Side Effects Of Sleeping On Your Stomach: Expert Tips And Advice

Waking up with back pain in the morning? Find out why sleeping on your stomach may be the culprit. While it can reduce snoring, this position may strain your back and neck, affecting sleep quality and causing discomfort.

  • Amit Diwan
  • Editorial
  • Updated - 2024-07-10, 17:07 IST
sleeping on stomach risk

Are you a stomach sleeper? It may feel comfortable, but this sleeping position could be secretly sabotaging your health and general well-being. According to Healthline, sleeping on your belly might have some benefits, such as reducing snoring or sleep apnoea, but ultimately, the cons outweigh the pros.

sleeping on stomach

The Hidden Risks of Sleeping on Your Stomach

Primary concerns with stomach sleeping revolve around its effect on your spine and neck. Healthline indicates that this position is unnatural to the human body, straining essential areas unnecessarily, which can lead to chronic pains and aches.

The Mayo Clinic supports this by mentioning that sleeping on your stomach makes it difficult to maintain a neutral spine position. With most of the body weight centrally located, an unnatural curve in the spine occurs while sleeping. This misalignment not only affects your back, but it can also trigger ailments and pains throughout the body.

Healthline points out that stomach sleeping forces you to turn your head to one side, leading to serious issues over time, such as herniated disks, a painful condition where the cushioning between vertebrae ruptures.

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sleep cycle

Tips to Minimise Sleeping On Your Stomach

  • Ditch the pillow or opt for a super thin one: A flatter pillow will bend your neck less.
  • Pelvis support: Place a pillow under your pelvis to maintain a more neutral spine position.
  • Morning stretches: Gentle stretching can realign your body and strengthen supporting muscles.

These strategies will help your body reduce the potential negative effects of sleeping on your stomach. However, the best option is to gradually train yourself to sleep in a healthier position.

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