We have all had to endure those terrible, sleepless nights where it seems like no matter what you do, you just can't nod off. Counting sheep doesn't make a difference, that lavender spray that you received in your Christmas stocking can't seem to soothe you and goddamn, you have to wake up in five hours! But even when you're not battling the odd bout of insomnia, it appears that the way you sleep could be negatively impacting your overall health.
In A Life Less Stressed, Dr Ron Ehrlich outlines the five pillars of health and wellness which allow people to live happier, healthier lives. And naturally,
sleep is at the top of the list.
The health expert states that not only is it the most important part of the day, affecting our physical, mental and emotional well-being, but that it's also the core tenant of any wellness journey. However, while we're led to believe that it's all about how
much sleep we get, Ehrlich stresses that quality is more important. And how well we breathe while we get our forty winks, as well as the position we fall asleep in both have an integral role to play in this.
When it comes to
snoozing positions, we all have our favourites. Some can't get to sleep if they're not in the foetal position, and others swear by slumbering on their side. However, as Dr Ron Ehrlich informs us, our sleeping situation could be impacting our overall health. And in his book, A Life Less Stressed, he breaks down what sleep positions we should be avoiding.
With Ehrlich stating "Stomach sleeping is the worst", it's certainly a bad day for tummy snoozers. Not only does it place "strain" on the muscles of the head, neck and jaw, but it also strains the jaw joints and can twist the lower back and pelvis. "Imagine wringing out a wet towel and that's pretty much what you do to your muscles and joints while you are asleep on your stomach. It can also restrict your ability to breathe well while sleeping," continues Ehrlich.
And while sleeping on your back is "better", it can "predispose your lower jaw, to which your tongue is attached, to drop to the back of the throat and restrict or even completely block your breathing and airway". Ehrlich states that this normally manifests as snoring, but it can escalate to sleep apnoea, a condition which can "dramatically affect your mental and physical health and even be life threatening".
It's not all bad, however. If you regularly drift off on your side, you're in luck. "Side sleeping is probably the best," Dr Ehrlich asserts. "From a structural, neurological and muscular perspective, as well as for your airway it is kinder to the body. It also happens to be better for digestion, particularly lying on the left side, considering where the oesophagus enters the stomach," he adds.
Well, there you have it. If you're noticing that you're not waking up as rested as you would like, maybe it's time to re-assess your sleeping position. It may be time to give side sleeping a try.
