Bhawna Thakur
North News
Chandigarh, September 19
When we sleep, that’s the time when our body comes to a state of its recovery and healing. According to doctors, an adult must have a sleep of approximately 7 hours to have a healthy lifestyle. We spend more than 7 hours sleeping and resting, so it’s very important to choose the best position for your body that helps in physical recovery.
According to online news outlet the Sleep foundation, the best sleep position is the one that promotes healthy spinal alignment; for example, sleeping on the sides or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach, as it keeps your spine supported and balanced, which helps in muscle relaxation and recovery.
According to Sleep foundation, different positions have different benefits:
Sleeping on Your Side
More than 60% of people sleep on their sides. This position promotes spinal alignment and is least likely to cause back pain, especially with pillow support. There are enormous benefits of side sleeping, as it reduces heartburn and snoring and is the most favorable position for pregnant women and older adults.
If you’re already a side sleeper, aim to sleep on your left side for optimal benefits. Sleeping on the right may increase pressure on your internal organs, making the left side preferable, especially for pregnant women and those with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The right side can also worsen heartburn symptoms.
Sleeping on Your Back
Sleeping on your back is the second most popular sleep position that offers numerous benefits, just similar to side sleeping. This position helps maintain spinal alignment and evenly distributes body weight, which can prevent neck and back aches. It can also help in alleviating nasal congestion and allergy symptoms.
Benefits of this sleeping position are that it is good for your spinal health, neck pain, nasal congestion, and skin health as no pillow or mattress pressing against your face.
Sleeping on Your Stomach
Stomach sleeping is the least favored position, with research indicating that individuals spend less than 10% of their night in this posture. The position may help reduce snoring by opening up the airway, but it poses several challenges. The need to work against gravity for breathing can lead to less restful sleep.
This position provides minimal support for the back and can increase spinal pressure, resulting in pain upon waking. Sleeping with the head turned to one side leads to neck misalignment and potential discomfort. If the mattress lacks firmness, the stomach and hips may sink too deeply, compromising spinal alignment and exacerbating discomfort over time. Additionally, the pressure of the face against the pillow can contribute to the formation of wrinkles and can affect your skin.
