This Is How Your Position When Sleeping Can Affect Your Health

Oct 05, 2018

It turns out that your sleeping position affects more than your comfort. It can also affect your overall health.

The average person spends 25 years of their life asleep. Sleeping helps to refresh your body and mind.

Getting sleep is one of the best things that you can do for your health. To get the most out of each night, make sure that you are using the right sleeping position.

This position is when you are sleeping on your back. Your hands are at your sides like in yoga's corpse pose.

The soldier position is widely considered to be one of the best sleeping postures.

• Prevents acid reflux
• Reduces the chances of headaches or wrinkles
• Keeps your spine, arms, and neck in alignment
• Cures insomnia

• Can worsen pain in the lower back
• Gravity can worsen snoring and sleep apnea
• Can negatively impact a fetus

You can skip out on using a pillow to keep your body in a neutral position. This may reduce snoring. Placing a large pillow underneath your knees may help support the natural curve in your lower back.

This is where you are on your back with your arms up on either side of your head.

• Helps insomnia
• Ensures a good position for your neck and spine
• Alleviates headaches
• Head elevation reduces acid reflux
• Reduces acne and facial wrinkles

• Potentially causes pain in the lower back
• Can worsen snoring and sleep apnea
• The arm position causes pressure on the shoulders' nerves

If you get rid of your pillow, it allows your neck, spine and head to attain a more natural position.

In this position, you are on your side. Your arms are in a line pointing downward. Sleeping on your left side is better for your internal organs.

• Ideal for pregnant women
• Reduces neck and back pain
• Provides natural support for the spine
• Alleviates snoring and sleep apnea

• A lack of support can cause hip and back pain
• Can increase neck pain
• Increases risk of facial wrinkles, skin aging and saggy breasts

Use a big pillow to prevent neck pain. If you put a pillow between your thighs, it can help line up your body so that you avoid hip and back pain.

This position is when you are sleeping on your side with your arms outstretched. Your legs are just slightly bent, and your head is off-center.

• Reduces heartburn
• Lets your body clear waste and toxins better
• Alleviates back and neck pain
• May prevent Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
• Reduces snoring and sleep apnea
• Can help with acid reflux
• Decreases the chances of waking up in the night

• Causes nerve compression that can strain your internal organs
• Reduces blood flow and applies pressure to your nerves
• May cause pain in the arms and shoulders
• Can lead to premature skin aging

Putting a pillow between your legs can give your upper leg more support. Meanwhile, a satin pillowcase can reduce your risks of developing facial wrinkles.

This position is where you are on your side with your knees pulled into your chest. Your chin is tilting slightly down like a baby sleeping peacefully.

• Preferred for pregnant women
• Can reduce snoring and sleep apnea
• On the left side, this position can reduce acid reflux

• Can lead to saggy breasts and wrinkles
• The curl can lead to back and neck pain

A firm pillow can help support your head. If you sleep in this position, you can reduce the strain on your neck and back by switching sides during the night.

This position is when you sleep flat on your stomach. While it might feel comfortable, most sleep experts say that this is the worst position to choose.

• Can reduce snoring in some people

• Reduce blood circulation to the face
• Can lead to facial wrinkles
• Adds strain to the spine
• Increases lower spine and neck pain
• Adds stress to the internal organs

Try to get in a sideways position to reduce the strain on your neck and spine. Then, place a pillow between the bed and your stomach.

via GIPHY

Did these tips help you improve your sleep quality? Let us know how you sleep at night and make sure your friends know about the importance of their sleeping position.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!