Sleep is one of the most important things we do on a daily basis for our bodies. The amount of sleep and the quality of sleep we receive can be very telling when it comes to our stress levels, schedules and our day to day routines. Our sleeping habits give us insight into what is going on in our lives and in our bodies. Surprisingly, our sleep position can also give us clarity regarding certain ailments and health conditions. If you often wake up with an aching back or suffer from nightmares, your go to sleeping position may have a few answers for you that you’ve overlooked! Don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you. Read on to discover what your body may be trying to tell you through your favorite sleeping position.
If you sleep in the fetal position
As one of the most popular sleeping positions, 40 percent of individuals prefer to sleep in the fetal position. While sleeping in the fetal position is generally safe, there are still some risks associated with it. Sleep expert Nancy H. Rothstein cautions that sleeping in this position puts individuals at risk of compromising their circulation. Be sure not to crunch your neck and protect your back by elevating your head and sleeping with your legs bent together. Marta Cortes DDS, who specializes in sleep apnea, suggests sleeping in a position that is gentle, not too tight, and not too constricting. Sleeping in a loose fetal position will ensure that your organs can function properly during the night.
If you sleep on your side
Sleeping on your side may have more to do with what you rest your head on than what your body is trying to tell you. Cortes notes, “Sleeping position is married to your mattress quality and pillow formation or size.” The side that you’re choosing to sleep on may have something to do with the size of your pillow, so be sure to choose pillows that are not too thick or too thin. No matter which side you prefer to sleep on it’s important to invest in a quality mattress and pillows.
Keely Nielsen, a sleep coordinator in NYC explains, “In Ayurveda, the side that you lay on will activate a specific hemisphere of the brain”, while others believe that sleeping on the right side can create acid reflux, and sleeping on the left side can cause nightmares.
If you sleep on your back
Great news for back sleepers – this is one of the best sleeping positions! Rothstein states, “The reason it’s an excellent position is that there’s no compromise of any circulation…Everything is free to flow.”
If you’re experiencing issues sleeping on your back, you may want to pay attention to what your body may be trying to tell you. Nielsen says that this position may bring about the condition called “positional sleep apnea”. Nielsen explains, “When someone is lying on her back, gravity alone is going to weigh her down…if they have, let’s say, extra soft tissues in their throat due to fatty cellular buildup or a disproportionately large tongue, that can actually close up their airways and cause them to choke and/or snore.”
If you’re one of the 50 percent of the population who suffers from sleep apnea or sleep related issues, sleeping on your back may come with many dangers. If you absolutely prefer to sleep on your back, consider propping yourself up at angle to lessen the risks. Additionally, if you have back and gastrointestinal issues it’s best to switch to another position.
If you sleep on your stomach
Sorry, tummy sleepers – according to Rothstein, sleeping on your stomach is bad news for your spine. While sleeping on your stomach can reduce snoring, it’s not worth the harmful health risks. If you’re looking to kick your stomach sleeping habit, Dr. Cortes recommends strapping a tennis ball to your shirt. It may sound silly, but it will prevent you from rolling onto your stomach in the middle of the night.
