You might regard sleep as the cousin of death but guess what? There’s actually a whole lot your body is doing to keep you alive while you’re sound asleep. Sleep is a vital metabolic process that affects your body, state of mind, emotions, and your mood. Everyone knows the horrible feeling of waking up on the wrong side of the bed, and how awful you can feel for the rest of the day.
Yet getting a good’s night sleep seems to be easier said than done, especially in today’s busy and modern world. Sleep scientists and other experts in the field recommend at least seven to eight hour of sleeps for adults every night. According to that, you’re going to spend a third of your life on this planet asleep! Therefore, it’s time to wake up, smell the coffee, and get serious about your sleep and how it may be affecting your health.
One of the keys to getting a good night of totally restful and undisturbed sleep is bed comfort. One of the best ways to improve your health and really dive into the deeper stages of sleep is to find a comfortable bed. It doesn’t matter if it’s an adjustable bed, electric bed, queen bed, or even a therapeutic bed, it just has to be a comfortable and supportive bed. Having the right kind of mattress for your comfort level has a strong impact on the quality of your sleep. It can either leave you feeling tired or inspired!
Similarly, sleep positions are equally important. That’s right, mattresses and beds are only one part of the equation! It goes without saying that different sleep positions affect the body in — you guessed it — different ways, but you may not be aware of exactly how. People often wonder what the best sleep positions are, and that’s a good thing to wonder!
Take a look how the best and the worst sleep positions may be affecting your sleep, body, and overall health.
The best position: on your back
Aside from being comfortable, your mattress serves another important function: back support. Sleeping on your back allows your mattress to do its job of supporting it even better. It allows your head, neck, and spine to line up while keeping it in a neutral position. Unlike sleeping curled up or in a ball, there are no curves or extra pressure and the spine can stretch out. Keeping it in its natural alignment can help to alleviate back pain and prevent back problems down the road.
Sleeping like a snow angel or starfish
Since you’re still on your back, sleeping in this position has its own benefits too! It can help to combat acid reflux and even facial wrinkles and skin breakouts! This is because your skin is constantly being exposed to air, whereas it wouldn’t be if it were constantly in contact with the pillow. The downside is that sleeping on your back can making snoring worse!
A close runner up to the best position: sleeping on your side
For those who have obstructive sleep apnea, are prone to loud snoring, have neck and back pain, or for women who are pregnant, sleeping on your back is very beneficial. Like sleeping on your back, it elongates the spine which helps to alleviate pain while making it easier to breath. Sleeping on your side also improves circulation, which is especially important for soon to be moms. The only major downside is that sleeping on your side can contribute to premature signs of aging thanks to gravity.
The absolute worst of all sleeping positions: sleeping on your stomach
Everyone has had those days when they just want to plop face down on their mattress but you probably should stay that way for long, or worse, fall and stay asleep like that. That’s because sleeping on your stomach is one of the worst possible sleeping positions! It doesn’t support the natural arch of your spine and can lead to the overarching of it. In addition, it places pressure on your joints, leading to pain.
