Your Sleeping Position
A bad night’s sleep isn’t just unpleasant, it’s dangerous.
Existing problems like a bad back, period pains or even a cold can be worsened by sleeping poorly. The position you sleep in can have a lot to with this.
The way you sleep affects the way blood moves around your body, as well as putting pressure on various parts of your body for many hours at a time, which may impair circulation.
If you find your sleeping position uncomfortable, or wake from a troubled night not feeling rested: there are a few different positions you can try to manage your discomfort.
Acid reflux
Acid reflux is a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat, casually known as heartburn.
Eating a large meal right before bed increases the chance of gettin heart burn. However, some people may be predisposed to it, or suffer from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
If you are suffering from acid reflux, lie on your right side, with your arms out in front of you. Your knees should be bent and slightly pulled up towards your abdomen.
Dr John de Caestecker, consultant gastroenterologist from University Hospitals Leicester, told the Mirror: ”The gullet joins the stomach on the left side so by lying on the right, food can move more effectively through the digestive tract.
‘If you do have to eat late, research shows raising the head of the bed a few inches can alleviate symptoms. It’s a much better option than adding more pillows, which you’re likely to roll off and can crease you up in the middle and hinder digestion,’ he said.
Painful back
A bad sleeping position can actually exacerbate problems with your back and spine.
As before, lay your arms out in front of you. Lie on either side, bending your knees slightly and try to keep your hips in line with the rest of your body, as opposed to curling inward.
Place a pillow between your knees that they rest about the width of your hips apart. This position may feel strange at first, but you should persist beyond the feeling.
Nasal congestion
You should not sleep on your back if you’re suffering from a cold, or anything that stuffs the sinuses.
Instead, you should lie on your side with extra pillows to elevate your head, to help the congestion to drain naturally.
You may need to experiment with adjusting your arms and legs so that they are comfortable as well.
The post Your Sleeping Position appeared first on LewRockwell.
Leave a Reply