The Pros & Cons of Common Sleeping Positions

You likely don't think a lot about your body's position while you sleep. As long as you're asleep, why does your position matter? Well, your body placement may affect your health substantially according to new studies. Check out the following pros and cons and discover whether your sleeping position is helping or hindering your health.

1)  Back Sleepers

 Pros: Slumbering face-up can be good for your spine, particularly if you put a soft pillow or rolled up towel under your knees to facilitate natural curvature of your spine. A healthy and happy spine leads to a healthy posture, and sleeping face up allows the mattress to support your spine in a structurally natural way. For those worried about wrinkles, know that sleeping face up could also keep wrinkles at bay versus sleeping with your face smooshed into your pillow. 

Cons: Back sleepers may experience sleep apnea and/or snoring more often in this position, which can be corrected by, you guessed it, sleeping in a different position, like on your side. In addition, some lower back pain can occur when on one's back, particularly without your knees supported as suggested above.

2) Side Sleepers

 Pros: As previously mentioned, if you snore only when on your back, it's likely caused by the placement of your tongue in this position. Some people snore regardless of their body position while sleeping; in these cases, other causes of snoring should be investigated. In addition, sleeping on your left side can improve digestive issues, circulation, and if pregnant, increases blood flow to the fetus. It also allows drainage to the spleen to occur and is beneficial to the lymphatic system. Side sleeping can be better for people experiencing back and hip pain - experiment with putting a pillow between your knees if you want to alleviate pain in these areas and side sleeping isn't enough.

 Cons: Lying on one side can lead to a pins-and-needles or numb sensation in the arm of that side. While it may prove beneficial to the organs of one side body, it can squish the organs of the other side, causing discomfort.

 3) Stomach Sleepers

 Pros:  Benefits of this sleep position include relieving sleep apnea and, in some cases, snoring.

 Cons: Unfortunately, this position has more cons to it than pros. It negatively impacts the spine, as it counteracts natural curvature. It can also lead to neck strain from lying face down with your head turned to one side. Stomach sleepers tend to toss and turn more and also may also develop face wrinkles more quickly than those who sleep on their backs.

The more you know, the better you'll sleep. Call us (319-260-2114): Foster's Mattress Sleep experts are standing by to help you sleep better tonight.

Read more about different positions and statistics here.