Sleeping on a chair is sometimes a suitable choice for people who are sick, but it can also easily cause back and neck pain and leg numbness.
Sleeping with your head slightly elevated is a natural sleeping position, suitable for most people. Sleeping on your back with a mattress that supports your spine is also healthy because it evenly distributes the entire body weight. While a bed and mattress are ideal places to sleep, sometimes a couch or armchair is a resting place for some people.
For most people, falling asleep on the couch occasionally isn’t a big deal, and may even have some benefits. However, sleeping regularly may not be good for your health. Below are the pros and cons of sleeping on a chair.
It’s easier to sleep than to be sick
Sometimes sofas and couches are comfortable options for sleeping in some cases. It can be helpful in case of cold or flu symptoms. Stuffy nose or fever make it difficult for the patient to lie comfortably in bed. Lying on a soft, padded couch can provide more comfort. However, couches are not as hygroscopic as mattresses, so people with fever or chills may sweat, leading to wetness under the back.
Reduce insomnia
For people who have trouble sleeping, sleeping on the couch for a few nights can bring about a change in space, thereby helping the brain readjust to sleep hormones.
Rushing thoughts before bed often occur because the mind is still preoccupied with stress, anxiety, or the day’s events. They interfere with relaxation, making it impossible to fall asleep. By changing your sleeping position, your brain redirects your mind away from stressful thoughts and focuses on your new sleeping space, helping you relax and fall asleep more easily.
However, when the brain gets so used to sleeping on the couch, going back to sleeping in bed can be difficult. Consider using the right mattress to provide comfort and fall asleep faster.
Back and neck pain
Sleeping position can be related to some joint stiffness, back and neck pain. Feeling pain or stiffness in the nerves after waking up may not be serious if a person occasionally sleeps in a chair. However, people who regularly have this sleeping habit are at risk of long-term damage related to the lumbar spine and neck.
Numbness of the feet
If the length of the chair is not suitable, the feet can easily get caught on the edge of the chair while sleeping. Sleeping in this position for a long time can cause numbness and tingling in the lower limbs.
Not safe for infants
Sleeping with babies on the couch is very dangerous for babies. These tight surfaces can increase your baby’s risk of suffocation. In case the pregnant woman stays up at night, feels exhausted and wants to sleep more during the day, she should move to a firm, more spacious surface to have a comfortable sleeping space. Avoid falling asleep while holding your baby on the couch.
Some notes
Some people feel comfortable sleeping in a chair. This could be due to the mattress or bed sheets not being comfortable enough, the sleeping space being less quiet, or the person sleeping next to you snoring. Therefore, you need to reconsider your sleeping space, mattress structure, bed…
To reduce the side effects of sleeping on a chair, you can spread breathable, moisture-absorbing cotton sheets on the surface. Use specialized sleeping pillows to support your neck, avoid backrests or body pillows for sleeping. Consider your sleeping position, stretch your body along the length of the chair, lie on your back so your back is in a straight position. If uncomfortable, place a thin pillow underneath to support your neck. Turn off the TV and put the phone out of reach before falling asleep for at least an hour every day.