Sleeping is the most fundamental aspect of human growth and it is important to make sure that you get at least four hours of deep sleep every day for the normal functioning of the body. However, there is more to this than just getting a shut eye.
You have to have the proper mattress, the proper mattress topper, the proper pillow and most importantly, the proper sleeping position.
This not only allows you to get your body to rest without being disturbed but also you wake up feeling fresh and without any parts of your body aching.
With that in mind, while there is no perfect sleeping position, here are a couple that can are okay with their pros and cons.
Back Sleeping
This is when you lay down with your back on the mattress. It is highly advocated for by most of the doctors because it helps to maintain the posture of the backbone and at the same time offers the least chance of straining the neck while you sleep. In most cases, the back which is the most important part while you sleep remains straight and hence helps to starve off fatigue.
Back sleeping is also easier on the mattress since it helps it play its role of supporting the spine much easier. This method is best adapted with the use of pillows as the neck is left in a neutral position. However, if you happen to use too many pillows, you can make breathing more difficult.
On the downside, snoring and sleep apnea are more frequent when a person sleeps on their back and the latter has been closely associated with sleeping on your back. This is because gravity forces the tongue to collapse into the airway.
Side Sleepers
This is the position that is used by most people albeit in different positions. There are those that simply sleep straight and there are those that curl up into the fetal position. This is a position that is usually advocated for by doctors especially for pregnant women because it does not put pressure on the lower back and sleeping on your stomach is impossible.
If you are not pregnant, research shows that sleeping on your left side can help to relieve heartburn and acid reflux hence you can doze of more easily.
On the other hand, sleeping on the left side will put pressure on your stomach and lungs and as you might have already found out if you are a side sleeper, it can lead to numbness in the arm if it is squished.
Other disadvantages of sleeping in this position include the fact that most of the weight of the body is supported by the shoulders and hence this can constrict the muscles on the neck and shoulders.
Should read: Mattress Topper for Back Pains
Stomach Position
It is not a favorite of many but regardless it has been found to ease some cases of snoring as well as sleep apnea but that is about the only good that sleeping in this position offers.
It is simply regarded as the worst sleeping position and very few prefer using it as it is also uncomfortable. It leaves the spine flat which can in turn to straining your lower back and also lower back pains. It also strains the neck since in most cases, your head will be turned to one side and this can result to a stiff neck when you wake up. However, if you prefer to sleep in this position, it would help if you have some pillows to help your body adapt to a new sleeping position.
Which Sleeping Position is Better?
To ensure that you are able to get better sleep during the night, you can enhance your sleeping experience by ensuring that you maintain the curve on your lower back. It is also highly recommended to sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side while slightly bending your knees.
The Takeaway
While it is definite that the stomach position is perhaps the worst possible sleeping position, there is none that is better than the other since there are factors like pregnancies and back pains that can affect which sleeping position best applies to you.
Take the fetal position for instance, while it might be discouraged by many, even the professionals because of fatigue, it is really helpful for people that are suffering from a back pain and can be quite the savior. All you have to do is make sure that you understand the tips that can make the sleeping position that you find most comfortable better and more beneficial to your body.
Leave a Reply