The Best Sleep Positions for Common Ailments

Believe it or not, the way you sleep can help alleviate a lot of common health problems people suffer from. If I told you that you could get a good night sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and not being plagued by a medical condition, would you believe me? Try it for yourself and see the evidence unfold for you.

Neck Pain: Your body needs to be aligned to elevate neck pain. What does this exactly mean to you and your sleep habits now? Possibly you are using two many pillows or your pillow is on the saggy side. You need to find a pillow that helps keep your head elevated and aligned with the rest of your body as you lay sleeping.

Acid Reflux (GERD): Your upper torso needs to be higher, plain and simple, to stop the results of acid reflux or GERD from plaguing you at night. You can achieve this by purchasing a wedge style pillow or by using bed slats.

Back Pain: Many people wake up in the morning feeling as if their bodies are older then what they are, they are stiff and in pain. You can achieve a more comfortable night's sleep by sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees and the correct type of pillow to align your neck. You are trying to achieve keeping your spine straight and your body in perfect alignment while you sleep.

Pregnancy: During the third trimester sleeping becomes difficult for the pregnant women due to the growing tummy and the engorged breasts becoming sensitive. You will want to lie on your side with your legs bent upward while your thighs are supported by a pillow underneath them.

Sleep Apnea: Sleeping on your side prevents your soft palate and tongues from slipping backwards as it does while you sleep on your back. If you tend to find yourself on your back a wedged pillow pushed under your back to keep on your side is a quick remedy, if you do not have a wedged pillow you can roll up a towel and place it behind your back while laying on your side.

Tension Headaches: Sleeping on your back and keeping your body aligned is very important when it comes to reducing tension headaches when you sleep with your body stretched out of alignment you are putting pressure on different areas and cutting off circulation. If you have trouble sleeping on your back you can try to use a cervical pillow. These are the types of pillows that wrap around your neck sort of like a collar. These pillows help keep your neck aligned while keeping you laying on your back.

Source: Nurses Training