A guide to sleeping positions
19/01/2012
People sleep in a variety of different ways - but are some better than others? Here's our guide to some of the most common, as well as their positive and negative points.
Sleeping on your back
Experts think that this is one of the better positions to sleep in, not least because it helps to prevent back and neck pain. The spine is able to maintain its natural shape, while blood flow to the heart is enhanced.
From an aesthetic point of view, sleeping on your back is also reported to reduce wrinkles, mainly because there's nothing pushing up against your face.
Sleeping on your front
The main advantage of this sleeping position is that it helps to ease snoring, as it keeps the upper airways open. Problems that may arise include misalignment of the spine, which occurs when the head is kept turned to one side all night.
Sleeping on your side
This is also a snoring-reducing position and could benefit those with back problems, as it helps to elongate the spine. Other medical conditions that can be eased through this position include acid reflux, as the elevation of the head will mean the oesophagus is above the stomach so acid cannot rise up.
Sleeping in the foetal position
This position is common among pregnant women, mainly because it allows blood to flow to the foetus, especially when lying on the left-hand side. The kidneys and uterus will also benefit from improved blood flow. In addition to this, snorers could alleviate their symptoms by resting in this way.
Being in the foetal position also has a number of disadvantages, such as putting stress on the back, neck and knee joints. Much the same as other positions that involve the face being up against the pillow, this can also cause wrinkles on the face.
Posted by Michael Ewing
