Doctors warn: Sleeping in this position destroys your spine
Photo: Which sleeping position destroys your spine (Freepik)
One popular sleeping position loved by millions is actually slowly draining your body, compressing nerves, and even interfering with heart function.
Daily Express explains which position you should avoid sleeping in.
The most harmful sleeping position
Aaron M. Furman, founder of the company Sleeplay, explains why sleeping face down (on your stomach) is the worst choice for your health.
Oxygen deprivation and compressed lungs
When you sleep on your stomach, your body weight presses on the diaphragm — the main muscle responsible for breathing. This limits lung capacity and prevents deep breaths.
''The prone position limits your lung capacity, which can lead to lower oxygen intake while you sleep. When your body isn't getting enough oxygen overnight, it disrupts your sleep quality and leaves you feeling tired even after a full night's rest,'' Furman explains.
Spine under strain: from neck to lower back
To breathe in this position, you have to turn your head about 90 degrees. This creates an unnatural angle that strains the neck muscles and ligaments for hours.
The consequences include chronic pain, inflammation, and persistent tension headaches.
As for the lower back, sleeping on the stomach flattens the spine’s natural curve, which leads to pain in the vertebrae.
Have you ever woken up with tingling or numbness in your arms? A twisted neck is often the cause.
Turning the head compresses the nerves that run from the neck to the shoulders, triggering numbness that many people mistakenly blame on a bad pillow rather than the sleeping position itself.
Unexpected pressure on the heart
Sleeping on the stomach forces the heart to work harder. Body weight presses on the chest, restricting blood circulation.
Over time, this may increase the risk of high blood pressure and worsen cardiovascular health, especially for people who already have heart problems.
How to sleep properly
Studies show that about 17% of people sleep on their stomachs. Experts strongly advise changing this habit:
On your back
Supports the spine’s natural curve and distributes body weight evenly, reducing pressure on internal organs.
On your side
An excellent option for heart health and for reducing snoring.
Life hack: Use a long body pillow. It helps stabilize your position and prevents you from rolling onto your stomach while sleeping.
Earlier, we named sleep duration that increases the risk of early death.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
