but could one sleep position be better than another? “we could argue that some are better than others,” says rachel salas, m.d. for young, healthy people, sleep position is less important, salas says. but sleep position isn’t the only thing to consider when going for a comfortable night’s sleep.
choosing soft-versus-hard is just a matter of preference, but aim for something supportive, she says. if you have neck or shoulder pain, a supportive pillow designed to cradle the neck could be helpful. don’t underestimate the importance of optimizing your bedroom to help you get a good night’s sleep. before climbing under the covers and finding a comfy position, don’t forget to do one other important thing: turn off your phone. one study found that people who used mobile devices late at night were more depleted the next morning and less engaged at work.
maybe you like to curl up on your side, or perhaps you like to relax on your back and spread out your limbs. while the way you arrange your body while you’re asleep might not seem like a big deal, it can actually have a big impact on your health. in particular, it can affect how well you breathe at night which is a big deal for those suffering from sleep disorders. side sleeping with your back mostly straight is the best position for sleep apnea sufferers according to the sleep better council. research shows that sleeping on the left side reduces sleep apnea even more than sleeping on the right. for example, it has been shown to decrease insomnia and relieve gastroesophageal reflux. also, keep in mind that having the right pillow is important; a thicker pillow to support your head and neck is ideal for side sleeping, or many choose the body pillow route as they are larger and help keep your body in the same position. and, as an added bonus, left-side sleeping is particularly good for pregnant women since it improves circulation to the growing baby.
stomach sleeping is okay for sleep apnea sufferers because it puts gravity on your side. just be sure that you’re careful not to let your pillow partially block your nose or mouth, which can make it difficult for you to breathe properly. a very thin pillow or one specifically designed for stomach sleepers is ideal and may help alleviate strain on the neck when you are sleeping in a face-down position. back sleeping may be good for spinal alignment, and it can prevent you from waking up with pillowcase lines in your face. it allows gravity to pull the soft tissues in the throat downward, which increases the chances that they will collapse during sleep and lead to airway blockages. to break the habit of sleeping on your back, you might try investing in a new pillow that provides adequate support for side sleeping. your sleeping position can have a big impact on your sleep apnea! dr. kenneth mogell, a board-certified specialist in dental sleep medicine with over 10 years of experience treating sleep breathing disorders, is the founder and primary practitioner of florida dental sleep disorders.
on your left side. on your right side. on your belly. on your back, but only with your head elevated. “sleep snoring and sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea causes the airways to collapse during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. it often goes hand-in-hand side sleeping with your back mostly straight is the best position for sleep apnea sufferers according to the sleep better council., .
it’s by far the most effective sleep position to help control sleep apnea. it’s considered to encourage blood flow, reduce snoring and calm sleep apnea. in fact, research points out that left side-sleepers experience less severe sleep apnea occurrences. side sleeping is the preferred position for helping calm your sleep apnea. sleeping on your right side reduces snoring and encourages blood flow. right or left side side-sleeping actually makes a difference if you have sleep apnea. right-side sleeping is a good choice as it reduces the “side sleeping with your back mostly straight is the best sleep position as it reduces apnea severity and snoring,” dr. knobbe said. because sleeping on the side is the general recommendation, it is particularly recommended to sleep on the left side. but sleeping on the right, .
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