Like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, stomach sleepers know exactly what they want and are often bold and assertive about it. Unfortunately, their behavior can lead to great discomfort for others around them.
Stomach sleeping may not be suitable for most individuals as it stretches and twists the natural curve of their spine while they rest, yet there are still several tips that can help limit any potential harm to you or to others.
Personality traits
Sleeping on your stomach may be beneficial to both your spine and neck if you use an appropriate pillow; however, tossing and turning throughout the night could lead to discomfort. A great pillow for stomach sleepers should support the natural curvatures of their spine to alleviate strain on their bodies and ease straining on muscles and ligaments.
Are You A Free-Fall Stomach Sleeper, Spreading Like a Starfish? If that describes you, then you are an easygoing individual with a positive outlook and are always willing to lend a helping hand – although sometimes too bluntly and directly! In contrast to log sleepers, who tend not to say what’s on their minds;
Sleep researcher Samuel Dunkell discovered that those who sleep in the fetal position–curled up into a ball and looking like babies in the womb–tend to share similar personality traits. Such individuals tend to seek protection, appear guarded on the outside but remain vulnerable on the inside; have difficulty trusting others, anxiety and panic attacks may strike regularly and they may even be susceptible to anxiety-induced attacks; experts speculate this may be related to how their brains process emotions and react emotionally while also creating tough exteriors; yet research indicates they could also become compulsive impulsively compulsively over time causing anxiety attacks as a result of how their minds wire themselves for emotional reactions as a way of reacting emotionally as well.
Health indicators
Sleeping on one’s stomach (known as the “prone position”) can cause significant back and neck pain. This is because this position leads to hyperextension of the lumbar spine and tilting of pelvis anteriorly, which in turn puts spinal facet joint compression at risk and endangers labrum (ring-shaped cartilage that keeps shoulder ball within socket) from staying secure; not to mention contributing to snoring and sleep apnea.
Outside its obvious drawbacks, stomach sleeping can lead to acid reflux, facial wrinkles and a weaker pelvic floor; all of which may contribute to low back pain, sciatic nerve pain and an increased risk of herniated disks in the lower spine. A herniated disk rupture occurs when its gel-like material between vertebrae is ruptured; this pressuring on nerves or irritating them.
Due to these considerations, experts suggest that people who habitually sleep on their stomach attempt to change to back or side sleeping patterns gradually. It may take time and effort, but it will pay off. A mattress that provides firm support will prevent sinkage beneath your abdomen while keeping the head closer to the body reducing neck pain; look for one with coil-on-coil construction for durability and layer of foam for additional support; for pillows use ones with low loft or no loft for optimal results.
Health risks
Sleeping on your stomach places great strain on both the back and neck. Sleeping this way causes your spine to lose its natural curvature, leading to back pain and an unalignment in your neck that could restrict blood flow to other parts of the body causing pain or numbness in other places of the body. Stomach sleeping is more likely to be problematic for people with spinal conditions or who are overweight.
Acid reflux, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are other health concerns for stomach sleepers. Sleeping on your stomach can irritate the sacroiliac joint – located in your lower spine and pelvis – causing hip or leg pain or numbness as well as feelings of unsteadiness when standing or walking. In addition, stomach sleepers are more prone to sciatica which causes similar sensations to those experienced when lying flat; additionally stomach sleepers also more often suffer from sciatica symptoms in their legs and feet than their counterparts when sleeping on their back or side.
Sleep on Your Side or Back Without Pillow
Tips
Though it may sound like phrenology, there are certain truths to your preferred sleeping position and its impact on both your personality and health. If you prefer stomach sleeping positions, here are a few tips for getting a good night’s rest while preventing neck or back pain.
Stomach sleepers tend to stretch their arms out or tuck them under their pillow, leading to tight shoulder joints and potentially leading to rotator cuff issues and other shoulder complications in time. Furthermore, this position can compress their spines causing compression that results in tingling sensations along their spines.
A quality mattress can help stomach sleepers avoid back pain. Opting for one with a firm, low to mid profile will keep hips inline with shoulders, which in turn prevents improper spinal alignment that leads to backache and jaw tension.
Many stomach sleepers are shocked to learn that their favorite sleeping position can actually be detrimental to their health, but with the right mattress and lifestyle changes they can enjoy restful slumber free from neck and back pain. To transition back to sleeping on their stomach again more gradually, try sleeping on their side for several nights before transitioning back – or consider investing in an inflatable long cylindrical body pillow that specifically caters for this transition process.
