2024-06-27 00:58:17
Food, physical exercise, good environmental conditions. There are several factors that we must consider to ensure a good rest. Among them, there is one that we may not pay the necessary attention to, but that is important to take into account for our physical health: posture.
What position do you sleep in? Surely this topic arose on some occasion as something anecdotal, linked to the customs of each person. But scientists are clear that the posture adopted at bedtime is decisive in avoiding musculoskeletal discomfort, pain and certain conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux.
Why does poor sleep cause memory problems and how to get a good rest?
Doctor Virginia Sánchez says that lack of sleep “causes stress and alters the circadian rhythm, which, in addition to nervousness, can trigger outbreaks of skin diseases.” However, we tend to associate sleeping well with getting enough hours, while neglecting an essential factor for rest: body posture.
The best sleeping position
Experts and researchers favor the side position as the best for sleeping, although the answer is not clear-cut, since they also recommend falling asleep on your back. Dr. Juan Pareja Grande, from the Sleep Unit of the Quirón Salud University Hospital in Madrid, supports this statement: “The most advisable are lateral decubitus (side) and supine decubitus (face up).”
The advantages of sleeping on your side, “preferably on the left side, since it prevents compression of the vena cava,” include avoiding neck and back pain, improving breathing (less snoring) and reducing gastroesophageal reflux. The only drawback is that this position can put pressure on the arm on which you sleep.
On the other hand, sleeping on your back shares certain benefits, such as caring for the health of the cervical and spine. Particularly, this position is beneficial in the aesthetic field, since it helps wrinkles not appear as marked and the woman’s chest remains firmer. Its drawback? Snoring and sleep apnea.
Beware: the worst sleeping position
There is unanimity when considering the prone position, also known as prone position, as the worst option for resting. A choice that is harmful and affects the worsening of certain ailments, especially those related to the neck such as cervical pain, according to some studies.
To make breathing easier when you are face down, your neck must twist in an unnatural way, which can eventually lead to neck contractures. Sleeping face down also puts stress on your spine, causing pain in different parts of your body. Even your diaphragm is affected when you sleep face down. The weight of your body on it prevents it from resting properly while you sleep.