We are glad to welcome you, dear readers of the blog! Good quality sleep is the key to good health. But did you know what role the posture that a person takes while relaxing plays in this process? Therefore, today we will try to find out which side is better to sleep on. And in general, what position of the body is most optimal and useful for people with various diseases.
Mythology
In the days of the USSR, children from kindergarten were taught to lie on their right side, putting their hands under their cheeks, explaining that this was how the load was removed from the heart. But, according to doctors, in fact, there is no single right and useful posture for absolutely every person in the world. There are features that should be taken into account, and the common belief that only the left side should be chosen can bring a lot of harm to the health of someone who has certain problems with it.
Regarding the load on the heart — indeed, the volume of blood that he needs to pump will increase by about 30%. But only those who constantly experience shortness of breath or frequent pain can feel it.
In addition, there is such a diagnosis as intercostal neuralgia, which is sometimes confused even with a heart attack. Why turn on the left side becomes almost impossible. And in general, it is located almost in the center of our chest, or rather inside it, which is why it does not come into contact with either the ribs or any covering tissues …
And as for the hands, do you know why the kids had to hide them? Thus, the educators tried to exclude the emergence of their interest in their genitals.
Poses
Let’s take a closer look at each body position during sleep in order to understand which of them should definitely be avoided, and which one, on the contrary, you should try to accustom yourself to.
On the stomach
It is generally accepted that this position is a bad habit of a person that needs to be fought. The fact is that it provokes back problems, such as osteochondrosis, pathological changes in the vertebrae, and so on. In addition, when we lie on our stomachs, we cannot breathe while burrowing into a mattress or pillow. Why do you have to turn your head to the side, and this negatively affects blood circulation. Therefore, an insufficient amount of oxygen in the brain can cause fatigue, irritation, and, importantly, headaches, nightmares, and as a result, insomnia.
If, in addition, put your hands under your head and bend your legs, then severe pain in the back will not take long. The muscles of the cervical-collar zone will be in constant tension, and the spine will begin to slowly but surely bend. Therefore, if you monitor your posture and health, it is not enough to exercise and control yourself while sitting, it is also important to avoid sleeping on your stomach.
And, by the way, this also affects beauty in a not the best way. Wrinkles appear on the face, neck and chest, and, as many women know, they can no longer be smoothed out, at least in a natural way. Yes, and edema will not add charisma and charm in the morning. The only indicator for which this position is recommended is snoring, since lying on your stomach makes it easier to breathe.
For those who cannot completely give up on it, there is a little trick to ease the load on the spine — get a small pillow and put it in the lowest part of the abdomen. It is strictly forbidden to eat at least two hours before rest, and, of course, during pregnancy, since pressure on the fetus can provoke the most negative consequences.
On the back
While resting on the back, the amount of air that enters the lungs is significantly reduced, plus the breathing process becomes more sonorous, which means that a person prone to sleep apnea will definitely start snoring in this position.
And, in principle, this is the only contraindication (except for pregnancy, again, due to excessive pressure), since, in contrast to the previous option, this option allows you to straighten the intervertebral discs, relieve the load in the spine and really helps to gain strength overnight .
The face and neck are not pressed by the mattress and rollers. Therefore, the skin has access to oxygen, which is an excellent method to keep fresh and youthful. People who experience periodic heartburn will be able to alleviate their condition. Since lying on your back, there is no pressure on the abdominal cavity, as a result of which the risk that acid will be thrown from the stomach into the esophagus, irritating it, is significantly reduced. Also recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure and chondrosis, scoliosis.
On the side
Both sides are equally beneficial for the spine, as they are the most natural for its curves.
• Right. It is important to choose in hot summer or at elevated temperatures, especially for children. The secret is that the body cools faster, which makes a person feel more comfortable. It is advisable to bend the legs at the knees, then it is possible to cope with anxiety, anxiety, resentment and other feelings that are difficult to live with. Assuming the form of a fetus in the mother’s womb, subconsciously we return to this state of relaxation, security and trust.
Be sure to practice it for insomnia, depression and nervous breakdowns against the background of stress. Contraindicated in those who have heartburn, as it can provoke its occurrence. The largest vein is located on this side, therefore, if it is “overlying”, there is a risk of circulatory disorders with all the ensuing consequences. So be careful.
• Left. Like it or not, this pose is the most beneficial for our body. It helps to cope with varicose veins, heartburn, snoring, and it’s really more beneficial for the heart, as there is less stress. And also for the spleen and during pregnancy, both for the mother herself and for the baby in the womb.
Among other things, the left side is considered the leading one in the lymphatic system. Therefore, while you sleep, your body actively filters toxins and lymph, which helps to improve metabolism, and in general, improve health.
It may seem surprising, but for the stomach, this option is the most useful among the rest. Do you know why? Because it simplifies the process of moving digested waste from the small intestine to the large intestine, which relieves a person of constipation and irregular stools. But, it is worth noting that there are also contraindications.
It is not recommended for people who have high blood pressure, as well as problems with the cervical-collar zone. In this case, it is imperative to use a roller, and place your hands along the body, in no case putting it under your head, as advised in Soviet kindergartens, otherwise there is a risk of getting a curvature of the spine.
Recommendations
- Pay attention to what you sleep on. The mattress by your bed should be fairly firm and the pillows should be flat and small. The ideal option is rollers, then the head will not tilt back or be in an unnatural position, causing tension.
- If you need to sleep on a certain side, you can put a pillow on the opposite side, it will prevent turning over, at least unconsciously, when awake.
- Never go to bed immediately after eating. If it so happened that you could not resist and ate, take a walk somewhere, but at least walk around the room. You can see more about all the rules in the article «TOP 14 Rules for Healthy Human Sleep for Successful and Effective Activities.»
- Try to avoid monotony in body position, as wrinkles can appear both on the chest and on the shoulders. And if the skin is not at all in good shape, only on one side, it will at least look incomprehensible. And besides, you should not force yourself to take a certain position, because if it is not convenient for you, you will not be able to relax, and accordingly there will be little benefit from such a process. As a last resort, try using small rollers to organize comfort.
Conclusion
And that’s all for today, dear readers! Take care of yourself and your health, and what exactly you need to do for this, you can learn from the article «How to start a healthy lifestyle at 30: TOP 15 fundamental rules.»