No one can discard the fact that sleep is one of the most important aspects of a healthy life. Those eight hours are crucial for you to have a cheerful day. The healthiest way to sleep is the one that offers the best slumber. However, unlike healthy individuals, people who go through some injury or any health concern may not find it easy to lay on the bed and catch a nap. Therefore, sleeping positions play a significant role in your sleep quality. So, if you think you should switch it up, you’ve stopped by the right place to discover answers for what is the healthiest way for you to sleep.
Variant sleep positions have various benefits. For example, if you’re struggling with pain or some health concern, your body might demand a change in the sleep position to help manage the problem. And, while it might be something you cannot adapt overnight, it may prove to be worthwhile to try out!
To ensure healthy sleep, take your time to train yourself to sleep in a new position gradually. This slow adaptation is a big secret to how people improve their sleep quality. But, are you having a trial and error experience with this method? If that’s the case, don’t worry, and remember that your comfort level is most vital during sleep. That’s why you can simply try modifications in your favorite sleep position to ensure maximum benefit from it.
Healthiest Sleeping Positions
Every person is different and has different health and comfort requirements. The important thing to focus on is that you are trying the right techniques with your sleep and body health needs. The below given sleeping positions are proven to be the best ones for a healthy good night’s sleep.
1. The Fetal Position
There is a reason why this sleep position is at the top of this list. The fetal position has multitudes of benefits. Not only is it excellent during pregnancy or for lower back pain, sleeping in the fetal position can help you overcome your snoring problem.
Unfortunately, even this top sleeping technique, i.e., the fetal position, has a few disadvantages. To get it right, you must first ensure that your posture is relatively relaxed; otherwise, your comfy position could obstruct deep breathing during your healthy snooze.
Furthermore, if you have any joint pain or stiffness issues, lying in a tight fetal position an entire night might leave you with muscle soreness in the morning. Therefore, to avoid this situation and make the fetal position more comfortable, keep your body relaxed and loose while curling up at night. You can do this by relatively extending the legs and sleeping with a pillow tucked between your knees.
2. Sleeping on the Back
Now, this is again a sleeping position with several health benefits. Sleeping on the back is the most gentle sleeping position for the spine as it protects its alignment. Not only this, but it also helps relieve knee and hip pain. Experts say that sleeping on the back keeps the spine alignment perfect as it uses gravity to keep the body straight. You can improve the position to support the natural body curve by keeping a pillow beneath the knees.
Also, sleeping on the back is also beneficial for all the beauty queens out there. This position leaves no chance for wrinkles one gets from keeping the face on the pillow or any gravity-induced wrinkles. In addition to this, sleeping on the back is great for proper blood circulation during sleep and to deal with problems like sleep apnea. What’s more? Sleeping on the back also avoids incidences of back pain.
3. Sleeping On One Side-
Though most people assume it as an unhealthy position, it is surprisingly not! This is specifically true if you sleep on your left side. Sleeping on one side can help you with problems like heartburn and digestive issues. Also, it can help reduce snoring and make you calm while sleeping. A study with 10 participants examined the effects of sleeping on the right as well as the left side. They were made to sleep each night after a high-fat meal. Interestingly, researchers revealed that sleeping on the right side increased acid reflux and heartburn.
Therefore switching sides at night is a healthy way of approaching sound sleep. The only disadvantages of side sleeping are a tight jaw, wrinkles, lower back pain, and stiff shoulders in the morning. Keeping a pillow between the knees can deal with much of the shortcomings of sleeping on one side. It can majorly save you from neck and back pain. You can sleep in any position; however, you must switch if it starts to become problematic.
4. Sleeping On The Stomach
Most people do not prefer sleeping on the stomach as it is clearly uneasy. In this position, the respiratory activity of the rib cage needs more energy to elevate the body against gravity. This is why most people discourage this sleeping position. Also known as the prone position, sleeping on the stomach may cause a higher heart rate. In addition, a study among infants revealed that sleeping on the stomach may increase their vulnerability to hyperthermia. As this sleeping position curbs flexibility, keeping a flat pillow under the head and one pillow beneath the pelvis and stomach can promote alignment of the spine.
Conclusion
Human beings spend almost one-third of their lifetime sleeping. If not exactly sleeping, they spend a large amount of time at least trying to sleep. That’s why the sleeping position holds greater significance than you can imagine. Sleep deprivation can gradually build up to give rise to unfortunate health concerns. And, it’s not just the sleep time that matters, but sleep quality also plays a vital role in health. To induce healthy sleep and encourage good quality sleep, incorporate sleep hygiene into your daily routine. These habits include exercising regularly, cutting caffeine intake, a cool and relaxing sleep set-up, etc. If you are completely comfortable with your sleep position, do not switch it unnecessarily. However, if you face health concerns due to an uncomfortable sleep position, try consulting a health professional for the best advice.
