One of the health problems that people with should limit sleeping in the supine position is sleep apnea. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, according to the health website Verywell Health (USA).
People with sleep apnea should avoid lying on their backs and should lie on their sides.
A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that occurs due to a blockage in the upper airway. This blockage can interfere with the ability to breathe while sleeping and cause sufferers to wake up frequently during the night. .
A person is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea when they have at least 5 episodes of apnea per hour, each lasting 10 seconds or more. This results in sleep deprivation and makes the person feel sleepy throughout the day.
For people with sleep apnea, sleeping on your back is a must. This is because when you lie on your back, your jaw and tongue will be affected by gravity and slide towards your throat, obstructing your breathing. This leads to snoring and sleep apnea.
Instead of sleeping on your back, experts explain that people with sleep apnea are better off sleeping on their sides. Sleeping on your side prevents the tongue and jaw from sliding toward your windpipe and reduces snoring. In general, sleeping on your side with your head slightly elevated is a good sleeping position. Just be careful not to use pillows that are too high, as this can cause neck strain.
However, side sleeping should not be considered a treatment for sleep apnea. The condition can increase the risk of health problems such as heart attack, high blood pressure, and heart failure. Therefore, it is best to see a doctor to treat sleep apnea, according to Verywell Health .
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