But by making more intentional choices about our sleep styles during the day, we can set ourselves up for healthier sleep postures that support overall wellbeing while we’re asleep and awake.Īs a general rule, back sleeping is thought to be the best sleeping position for spinal alignment, and its benefits don’t stop there. During the night, this choice is often unconscious. While people can change positions as many as 10 to 40 times each night, we usually find our way back to a default position. (Side sleeping is especially common among older adults, women, and people with a higher body mass index.) Stomach sleeping comes in a distant third. Research suggests side sleeping is the most popular sleep position, followed closely by back sleeping. The way we sleep can also impact the quality of our breathing, worsen or improve health conditions (such as sleep apnea and acid reflux), and affect our chances of obtaining quality sleep.Įven though changing your sleep position could positively impact sleep and overall wellbeing, many people are attached to their preferred position(s). Taking the time to learn about sleep posture now could spare you from aches and pains down the road. And in many cases, that pain will be caused (or worsened) by their sleep position. Why take the time to learn about sleep positions? Here’s a good reason: At some point in their lives, approximately 80% of adults will experience back pain. So let’s dive into an in-depth look at each of the three major sleeping positions, their benefits and downsides, and how to tweak your sleep habits for better sleep and wellbeing. And no matter whether you’re a devotee of back, side, or stomach sleeping, there are probably some steps you can take to optimize your sleep. In turn, sleep quality (or lack thereof) affects both our sleeping and our waking lives, with major ramifications for physical and mental wellbeing. Our chosen sleep position(s) can affect a variety of health conditions, exacerbate or alleviate pain, and have a major impact on our sleep quality. Sleep positions are hardly a staple of dinner table conversation. Quick: How much time do you spend thinking about your sleep position? If you answered “not a whole lot,” you’re probably in good company.
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