Your sleep positions have an overall bearing on the quality of your sleep. Researches suggest that correct sleep postures results in good quality sleep, whereas poor sleep postures result in poor sleep quality. Poor sleep further impacts the improper functioning of blood circulation and the digestive system, leading to uneasiness, headaches, and drowsiness.
This article, therefore, gives you an insight into the good and bad sleeping postures and their impact on your sleep quality. You will also learn the best sleep posture after c section for good quality sleep.
However, before we get started with the relationship between sleep posture and sleep quality, let’s first understand a bit about sleep posture.
What is a Sleep Posture?
A sleep posture is the positioning of your body when you are in deep relaxation. Every individual has different sleep positions that come very naturally.
Sleep posture has many health implications. Before reconsidering better sleep postures, several factors, such as health, weight, age, and pregnancy, must be considered.
What is a Bad Sleep Position?
The bad sleep positioning of the body may misalign the spinal cord, leading to poor posture, joint deformity, respiratory and mobility functions. Sleeping incorrectly may lead to rest injuries in muscles, bones, and nerves. Among all, backaches are very common in all age groups.
People with bad sleep postures will encounter several other problems, such as snoring and grinding their teeth during sleep. Bad postures can lead to serious health problems, such as sinus pain and heart and gut problems.
Bad postures result in poor-quality sleep. Let’s read more to understand good sleep position and its impact on quality sleep.
What is a Good Sleep Position?
Proper spine positioning is crucial for the body’s healthy functioning as it relieves stress; therefore, good sleep habits must be developed daily. If you are not in a good posturing habit, try to have one that suits you, as it will develop a healthy sleep habit.
The right body positioning will aid you with better breathing, reduce snoring, sleep apnea, and body aches, promoting healthy blood flow. Good postures are associated with persons with high-quality nights of sleep.
Let’s understand the good sleeping positions that result in quality sleep.
The Worst Sleep Positions That Impact Your Sleep Quality
The following recommendations can help in avoiding the issues related to poor sleep practice:
#1. Resting on Stomach
People dealing with poor sleep habits are often seen resting on their stomachs. Sleeping or resting on your stomach is a position that can strain certain body parts further, which leads to poor sleep at night.
Resting on the stomach has potential sleep drawbacks, which can seriously alleviate neck and back pains. Also, the person’s chest is towards the gravitational pull, which may stress the proper functioning of lung expansion. They may even have breathing problems if they continue the habit for longer.
#2. Resting on Arms
People with poor sleep habits might struggle while resting on their arms. It can be resting on both arms, mainly left or right.
If you are resting on your arms, it is not recommended for sleep. The rest position can damage the nerve if the pressure is sustained longer.
The most common problem that arises when resting on arms results in wrist drops or numbness in the hands.
#3. The fetal position
Sleeping in the fetal position is another worst sleep position.
Sleeping in the fetal position for a longer duration is unhealthy as several body parts, including the head, back, hips, and knees, get negatively affected.
The Best Sleep Positions For Achieving Quality Sleep
Proper spine positioning is crucial for the body’s healthy functioning as it relieves stress; therefore, good posture habits must be developed in daily activities. If you need to be in better posturing practice, try to have one that suits you, as it will generate a healthy sleep habit.
Proper body positioning will aid you with better breathing, reduce snoring, sleep apnea, and body aches, promoting healthy blood flow. Good postures are associated with persons with high-quality nights of sleep.
Let’s understand the good sleeping positions that result in quality sleep.
Improve your sleep positions by following recommendations that help in better sleep habits:
#1. Resting on Back
Resting on the back is the most recommended sleep position effective for quality sleep. Laying at your back relieves many pains as the body distributes equal pressure.
When the body is stress-free, it ensures better sleep without interruptions during the night.
Resting on the back is a good body posture essential for the straight alignment of the body. Sleeping on your back also aids in beautiful skin and avoids premature wrinkles. However, people can choose their comfortable sleep positions depending on specific health conditions.
#2. Resting on the Side
The best sleep position for a pregnant woman is choosing the left side, which benefits them most during pregnancy.
Resting on the sides is another benefit of the best sleep positions. Sleeping on the sides promotes healthy digestion and a healthy brain, preventing snoring and heartburn problems.
Left-side sleep positioning has more benefits than sleeping on the right side. Sleeping on the left side boosts digestion, and lymphatic drainage promotes healthy skin, blood circulation, and pressure off internal organs. Sleeping on the right side increases the risk of acid reflux.
#3. Sleep Posture after C-Section
The best sleeping position is resting on your back or upright position. Still, if a pregnant woman finds it difficult to carry the position longer and has undergone a C-Section, they can opt for the next best position.
The second-best position for a C-section woman could be sleeping on the left side. Besides optimum blood flow and good digestion, carrying the position for a longer duration is much easier.
#4. Take your Doctor’s Advice
You can always take your doctor’s advice to achieve the correct sleep positions under certain circumstances.
Specifically, if you are diagnosed under medical consideration, having a clear chat with the physiotherapist is better.
Changing the sleep pattern at once may be challenging, so don’t feel shy and immediately reach out to your doctor.
Conclusion
A good sleep position helps individuals with quality sleep. Some sleep postures can suit specific individuals depending on their medical conditions. In the above post, we have discussed sleep postures with their bad and good sleep positioning.
Read more to understand the importance of a good posture by understanding its drawbacks. Additionally, learn the sleep posture after C section for quality sleep.
Beth is Cloudmineinc’s senior health editor and a certified personal trainer. She has over 10 years experience as a science journalist and is the author of two books. She deadlifts over 315 lbs.