Six reasons why you must sleep on your back

There are a host of health benefits that you might not have considered of back sleeping

Many of us like sleeping on our sides, cuddling our pillow or the other in a fetal position, or splayed out across the bed. And some are even die-hard tummy sleepers. But you might say that sleeping on your back is reserved for vampires, zombies, and Frankenstein, it turns out that back sleeping may be a simple, cost-effective solution to a host of ailments, from sleep issues to skin woes.

It may even be an uncomfortable way to hit the hay but as compiled by Healthline, we’ve listed below a host of health benefits that you might not have considered of back sleeping, more officially known as, ‘supine sleeping’.

Reduces back, neck pain

Back sleeping helps reduce pressure on your spine. This position mimics standing up straight. While sleeping on your stomach with your head tilted in one direction for hours can compress the spine and strain your neck, a 2017 study noted that sleeping on the back with both hands at the sides or on the chest is the best way to prevent and relieve any posture pain.

Improves breathing

If you’re lying on your belly or your side, you may be crowding your breathing space. The diaphragm, a muscle responsible for breathing, becomes compressed in a crouched position and that makes one’s breathing shallower. And deep diaphragmatic breathing gives way to reduced stress, improved mood and attention span when you’re up.

Reduces breakouts, wrinkles

Pillowcases absorb product residue, sebum from the skin and hair while we sleep. So back sleeping reduces the chances of breakouts, as well as the growth of black and whiteheads. Not to mention, the friction of your face against the pillow can prompt wrinkles and fine lines which can be avoided by supine sleeping. Sleeping on your face also promotes fluid buildup, causing puffiness around your eyes, so discourage this pooling by sleeping faced upwards.

Relieves sinus buildup

Sleeping with your head elevated above your heart relieves congestion and prevents clogging of your nasal passages. When the head is tilted downwards, mucus pools in the sinuses. So if you prop up your head, gravity will do its part to help drain mucus and keep your airways clear. Supine sleeping also helps with acid reflux.

Prevents headaches

Cervicogenic headaches or headaches rooted in the cervical spine that start from the neck are often confused for migraines. So by keeping your head, neck, and spine in a neutral position, you alleviate pressure.

Waking with the sun

When faced upwards, our brain notice changes in the light readily. So as sunlight streams into your bedroom, you are likely to wake up on time for work or school. You may find this way of waking up more pleasant than the wretched sound of an alarm clock too.

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