physical as well

as mental health.

What is often not looked at is how the sleeping position you take on affects your health.

Yes, there are healthy ways of sleeping and some not so healthy ones.

 

“Sleeping on your back

is considered the

best possible way to sleep.”

 

On your back

What Your Sleeping Posture Is Doing To Your Health

This is the best possible way to sleep.

Sleeping on your back keeps your whole body comfortable.

Your head, neck and spine are properly aligned and in a neutral position.

This ensures that your back is not exposed to any kind of pressure.

The natural alignment works well for your body.

Besides the back being in a good position, sleeping on your back also prevents facial wrinkles

and  skin breakouts as well, and works against acid reflux.

The latter is due to the elevated position of the head and because the stomach is lying below

the esophagus, that does not allow the digested food to come up.

One drawback of sleeping on your back is that you might snore and you could be prone to

sleep apnea.

Also, if your arms are up it could cause shoulder pain due to the nerves being exposed to

extra pressure.

 

“Sleeping on your side

 has actually been termed

the second worse position

to sleep in.”

 

On your side
What Your Sleeping Posture Is Doing To Your Health

The problem of sleep apnea can be resolved by sleeping on your side instead of on your back.

In fact, this position is recommended for those with sleep apnea, neck and back pain as sleeping

on the side opens up their oropharynx and the spine feels elongated, reducing the symptoms.

According to a recent study, side sleeping is helpful for the brain.

Sleeping on your side also comes with disadvantages.

Skin aging is one result mainly because wrinkles develop due to one side of your face on the pillow.

Similarly, your breast may also sag due to the same reason.

That is not all.

When sleeping on your side, you could do so on your right or left.

 

“Although it may help with sleep apnea,

sleeping on your side may cause skin aging,

wrinkles, breast sagging and also 

strain internal organs .

 

Sleeping on the right means worsening heartburn while the left side, though prevents acid

reflux, also strains internal organs including liver, lungs and stomach.

It is advised for pregnant women to sleep on their left side as that helps with blood flow.

Then there is the fetal position, in which you are basically sleeping on your side only but

with your knees drawn up to your chest.

Although it feels very comfortable at that time, in the long term this position strains your

back and joints.

It is important for the shoulder and neck to be in proper alignment, and the opposite happens

when sleeping in this position.

This has actually been termed the second worse position to sleep in.

 

“There could not be a

worse position of sleeping

than on your stomach.

Refrain from this position

at all costs if you are prone to,

and looking to avoid,

backache and neck pain.”

 

On your stomach
What Your Sleeping Posture Is Doing To Your Health

There could not be a worse position of sleeping than on your stomach.

It causes your spine to overarch because the position is not in line with its natural curve

and leads to the joints and muscles being exposed to pressure, causing pain.

Until and unless you can breathe through the pillow, your neck has to be rotated on a side

and is in a tight position, making it difficult to breathe.

However, if you snore, you could try sleeping this way for some time since it helps in opening

up upper airways.

Just keep it this way for a short duration only.

Refrain from this position at all costs if you are prone to and looking to avoid backache and

neck pain.

 

“When all is said and done,

the sleeping position you assume

is really up to you because while a

particular posture might be comfortable

and beneficial for someone, you may 

not feel the same way about it.”

 

The sleeping position you assume is really up to you because while a particular posture

might be comfortable and beneficial for someone, you may not feel the same way about it.

Sleeping positions are not really thought of as per the health benefits they offer.

Rather, people opt for the posture they feel comfortable in and which allows them proper

and enough sleep.

What Your Sleeping Posture Is Doing To Your Health

It is a good idea to try out different postures to find out which one suits you the best.

And unless your doctor particularly instructs you not to sleep in a particular position,

it is probably okay for you to continue if you are comfortable that way and it doesn’t

cause physical pain.

 

About the Author:
Batool Ali is a passionate blogger who loves to write on health and medical related topics.

 

What is your favorite sleeping position?

Did anything read make you rethink your sleeping posture? 

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