A good sleep is a luxury nobody would want to trade for anything else – albeit I speak for the health-conscious ones. After a long day’s work, it is not inconceivable for each and every one of us to eagerly anticipate the warm ‘embrace’ of a well laid bed as we make a transition into dreams’ world. However, it is one thing to lay on the bed and yet another (thing) to maximize the time of rest. After a good sleep, you should wake up feeling vibrant and ready to go make your world better and brighter but this is not always the case. Have you ever gotten up from bed or hit the road [to go about your daily routine] with the feeling that you are yet to wake up from your sleep; a feeling that you have been robbed of liveliness? The reason may not be unconnected to the fact that the sleeping position you chose wasn’t right for you.
Do you make conscious effort to place your body in a position of rest that guarantees sound sleep [leading to good health] or do you just ‘crash’ into the bed to while the night away? Read on to see the advantages and/or disadvantages that come with different sleeping positions:
- Laying on your back: This position may be considered best for some reasons. Firstly, as the head, neck and spines get to be placed in a neutral position, there is less pressure on these parts of the body hence feeling pain as one wakes up is not very likely. Furthermore, this position may help those experiencing heartburn – provided a pillow is under the head. However, anyone that is prone to snoring or suffering breathlessness during sleep may have to think twice before sleeping on his/her back as this position may worsen the condition. It is however worth noting that the amount of oxygen present in the lungs is relatively reduced while sleeping on your back.
- Laying on your side: Either side – left or right – has got its own advantages as well as low sides. Generally, sleeping on your side is great for alleviating back pain and can also be beneficial for those that are known to snore. But studies have shown that people who sleep on their sides have a higher tendency of experiencing premature skin aging/wrinkling. Although sleeping on the left side can affect the normal functioning of the liver, lungs and stomach; it is quite helpful for reducing acid reflux, and boosting the circulation of blood as well as the digestion of food. Plus, this particular position is also beneficial for a person who is suffering constipation. On the other hand, laying on the right side may aggravate heartburn and even increase the chance of having a high blood pressure.
- Fetal position: This is another way of sleeping on one’s side; it however involves bending the knees and tucking the chin inwards – towards the chest – while the back is rounded. This is sometimes regarded as the ‘baby position’. Though, this is adjudged to be the most popular (sleeping) position; it is far from being the best. For one, it causes pain in the neck and spine, and also puts strain to the hips. However, a study has found that sleeping in this position could be effectual in the disposal of waste from the brain thus curtailing the incidence of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
- Laying on your stomach: The only advantage that seems to be linking with laying on one’s stomach [while sleeping] is that it reduces snoring. But the harm attached to it is much more than the benefit. This position can cause the neck to ache and also puts huge pressure on muscles and joints. Additionally, this position can be somewhat detrimental to the functioning of the circulatory and respiratory systems.
Conclusion
Opinions vary among researchers as to which sleeping position is the best so, picking one may be somewhat difficult. Notwithstanding, it is advisable that one takes note of the position that provides the greatest comfort. And as much as I will not pick one as the outright best, laying on the stomach, right side or in a fetal position will never be among the options I will recommending.