Your sleep position affects everything from snoring to back pain to sleep apnea sleeping, but most of us spend more time counting sheep than thinking about how our sleep position impacts our health. Turns out, different sleep positions can make all the difference when it comes to managing certain chronic conditions and improving your overall sleep quality. And while many tend to think sleeping on your stomach is bad or back sleeping is the best, there may be good reasons why you should consider rolling over. Sleeping on your stomach may affect the position of your spine, specifically the neck because you can’t keep it straight. You have to have your head turned to allow yourself to breathe,” she explains. That bent spinal alignment means you may wake up with shoulder, neck, and back pain, which is the main reason you may want to avoid stomach sleeping. When is it a good idea to sleep on your stomach? Turns out it may be a good choice for those who snore or have obstructive sleep apnea, which Dr. Cacho notes goes undiagnosed in as many as 90 percent of women. When you’re on your stomach, your tongue is pulled forward to help open up your upper airway Side sleeping is the most popular sleep position, with 42 percent of folks saying they sleep that way every night. Dr. Cacho notes that it’s a safe and comfortable position for most people. And those suffering from acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may benefit from the sleep position. Lying on your left side helps food pass smoothly through the digestive tract, so stomach acid stays in the stomach instead of inching up into your esophagus and causing heartburn If you’re looking to change your sleep position to ease aches, tame snoring or another reason, Dr. Cacho suggests looking for special pillows that can help support your body. Thin pillows are ideal for stomach sleepers since they help reduce the strain when you twist your neck.
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Tuesday, December 3, 2024