Sleeping on your back: the pros and cons

Sleep is a very personal experience. Although there is no common practice regarding the proper sleeping position , the majority of people are comfortable sleeping on their side or back, which are primarily considered to be the best anatomical positions. At the same time, however, a smaller portion of people make the difference and prefer sleeping on their backs. A particularly enigmatic attitude, which some people hate, while others… love! But how good is the stomach sleeping position? Face down means sleeping with the stomach down. Unfortunately, we have to mention that sleeping on your stomach is mostly bad in general. When you actually sleep like this systematically, you could face:

• Back pain. The most common complaint of people who sleep on their backs is back pain. Because most people keep most of their weight in their core, sleeping on your back causes your lower back to sag and your back to arch uncomfortably throughout the night.
• Wrinkles. Sleeping on your face as well as on your side can have the unwanted side effect of creating more wrinkles on your face.

On the other hand, sleeping on your back is good for people who have sleep apnea or snoring . Lying on your stomach keeps your airways open. The same cannot be said for lying down.

What sleeping on your face reveals about your personality

According to Robert Phipps, a British body language expert, people who sleep on their backs have some common characteristics. These characteristics include feeling less in control of your life while waking up with more anxiety than the average person. The expert says that face sleepers tend to wake up feeling like they still have unfinished business from the day before. However, face sleeping is definitely the most defensive sleeping position because you instinctively protect the front of your body. If, however, this position really suits your body and gives you a pleasant feeling after sleep, then follow some useful tips for a better face sleep without discomfort:

• Sleep with a pillow under your pelvis while sleeping on your back. This supports your hips and keeps your spine in better alignment. Place the top of the pillow on your lower abdomen, while the bottom of the pillow will hit about mid-thigh.
• You can, if you want, skip sleeping with a pillow altogether. This allows you to keep your neck in better alignment with the rest of your body. If you use a pillow, make sure it is relatively flat. Resting on your stomach with your head on a high pillow forces your neck back and causes upper body pain in the morning.
• Try sleeping with your forehead facing the pillow and not with your head turned to the side. This is better for your upper vertebrae.
• If you are pregnant, sleeping on your back is something you should avoid. Most doctors recommend sleeping on your side. Sleeping on the left side has particular advantages. It improves blood flow to vital organs, including the heart, uterus and kidneys. You can also switch to your right side at times so you don't put too much stress on one shoulder.

Choosing the right mattress for face sleeping

Good face sleeper mattresses are firm and contoured. The stability prevents your body from sinking too far into the bed, and the contour protects your hips and other pressure points. A good memory foam mattress supports your pelvis while giving way to your head (which will rest directly on the mattress if you skip a pillow). You'll naturally trap heat under your body when you sleep on your stomach, so you want a mattress that wicks away heat. Materials such as memory foam, combined with copper, prevent overheating offering a pleasant awakening. *The article is based on scientific evidence from research by Daniel Noyed , Certified Sleep Coach & partner of the Sleep Foundation.