Does sleeping on your stomach affect your circulation?
Sleeping on your stomach can have a major impact on the health of your circulatory system, potentially leading to long-term medical problems. It is important to understand the risks and consider alternatives if you are someone who habitually sleeps on your stomach. In this article, we examine the potential effects of sleeping on your stomach on your circulatory health, the benefits of avoiding this position, and helpful tips for avoiding sleeping on your stomach. We also explore alternative sleeping positions that can help reduce the risk of poor circulation, as well as what to do if you have poor circulation caused by sleeping on your stomach. Finally, we provide professional advice and our own conclusions.
What are the risks of sleeping on your stomach?
When you sleep on your stomach, the pressure and weight from your body restricting the blood vessels that travel along the top of your body, obstructing oxygen from reaching the tissues. This can lead to a wide range of circulatory issues, such as carotid artery disease, stroke, or claudication. Additionally, some people who sleep on their stomachs experience low blood pressure and atrial fibrillation, or develop sleep apnea. Research has also shown that those who sleep on their stomachs are at greater risk for neck and back pain.
How does sleeping on your stomach affect your circulation?
When you sleep on your stomach, your bodyweight and position puts extra pressure on your neck, chest and back. This constricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to certain parts of the body and is especially damaging to larger tissue groups, including the organs. Prolonged periods of constriction can cause the organs to become undernourished while oxygen-rich blood becomes depleted. The heart is forced to work harder to pump the necessary amount of oxygen throughout your body.
Effects of Sleeping on Your Stomach on Circulatory Health
The effects of sleeping on your stomach on circulatory health can be serious. When your body is in a compressed position for an extended period, the oxygen-rich blood supply to organs is reduced or even totally obstructed. Not getting an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood leads to decreased energy levels, difficulty performing everyday activities, poor sleep quality, and even low blood pressure. In addition, those who sleep on their stomachs may be at greater risk of developing medical conditions such as stroke, carotid artery disease, and claudication.
Benefits of Avoiding Sleeping on Your Stomach
Beyond avoiding risks posed to your circulatory system, there are other benefits to avoiding sleeping on your stomach as well. People who find themselves struggling with neck and back pain due to this sleeping position can find relief by switching positions. Additionally, it is recommended that pillows be used in order to help with alignment and posture while sleeping in any position other than on your stomach. Finally, because the stomach position reduces airflow through the lungs, those who have trouble breathing in their sleep may find respite by changing their sleeping positions.
Tips for Avoiding Sleeping on Your Stomach
If you find yourself regularly waking up in the morning with a sore neck or back, you likely are prone to sleeping on your stomach. Here are some tips for avoiding this dangerous practice:
- First, it is important to pay close attention to your posture either sitting or laying down during the day. Slouching can often lead to poor alignment when you sleep and make you more likely to unconsciously turn onto your stomach.
- Try limiting or even removing pillows from your bed if you find yourself waking up in uncomfortable positions. Having too many pillows could be causing you to roll over onto your stomach while you sleep.
- When getting ready for bed, it is important to try and recall any times throughout the day that you found yourself in a hunched-over position. This will help remind you to start and finish the night in a more beneficial position.
- It can also help to try and meditate before bed or even practice deep breathing activities in order to create good habits while in bed.
Alternative Sleeping Positions to Reduce Risk of Poor Circulation
If you tend to sleep on your stomach, you should consider switching to an alternative sleeping position in order to reduce any risks posed to your circulatory health. Lying on one’s side in the fetal position or with legs stretched out straight along the bed are both better for circulation than sleeping face-down. Additionally, it is essential that pillows are used correctly when sleeping on one’s side as they can provide extra support in order to create alignment and reduce pressure due to bad posture.
What to Do if You Have Poor Circulation from Sleeping on Your Stomach
If poor circulation from sleeping on your stomach has already caused negative effects on one’s health, there are steps that can be taken to improve symptoms. Proper diet and exercise tailored to one’s specific health needs are essential for restoring circulation. Additionally, many people find relief through massage therapy or chiropractic treatments which can target tight muscles and areas of tension.
Professional Advice: Is It Unhealthy to Sleep on Your Stomach?
Most medical professionals advise against sleeping on one’s stomach due to its potential disruption of good circulation. To avoid potential health risks associated with this position, many doctors recommend sleeping in another position such as lying on one’s side with legs stretched out straight along the bed or in the fetal position.
Summary and Conclusions
In conclusion, sleeping on one’s stomach is not advised due to its disruption of good circulation throughout the body. Not getting proper oxygen-rich blood supply can cause an array of health issues such as stroke, carotid artery disease, and claudication. It can also lead to neck and back pain due to bad posture, and even low blood pressure resulting in fatigue. Those who struggle with this sleep position should pay attention to their posture throughout the day, limit the amount of pillows used during sleep, practice relaxation techniques before heading to bed, and consider alternative sleeping positions such as lying on one’s side in the fetal or with legs stretched out straight along a bed.
