Side, Back, or Stomach: Which Is the Best Sleep Position?

Finding the best sleeping position can be a challenge for many people. You might spend hours trying to break free of the bad sleeping habits that keep you tossing and turning during the night. It’s time to stop beating yourself up over it and instead find the best sleeping position. There is one particular position that has been proven to help you sleep better at night and it doesn’t even require any special pillows or anything else. All you need is some knowledge of where to find it.

Sitting Up Straight

If you’re fighting back pain at night, then the best sleeping position may be sitting up straight in a chair with your back firmly against the backrest. The ideal position will support your back and ensure that you remain in proper alignment with the rest of your body. Unfortunately, the worst sleeping positions available are those that will place undue pressure on your lower back, hips, and neck.

Lay Your Head Flat On Your Pillow

This is the first on our list of best sleeping positions because it is so easy on the neck. A minimum of a 90-minute power nap in this position will reduce neck pain, tension, headaches, and other common discomforts that we suffer from when we go to sleep. One way to do this is to lay your head flat on your pillow. Then raise one shoulder over the other and make sure your elbows are resting on the opposite elbows. This opens up your space and takes the pressure off your upper body.

Head And Shoulders In An Aligned Position

This second on our list of best sleeping positions is also a very good option for those who suffer from neck pain and other discomforts. This position puts both your head and your shoulders in an aligned position. However, there is one key thing you have to watch out for. When you lie in this position your hips may begin to shift forward as the weight shifts to your shoulders. If you keep your feet on the floor during the whole of your sleeping time you will be well protected against this.

Side Position

Third, on our list of best sleeping positions is the side position. Someone who sleeps on their side will find that they always feel good when they are in this position and will tell you that this is by far the most comfortable position there is. To perform this you will need to first lay on the floor on one side. Next, raise one leg at a time and place your other hand on the inner knee of the leg you are raising. Now, just bring that leg up to your chest area and you can sleep in this side position all night long.

Lying On Back

Finally, the fourth on our list of best sleeping positions are lying on your back. This is probably the position most recommended for those who suffer from lower back problems. The reason for this is that it enables your lower back to straighten out. Many people who have back issues usually have trouble sleeping on their sides because they feel the pain. When you sleep on your back you can ease your aches and pains and simply get a much more restful night’s sleep. Simply make sure that the bed is high enough off the ground so that you can comfortably sleep in this position.

Many different sleeping positions are recommended by doctors and other health professionals. Some of these positions may work better for some than they do for others. But there are those times when a patient may simply have a sleep disorder or a poor sleeping habit, an estimated 50 70 million adults in the United States suffer from such conditions. However, correct sleeping positions can also greatly affect how well one sleeps at nighttime. After training patients on how to sleep in the correct position, they tend to return and usually tell of all the wonderful dreams they had during their sleep.

When considering what the best sleeping position is, it’s important to first look at the quality of sleep. In some instances, poor sleep can result in daytime fatigue, which hurts one’s performance. The quality of sleep will vary with each individual and is a matter of personal preference. For instance, some people may find that side sleeping is their best sleep position. On the other hand, others may sleep the best in the middle of the back.

The best sleeping position for those who have chronic lower back pain is to lie on the side with one’s knees bent. This is often referred to as a “doggy position”. Another option is to position one’s hips between the feet with the knees bent and feet flat on the floor. This is often referred to as the “ward facing position”.

The best sleeping positions for individuals who have kidney problems are slightly different. It is recommended that individuals with kidney disease lay on their side with knees bent at a 90-degree angle. One of the benefits of this position is that it keeps one’s weight off of the pelvic area. The side position provides more support for the pelvis and is often recommended for those who have chronic kidney disease or back pain.

As far as which is the best sleeping position for individuals who suffer from GERD is concerned, it’s important to remember that most research indicates that there is no one specific position that is better than the other. Most patients report a great degree of comfort when lying on their sides. It’s been noted that when a GERD sufferer sleeps on their left side the heartburn increases, but when they sleep on their right side, the acid reflux decreases. It’s believed that the change in pressure around the esophagus causes the increased acid production in the stomach which triggers heartburn. So, it’s important to find the best sleeping position for GERD sufferers according to which one’s GERD is the least bothered by their sleeping position.

A lot of people sleep on their side because it’s the “normal” position. Unfortunately, many people are now discovering that there are some very real advantages to sleeping on their side. So, if you are tired of always having acid reflux problems, then these types of GERD-affecting positions may be just what you need.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when it comes to finding the best sleeping position it just comes down to what feels best to you. Some people find that sleeping on their stomach helps them get a better night’s rest. Other people like the idea of sleeping flat. No matter what your preferences are, be sure that you are sleeping on a natural curve to help keep your spine in the proper position.