Back Sleepers Pros: Many doctors agree that back is best. The pose is a boon for spine and neck health, because the back is straight and not forced into any contortions. Plus back sleeping helps the mattress does its job of supporting the spine. In a perfect world, everyone would sleep on their backs without a pillow, as this position leaves the neck in a neutral position. Using too many pillows, however, can make breathing more difficult. Back sleeping is also a winner for the more cosmetically inclined. Spending all night with the face out in the air—and not smooched up against a pillow—leads to fewer facial wrinkles. Cons: Instances of snoring and sleep apnea are much more frequent when a person is sleeping in the supine position. In fact, back sleeping is so closely linked to sleep apnea that doctors prescribe side sleeping as a treatment for the condition. When we sleep on our backs, gravity forces the base of the tongue to collapse into the airway, which obstructs breathing and creates not -so-pleasant snoring noises. It’s also worth noting that a supported spine doesn’t always necessarily mean a good night’s sleep. A study comparing the sleep habits of good sleepers and poor sleepers noted the people with worse-quality sleep spent more time on their backs than the good sleepers.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:08:26 +0000
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