Most people who sleep on their stomachs report experiencing back or neck pain that interferes with the quality of their restful slumber and causes additional waking and discomfort throughout the night and daytime hours.
Hospital healthcare teams may position you on your stomach in a prone position in order to assist your lungs.
Lungs sit closer to your back than to your front.
Your lungs are air sacs situated within your ribcage and diaphragm. Their protective cage is formed by your ribs and other muscles in your chest; your left lung may be smaller due to needing space for your heart.
Healthy lungs have a pinkish-gray hue and appear triangularly. Each lung features two lobes separated by fissures and three surfaces/borders: costal surfaces on top and sides, diaphragmatic surfaces at bottom. Lobes can further be divided into superior, middle, and inferior categories.
Lung problems can range from mild and short-lived to serious and life-threatening, from temporary conditions that are treatable by medication to chronic illnesses that need ongoing therapy in order to remain healthy.
Sleeping on your stomach may not be ideal if you already suffer from acid reflux or heartburn, as it can exacerbate snoring and sleep apnea, both which are detrimental to health. If it must be done, try sleeping after meals for only part of the night, stretching when waking up, and performing regular exercises designed to strengthen the muscles supporting back and neck support.
Lungs work harder to inflate.
Your lungs contain 300 million tiny air sacs known as alveoli. Each alveoli has its own thin wall of blood vessels surrounding it, through which oxygen passes to be picked up and carried throughout your body by bloodstream; oxygen then passes back out through this wall into your system via your bloodstream; your lungs also get rid of carbon dioxide through them as you breathe out. However, sleeping on your stomach increases chest cavity pressure which places more strain on lung tissue, forcing it to work harder when trying to inflate properly – potentially worsening existing lung issues as well as even worsening existing problems.Lying down restricts the movement of muscles used during breathing, including diaphragm muscles. Furthermore, this position may interfere with elastic forces that assist you with your breath as your ribs don’t move as freely; additionally, this position could irritate if you’ve recently undergone surgery on either your nose or throat.
Stomach sleeping also restricts neck movement, forcing you to twist your head back and forth and may eventually put pressure on the spine, potentially leading to herniated disks or strain on the lower back if you use an uncomfortable pillow that pushes against it.
Lungs don’t get enough air.
Your lungs are organs designed to deliver oxygen into your bloodstream while exhaling carbon dioxide out. Air travels through them from your mouth through your ribcage muscles and diaphragm (a sheet of muscle sitting beneath and above your stomach). When sleeping on your stomach, pressure is applied directly onto these structures causing small air sacs in your lungs to work harder to expand which could result in shortness of breath.
Wheezing, which is characterized by an audible musical note with each breath, may occur if your lungs don’t get enough oxygen or have become damaged.
The prone position can exacerbate snoring and sleep apnea in people suffering from them, as well as lead to acid reflux for those living with gastroesophageal reflux disease or heartburn.
If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, sleeping on your stomach should be avoided for maximum benefits. Breathing exercises and light physical activity such as walking can help improve lung function; however, before commencing any new exercises regime it’s advisable to consult your healthcare practitioner first and conduct a breathing test as this will identify and address any issues which could worsen symptoms.
Lungs don’t get enough oxygen.
Sleeping on your stomach can place extra strain on your lungs if you suffer from lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When lying on your stomach, air sacs in the lower lobes of your lungs may not expand fully and lead to decreased oxygen intake that leaves you feeling out of breath and weak. Furthermore, air sacs in your upper lobes might not expand fully either, leading to fluid build-up in your lungs (atelectasis) that increases symptoms further.
Lungs absorb oxygen from blood, and transport it throughout your body’s cells and organs including your brain and heart. At the same time, they expel carbon dioxide through breathing. Without enough oxygen you could feel tired, short of breath or experience symptoms including headache, dizziness or fainting; for those living with lung or heart disorders it’s especially vital that they get sufficient o2 intake.
Breathing techniques can help increase oxygen levels and decrease carbon dioxide retention. A pulse oximeter, which measures how much oxygen and carbon dioxide your blood contains from a fingertip sensor, is another useful device available from many pharmacies; alternatively you could seek assistance from a pulmonary rehabilitation class or doctor who specializes in breathing issues to develop these skills.
