Is Your Sleeping Position Safe?

Not only can your sleeping position say a lot about your personality, but the way in which you lie in bed can have different impacts on the quality of your sleep and your overall health.

No matter how hard you try to sleep in a certain sleeping position, it’s not uncommon to find yourself stuck a certain way when you wake up.

Your posture is one of the main things affected by your sleeping position. But which is the safest position and how is this related to your health?

We share some of the most common sleeping positions and whether or not they are considered safe:

Is it bad to sleep on your side?

Since sleeping on your side follows the natural curvature of your spine, it can offer many benefits.

Sleeping in this position can help to take the extra pressure off your back, meaning that it is a great sleeping position for people suffering from back pain.

When sleeping in this position, it’s important to try and keep your head in line with the rest of your body. This eliminates the risk of your head dropping and negatively affecting your sleep.

If you sleep on your left side, you could also see a reduction in heartburn pain.

Is it bad to sleep on your stomach?

Many people are often concerned by sleeping on their stomach as it can flatten the natural curve in your spine. However, sleeping on your stomach does have some positive points.

People with lower back pain find that sleeping on their stomach helps to alleviate the pressure on their back.

Despite there being less pressure in this sleeping position, this posture can increase unnecessary pressure onto the nerves in your back. As your head is turned to one side, this may be the explanation as to why you feel pins and needles when you wake up!

Sleeping on my stomach is like the best position to sleep — ashley b. (@ashpashtf) June 16, 2016

Is it bad to sleep curled up?

Sleeping in a curled up position (often referred to as the ‘fetal position’) is one of the most common sleeping postures for both children and adults.

This kind of posture is ideal for pregnant women as it can improve the blood flow to deliver essential nutrients and vitamins that your baby needs.

Snoring can also be reduced to a minimum in this position as your chin and neck are tucked into the chest.

However, this fetal position is not ideal for preventing back pain. The extra strain being exerted onto your joints can cause aches, meaning that sleeping with your knees tucked up to your chest isn’t the ideal position for a comfortable rest.

Is it bad to sleep sitting up?

Although it may be the norm for animals to sleep upright, it’s not the best sleeping position for humans!

The main reason why we sleep is to get rest, which is why the muscles in your body relax when you do. However, sleeping whilst sitting up can leave these muscles still being tense (even if you think that you’re relaxed!), leaving you more likely to suffer with aches and pains when you wake up.

Is it bad to sleep without a pillow?

Many people argue that there are benefits to sleeping without a pillow, including better quality sleep due to your neck being in proportion your body.

According to Newhealthadvisor.com, Sleeping with a pillow can cause muscular discomfort in your neck and can cause issues with your spine.

If you do not want to sleep without any form of pillow, a thinner pillow can help to provide minimal support whilst still helping you achieve the benefits from sleeping without one.

Whatever sleeping position you decide to use, it’s important to get a quality mattress that can provide the essential support that your body needs.

To find out more about the impact your mattress has on your sleep (and why you definitely need to upgrade!), get in touch with the Odd Mattress team. We’d be happy to help!