The Mystery of Sleep Positions: Finding the Ideal Posture for a Restful Night

One thing I am sure most of us can attest to, is coming back very tired only to lay on the bed and sleep off only to wake up feeling pains, and very tired instead of feeling refreshed. We have all had a dose of bad sleeps but we do not have it on a daily basis. This was not the same experience for the reddit user 'Milkyliz' who experienced a bad sleep for over 20 years.

For almost everyone, if we sleep at night only to wake up with pains in our bodies, the first thing that comes to mind is changing our sleeping position. There are different types of way we sleep ranging from Prone - which is when a person sleeps on their stomach facing the ground. According to health professionals, it is the worse way of sleeping. While it help with snoring and sleep apnea, it puts lot of strain on the muscle, and joints thereby exacerbates neck and back pain. It is advisable to put a pillow under the stomach and hips when sleeping in the prone positions so as to help the way the spine bends.

Other positions includes the 'fetal position' which helps with snoring and relieve back pain as the bending of the spine is reduced. 'Sleeping upright' is another sleeping position that has to do with raising the head above the body. This position helps to open the airways thereby reducing the risks of snoring, sleep apnea, and back pain. Sleeping on the side is one of the best way to sleep as it prevents back pain, alleviate snoring and reduces heartburn.

But then, a study requested for participants to eat high fat meals for the purpose of checking their sleep experience. The researchers realized that participants that slept on their right side had worsen heartburn symptoms. Sleeping on one side can lead to stiffness of the shoulder and jaw on the side a person choose to sleep on. Putting a pillow between the knees can help allign the hips as well as prevent lower back pain.

Supine position is still the best in term of back pain. Sleeping flat on your back will give the most support when it comes to protecting the back. It gives an even pressure on the entire spine, and this sleep position limits uneven pressure on one disc or joint. In all this, it doesn't help with snoring and sleep apnea.

Our sleep positions play a crucial role in determining the quality of our rest and the potential for waking up with discomfort or pain. While each sleeping position has its advantages and drawbacks, understanding the impact on our bodies is essential for promoting a restful and pain-free night's sleep. Whether it's finding relief from snoring, addressing back pain, or minimizing heartburn symptoms, making informed choices about how we position ourselves during sleep can significantly contribute to overall sleep quality and waking up feeling refreshed. So, next time you hit the hay, consider the position that suits your needs and promotes a healthier sleep experience.

Post Reference

https://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/j3n78g
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320870#the-best-sleeping-positions
https://www.healthline.com/health/best-sleeping-position#fetal-position
https://www.verywellhealth.com/best-and-worst-sleep-positions-for-health-conditions-4158271
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320870#the-best-sleeping-positions
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6609073/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1119282/
https://www.wahpetondailynews.com/health

Image Reference

Image 1 || Wikimedia Commons || Home Care Bed Side-lying Position

Image 2 || Wikimedia Commons || Sleeping Positions for Back Pain