The quality of your sleep has a significant impact on the state of your skin and health. That means anything less than the recommended seven to eight hours can lead to pesky dark bags under your eyes, discoloration, and puffiness that plague your complexion. However, did you know that one of the most overlooked factors of premature aging is your sleeping position?
However soundly you sleep, everyone tends to switch positions through the various sleep stages. To that end, we’re here to lay down the different sleeping positions and how it can affect your overall health.
1. Sleeping on Your Side
Almost two-thirds of the population sleep on their sides, and fortunately, experts say that it is also one of the best sleeping position for your health. It lowers the chances of you snoring and developing sleep apnea. It also reduces the risk of back and neck pain, making it a better option compared to sleeping on your back or front.
Additionally, sleeping on your side can lower the chances of developing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This is because the brain’s waste clearance system functions better when you snooze on your side. Interestingly, sleeping on your left side is favorable than the right as it eases symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux. It also improves blood flow, which ultimately encourages a higher quality of rest.
What are the Risks?
While sleeping on your side is better for your health, the drawback is that it makes you prone to premature aging as it creates more folds in the skin, which can lead to potential sagging of the skin.
2. Sleeping on Your Back
If you’re aiming to reduce the chances of developing wrinkles and sagging skin, sleeping on your back may be the best position for you. The gravity also prevents food and acid from rising the esophagus, which means that you lower your chances of suffering from acid reflux as you drift off to dreamland.
This position also evenly distributes the weight from your head, neck, and spine, allowing you to maintain a neutral position that reduces any physical aches.
What are the Risks?
Due to having a more massive central gravity on your chest, sleeping on your back will exacerbate your tendency to snore and increase the risk of sleep apnea.
3. Sleeping on Your Front
Resting on your front tends to snore less than back sleepers.
What are the Risks?
This is arguably the worst of all sleeping positions as experts say those front sleepers have no support for the natural curve of the spine. This means that you are adding stress to your joints and muscles, which increases your risk of neck and back pain. It also worsens wrinkles as the friction from the bed burns your skin and adds sleep lines to your face.
The Bottom Line
Everybody has their favorite sleeping position, and most can’t help but settle into it without giving it much thought. While it’s a matter of preference, your sleep position will have an extensive effect on your body and health.
To that end, trying on a new position may be beneficial for your health, but keep in mind that it will take a while to break the habit of how you’ve been hitting the sack for years. Nonetheless, play around with different postures and stick to the one that provides you the most comfort.
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