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For a small percentage of us, stomach sleeping is the most comfortable way to fall asleep.
We asked the experts and it turns out; pretty bad.
Here’s why stomach sleeping really is as bad as you think.
and how to go about changing your sleep posture.
What’s so bad about stomach sleeping?
If you aren’t a stomach sleeper, the position can seem uncomfortable, if not unnatural.
While this won’t prevent all problems, it can help limit the impact of front sleeping.
But it isn’t just your joints that can suffer from stomach sleeping, as Dr. McAllister explains.
“Sleeping face-down can put pressure on internal organs, which may impact digestion and breathing.”
Are there any benefits to stomach sleeping?
Stomach sleeping canprevent snoringand limitsymptoms of sleep apnea.
But for Dr. McAllister, these advantages are minor.
And when you’re comfy, it’s easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
And for perennial stomach sleepers, she recommends speaking to a health care professional as a preventative measure.
If you’re trying to change position, these methods can help ease the switch.
Consider using aknee pillow, if you’re worried about the pressure side sleeping will place on your knees.
There’s no way to avoid this, but Dr. McAllister insists it’s worth the effort.
To limit the impact, we recommend making the transition slowly.
And if you’re still struggling to get comfortable, try a different angle literally.
If side sleeping hasn’t worked for you, try back sleeping or even lying on the other side.
Sherry McAllister, DC, M.S.
