What happens when you sleep on your stomach?

Sleeping positions vary from person to person, depending on preference, comfort, and medical conditions. Some people prefer to sleep on their side, hugging a pillow, while others are used to sleeping on their back or stomach. According to experts, there is no perfect sleeping position, as long as you feel comfortable and sleep well. However, some positions may be worse than others, typically lying on your stomach. Here are 4 ways that sleeping on your stomach affects your health.

Causes neck pain

Stomach sleeping is considered the least beneficial sleeping position. This is because it often causes body aches, especially in the neck area. Often, when sleeping on your stomach, the neck is raised too high. The neck also risks tilting to one side throughout the night. As a result, many people suffer from neck pain the next morning.

Tossing and turning

Stomach sleepers also tend to toss and turn throughout the night. Sleeping face down compresses the joints in the neck and back, causing the arms to go numb as they bear the weight of the body. Because this position can be uncomfortable, sleepers tend to toss and turn more often at night, disrupting their sleep. Poor quality sleep has negative health effects such as fatigue, and increases the risk of being overweight and high blood pressure.

Lower back stretch

Lower back pain is another common problem for stomach sleepers. This position stretches the neck and spine, putting extra stress on the joints in the spine as well as the lower back.

Stomach sleeping makes it difficult to keep the spine aligned. This may not cause pain or pressure after a night or two, but if it continues for a long time, it can lead to discomfort or pain. Putting pressure on sensitive joints in the back muscles also makes it difficult to move, sit properly, or perform daily tasks.

Increased acid reflux

Sleeping on your stomach or back can also aggravate acid reflux symptoms. When you are upright, gravity helps prevent stomach acid from flowing back up into your throat. But when you switch to sleeping on your back or stomach, gravity reduces the chance of acid rising and disrupting your sleep.

For people who are used to sleeping on their stomachs and cannot sleep in other positions, there are some things you can do to help avoid potential complications. For example, use a thin, flat pillow to prop your face up so that your head and neck are less inclined. Placing a pillow under your pelvis can also help keep your back in a more neutral position, reducing pressure on your spine. When you wake up each morning, stretch for a few minutes to return your body to its normal state and strengthen your supporting muscles.