Sleeping Positions and Snoring: How Your Sleep Posture Affects Breathing, Digestion and Acid Reflux

 Have you ever wonder if your sleeping position will positively or negatively affect your health?

The probability that many will answer No to this question is very high. Sometimes you wake up and you don't feel at ease, it might be ache or pains all over you but then you did not even wonder what might have caused it so as to be able to prevent it.

The fact is that your sleeping position could be causing you back pain, neck pain, premature wrinkles and even cause trouble for your stomach. How?

Below are some sleeping position and there effect.

There are three main sleeping positions which are (1) sleeping on your stomach (2) side (3) back. Each of these positions have variables giving them further classification.

The Soldier position

People that sleep in this position lie on their backs and place their arms down close to their sides. Those that sleep in this position are likely to snore more as a result of the flat back position and so they tend to wake up more in the middle of the night making them have less rest at night. This position is associated with sleep apnea though it is the best position for your spine and neck provided you don't use too many pillows.

The Starfish position

This is different from the Soldier position because unlike the Soldier position whereby your arms are down by your side, sleeping in Starfish position mean that you sleep on my our back with your arms up. Like the Soldier position, Starfish position also result in snoring and problems with acid reflux and also put pressure in the nerves in your shoulder causing pain.

Sleeping on your back is good as your head, neck and spine will be in their natural alignment as no curves or pressure are added to your back.

It prevents premature wrinkling of the face.

The Yearner

This involve sleeping on your side with your arms in front.

Sleeping in this position can contribute to heartburn if its on the right side and strain internal organs(lungs, liver, stomach) if its in the left.

This sleeping position alleviate problems related to reflux disease and sleep apnea.

This position is best for pregnant women. It is rated good among other sleeping position.

The Log position 

This is when you sleep on your side with your legs straight down and your arms down too. When you sleep in this position, you will be resting greater part of your body weight on the shoulder below which will strain the nerves around the shoulder increasing the probability of waking with pain in your shoulder.

This sleeping position is good for those who are suffering from back problem as it keeps the spine straight.

The Foetus position

This involve sleeping on the side and bending the knees towards the face.

This position is usually said to be the most common position and women are more likely to sleep in this position.

If fetus position is your preferred position, let it be on the right as sleeping on the left can cause street for your vital organs.

The Freefall position

People that sleep in a freefall position are those that lie on their bellies. Their heads are turned to the side with their arms under a pillow.

Freefall position is known to be the worst sleeping position because it does not support instead flattens the natural spine curve putting pressure on muscles and joints leading to lower back pain. It is not possible to sleep on your belly without turning your head to the side and when the head is turned to one side it strains the neck as it fix your neck in a tight position compromising circulation and breathing.

If you prefer the freefall position, use pillow to gradually and steadily trainee your body to sleep on one side.