Sleeping is a want and need that people cannot live without. It is an important luxury that most people take for granted because of work and study. It is important to note that researchers have studied the benefits of sleeping to your brain and body and its other possible effects on your overall well-being.
People prefer different positions while sleeping: fetal position, lying on one’s stomach, spread-eagled, lying on one’s back, hugging a pillow, sleeping on one’s side, etc. Different positions provide a level of comfort for different people. This article will talk more about the side sleepers.
Your Sleeping Position
Keeping your body comfortable as you sleep helps with its bone and muscle alignment. There are times when you maintain the same position for a very long period as you sleep. You keep still and remain unaware that that same position is straining your body. To avoid such discomfort, turning and changing positions will help alleviate the pain after waking up.
Benefits of Sleeping on Your Side
There are reports that side sleeping, also known as the lateral sleeping position, is a much better position because it gives your body many benefits, especially to the brain.
- Research shows that the brain removes waste as you sleep on your side. This results in the unlikelihood of getting Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. According to Stony Brook University experts, this sleeping position also reduces the possibility of being afflicted by other neurological diseases.
- Elevating your head while sleeping on your left side can also aid in nighttime digestion. Just remember to keep your head and neck in a neutral position. Use a good pillow and pair it with the best mattress in a box.
- Side sleeping keeps you safe from sleep apnea, a condition that occurs during sleep when breathing repeatedly starts and stops. Sleep apnea can range from obstructive, central, and mixed.
Finding the Best Comfort
No matter how you try to follow the experts’ advice, there is no better sleeping position than what you are used to. To keep from experiencing any uneasiness, you have to find ways to make adjustments that will keep you comfortable as you take your much-needed rest.
If you are a side sleeper and want a maximum sleeping experience, make sure that you align your body properly to avoid pain and discomfort. Experts say you should keep your neck and head in a neutral position.
The Best Mattress
Some mattresses suit better on certain sleepers. Choose one that can effectively give you relief. Here are the following things that you have to remember when looking for one:
- Evaluate your things to cater to your needs. You can opt to replace your old pillows and mattress for maximum comfort. Find bedfellows that can provide you with relief as you go off to neverland.
- Look for a mattress that suits you best. There are a variety of great mattresses in the market that have good options. There are those that cool your body down and have additional layers to protect your bones and muscles.
- If you have difficulty with choosing between soft and hard mattresses, then look for something that can best support your body as you sleep. It would help if you had as much comfort as quality. The best mattress for side sleepers is soft to medium for proper muscle relaxation.
Try sliding your hand between your lower back curve and the mattress, if it slides through smoothly and with no gap, then you have got a great mattress. A gap between the same area could mean your mattress is hard, and if you have difficulty putting your hand through it, then it is too soft.
- We have different preferences when it comes to mattress firmness. Sometimes it will depend on your size and weight. But the ‘firmness’ is actually measured by the mattress industry through a 1-10 scale. The ideal standard for medium firmness being 6.5/10. But for strict side sleepers, a scale of 3-6/10 is enough to keep them well-rested.
Firmness vs. Support
These two are often confused. They are not synonymous words. When we talk of ‘support,’ we are talking of alignment, but when we refer to ‘firmness,’ it means your level of comfort.
Both, however, give side sleepers a level of comfort that can give quality sleep and rest. Side sleepers need full support on their curved areas, like the neck and the hips. A mattress that fully supports these areas can help in the alignment and restoration of the body.
Takeaway
Sleeping is a great experience that should leave everyone undisturbed. Any slight discomfort could cost a dream or two. A fully grown adult needs seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep to replenish his lost energy from a day’s work.
Find ways in which to relax your body as you get ready to hit the sack. You can drink a glass of hot milk or read a chapter from your favorite book before a shut-eye. And a good bed that gives you the comfort that you need will help elevate your sleep.
