For sleeping positions, most opinions are that lying on your side is the best one. Right side sleepers believe that sleeping on the right is better for the heart, while left side sleepers believe that sleeping on the left is better for digestion. These two sleeping positions were also selected as the most commonly used sleeping positions.
Sleeping on the stomach is like a baby. Children in infancy like to sleep on the stomach, but if adults, especially those who are relatively obese sleep on their stomach, there are many harms. Of course, everything has two sides, and sleeping on your stomach has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, this article will introduce you how sleeping on your stomach does harm to your health, and what kind of people are suitable for sleeping on your stomach.
Part 1. Disadvantages of sleeping on your stomach
Sleeping on your stomach for a long time may affect your health. Sleeping on your stomach will first put more pressure on the heart and reduce the blood flow, which may lead to insufficient blood supply to the brain, resulting in the performance of ischemia and hypoxia, and you may have symptoms of headache and dizziness.
Secondly, sleeping on your stomach may be difficult to breathe. Especially for some people with sleep apnea, it may lead to hypoxia in the brain.
Thirdly, sleeping on the stomach may compress your limbs, especially the upper limbs, causing soreness and numbness of the upper limbs.
Finally, sleeping on your stomach is not very good for your cervical spine. It may affect the curvature of the cervical spine and cause neck pain. Therefore, sleeping on your stomach has many disadvantages and should be avoided as much as possible.
Part 2. Reasons of sleeping on your stomach.
In fact, there are many benefits for babies to sleep on their stomachs.
1). Sleeping on the stomach improves baby's health
- Sleeping on the stomach can promote lung development and improve breathing efficiency
When a baby sleeps on his stomach, the bed will give a reaction force to massage the child's chest, which can improve the baby's lung capacity and promote the development of the respiratory system, especially for pre-monthly newborns. In addition, the infant's thorax and the back of the lungs are longer, the lungs are the least compressed when sleeping on the stomach, and the breathing efficiency is higher. The oxygen content of hemoglobin is increased by 5-10%.
- Sleeping on the stomach can prevent vomiting
Babies spit up milk is a very common phenomenon. The cardia is raised when the human body is lying on the stomach, which can prevent spitting up. Even if the baby spit up, since the face is down, it will not cause suffocation due to inhalation of vomit.
- Sleeping on the stomach can improve baby’s sleep quality.
The baby in the mother's womb is in a curled position with the face facing in and the back facing out. Therefore, sleeping on the stomach can easily make the baby feel safe. This position is the most natural self-protection position. Easy to fall asleep and improve sleep quality.
- Sleeping on the stomach can strengthen the body
As infants and young children develop their limbs, they begin to perform body movements independently. Sleeping on the stomach can enhance the strength of muscles such as wrists, arms and backs.
2). Other people who are suitable for sleeping on the stomach.
Study shows that people suffering from dental caries, periodontal disease, sinusitis and other diseases should sleep on their stomachs. The saliva of these people carries a lot of germs, and sleeping on the stomach is conducive to the discharge of fluids in the mouth, and will not cause bronchial and lung diseases. We also think that people with stomach problems and alcoholics can sleep on their stomachs. Moreover, sleeping on the stomach can also avoid snoring and prevent sleep apnea syndrome.
Part 3. The right way to sleep on your stomach
If you prefer to sleep on your stomach, you can do it the right way.
Turn your face naturally to the side, either left or right, touch the mattress with your palms facing down or up, and lift your wrists to your head or spread it loosely at your sides without pressing your palms or arms under your body.
In fact, most people constantly change their sleeping positions at night, so don't be too serious. If sleeping on your stomach is uncomfortable, just switch to another position.
