There’s no doubt that sleep is very important. As humans, we spend a lot of time working the whole day. We need to recharge and regain strength, and sleep does that for us. It’s also important to have a sleep schedule that’s in tune with your body clock or what experts call the circadian rhythm. If you sleep out of sync with this body clock, you may wake up feeling very tired. This affects your productivity and focus on the next day.
Sleep is a very disturbing puzzle for most people. After all, we always make sure we go early to bed to get our usual eight hours of sleep, and we still wake up feeling tired and irritable. But sleep experts may have an answer to this issue. How you sleep matters a lot according to Shelby Harris. If your sleeping position is no longer working for you, you should change it.
The National Sleep Foundation says that most people actually sleep on their sides. But this can have a negative effect on the hip and the shoulders, leading to pain and discomfort. Other research studies have also found that sleeping on your right side could actually aggravate heartburn. The theory behind this is simple. When you sleep on your right side, the esophagus loosens. The esophagus is designed to keep the acid in your stomach from rising up to your throat. If it’s loose then heartburn becomes more predominant.
Dr. Harris says that people who suffer from heartburn should sleep on their left side. In addition to this, she recommends thick pillows that provide full support for the head. Tucking another pillow under your knees during sleep helps to support the lower back too. The worst position to sleep however is lying on your stomach. Although research shows that very few people actually sleep like this, it’s still important to understand the effects. People who sleep on their stomach usually wake up feeling tingly and numb. The risk of muscle and joint pain is also significantly increased.
Sleeping on your back is the best position. Dr. Harris says that only 8 percent of people actually sleep in this position despite the clear benefits. This way you significantly reduce the chances of muscle aches and pain. You don’t run any risk of heartburn and you will wake up feeling rested. However, the only challenge with sleeping on your back is snoring. For people who suffer from sleep apnea, this is not an ideal position. Staying in position on your back for the entire night is also not that easy. Nonetheless, Dr. Harris says that the ultimate goal is comfort. Sleeping in a comfortable position will have direct positive effects on sleep quality. So, if you are always waking up feeling tired, maybe it’s time to reconsider your sleeping position. It could be the answer you need.