When talking about living healthily, we frequently mention having good meals, moving often and handling stress well. Still, another factor that influences your well-being each night—but isn’t thought about as much—is your sleeping position.
The way you spend your night during sleep matters, as it can shape your spine, lungs and digestive tract quite a bit.
Surprised? Here, we’ll look at why your sleeping position is crucial and how little changes may boost your sleep and general health in the future.
What Makes Sleep Position Important?
During our lives, around a third of the time we are asleep lying on a bed in the same way. Even so, most people don’t understand that not sleeping properly can end up causing long-term pain, pressure on nerves and poor blood flow.
Even with eight hours of sleep, you can still feel sore, stiff or as if you haven’t slept at all. That is a warning sign, the way you sleep could be causing you harm.
Things You Shouldn’t Do Before You Sleep
1. Sleeping with Your Stomach Down Isn’t Good for Your Back
You may feel quite comfortable at first by lying on your stomach. Really, it’s one of the worst ways to sit. Here’s why:
Turning your neck to the side puts tension on the spinal area in your neck.
When your spine is out of alignment, it makes it more likely that you will get lower back pain.
Constant pressure in the abdomen can affect the operation of organs inside the body.
Waking up with pain in your neck, head or back is common for stomach sleepers.
2. Putting Your Arms Above Your Head: Disaster for Your Circulation
For some, sleeping means lying with your arms stretching up to your head or below your pillow. Having this habit can do the following:
Put pressure on nerves which results in numbness or tingling in the arms.
Increases stiffness in the shoulders and decreases the flexibility you have.
If you notice numbness or tingling in your arms while waking up, it’s probably asking you to switch sleeping positions.
3. Fetal Tuck Position: It Doesn’t Come As Falling Asleep
Often, people like to sleep this way, but keeping your knees pressed tightly to your chest and chin tucked close together may:
Narrow the space for breathing to prevent relaxed and energizing breathing.
Pressure the lower back and create back pain.
As years go by, a person’s mobility and flexibility will decline.
As an alternative, find the fetal position, but have your body lightly curled and your legs only slightly bent.
Best: Sleeping on Your Left
It is agreed by many sleep specialists that sleeping on your left side has the greatest positive effects on your body:
It helps by assisting gravity to move your food through the digestive process.
It enhances blood flow which is particularly good for pregnant women and those with blood pressure problems.
It helps to avoid acid reflux because the stomach is lower than the esophagus.
It helps your back stay in proper position to avoid added back pressure.
It may help sleepers with snoring or sleep apnea by making breathing easier.
If side sleeping isn’t natural to you, a body pillow will help keep you comfortable.
Easy Ways to Improve Your Sleep Position
Changing your entire life isn’t necessary to get better sleep. Some small changes can lead to much better results.
Get a pillow that supports your head at the same level as your spine, but don’t pick one too high or too flat.
Always rest your knees on a pillow if you sleep on your side to protect your hips and back.
A good mattress for your back should be both comfortable and supportive and medium-firmness is what offers the best support to most people.
Turn off screens at least an hour or two before going to sleep, because phone and TV screens are known to disrupt melatonin.
Improve your chances of sleeping well by cooling your room, making it relatively still and dimming the lights.
Final Thoughts
The way you lie down can affect your health much more than people often realize. Wonder: “Does my sleep posture really help to relax my body?” How you sleep is as important as how long you sleep.
Making a few adjustments in your posture tonight will help you get healthier and get a better night’s sleep.
