Best Sleep Positions for Optimal Sleep
Your sleeping position can affect your sleep quality, which can indirectly affect your health as well. Poor or disturbed sleep is known to cause fatigue, sleep apnea, heartburn, headaches and back pain. An improper sleeping posture is the main cause for a poor night’s sleep.
Is There a Best Sleeping Position?
The problem with sleeping postures is that no matter in what position you sleep in, during the night you slip into your preferred position as you fall into a deep sleep. The most comfortable sleeping position for anyone is where they are able to breathe well. If your sleeping position obstructs the airway in your throat, chances are you are not going to sleep well. For this reason, people with smaller airways tend to sleep on their stomach, as it’s the most comfortable position for them.
A smaller airway means the person is a heavy snorer. For this reason they are not recommended to sleep on their back. This is also true for those who suffer from sleep apnea. Sleeping on your side is the best position because it does not obstruct your airway. Also, there is research that sleeping on your left can help reduce the effects of heartburn, while sleeping on your right can worsen the affects of heartburn. Also, sleeping on the left is recommended for pregnant women as it improves their body’s blood circulation. So, if you were to choose a side, left would be the optimal choice.
Unless you are a snorer or suffer from sleep apnea, you shouldn’t go against your natural sleeping position. When your body enters its unconscious state during sleep, it knows what sleeping position is the most comfortable. Sleeping in a position that you are naturally inclined to can help you feel well rested, full of energy and even boost your mood.
Best Position for Sleeping
In essence, there is no best position for sleeping. Just go with the flow and try not to change your natural sleeping position because it can affect the quality of your sleep. If you have been advised to sleep on your back because you will be effectively preventing facial wrinkles, look at the bigger picture. A poor night’s sleep will cause sleep deprivation, which is obviously a lot worse than face wrinkles.
Other than sleeping in your natural position, make sure you have created a perfect environment for sleep. This includes your mattress and bedding. In part, the condition of your mattress can also affect your sleeping position. So, if your mattress is worn-out and sags down in the middle, it can make sleeping quite uncomfortable. For this reason, it’s recommended you invest in a comfortable mattress, bed sheets and pillows.
If a position was to be picked, sleeping on your left is recommended, as mentioned before. Many people are side sleepers and with age, your body automatically adjusts to the position that’s best for your body. Moreover, no one sleeps in one position all night and for good reason, because it can cause poor blood circulation.