In addition, asupine positionallows outstretchedligamentsto shrink and recover back to their normal positions.
Tension headachesoccur when your neck and scalp muscles become tense or contract.
Sleeping with your neck in abnormal positions can trigger the spasms that cause tension headaches.
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The neutral alignment that occurs with sleeping on your back may help reduce these spasms.
Possibly Preventing Wrinkles
Sleeping on your back vs. other positions may help prevent wrinkles.
Sleeping on your side or stomach can allow your skin to become squeezed and crushed throughout the night.
The effect can pull your skin in all directions as gravity presses your face against the pillow.
Over time, you may develop a flatter face and more visible wrinkles on your sleeping side.
These episodes reduce your oxygen intake, causing you to gasp and awaken at night.
Research indicates that many people with OSA sleep on their backs for a substantial proportion of time.
The risk of OSA may be higher when sleeping on your back.
OSA can occur during sleep when the muscles that keep your throat open become relaxed.
In most people, this does not interfere with oxygen flow into your body.
However, if you have a narrow throat, your airway can become blocked as these muscles relax.
Mild OSA may be relieved by lifestyle changes that can improve symptoms.
Some people benefit from wearing anoral appliancethat keeps their jaw forward and their airway open while they sleep.
For moderate and severe OSA, acontinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)machine is considered first-line treatment.
It can occur as a symptom of OSA, though not everyone who snores has this condition.
However, most people with OSA snore.
Sleeping on your back can contribute to snoring because of gravity.
Research indicates that sleeping on your side can reduce the frequency and intensity of snoring in some people.
Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant are often advised to avoid sleeping on their back late in pregnancy.
By 28 weeks of pregnancy, theuterusis much larger and heavier than normal.
Lying on your back puts the weight of your uterus on yourinferior vena cava.
Compressing this vein can reduce blood flow to your unborn baby.
It also improveskidney function.
However, there’s more than your sleep position involved in getting a good night’s sleep.
It can also help you prevent sleep wrinkles that can add long-term lines to your face.
However, sleeping on your back isn’t advised for everyone.
It can create and worsen problems for people who have OSA.
It can also worsen symptoms in people who have OSA or snore.
Sleeping in this position in late pregnancy has also been linked with a higher risk of stillbirth.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of sleeping on your back.
Overall, the quantity and quality of your sleep can affect your general physical andmental health.
Finding a position that helps you sleep without increasing health risks is ideal.
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Here’s how they leave their mark.
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