What
sleeping position is best for you?
When
you get in bed and cozy into your covers at night, you probably don't put much
thought into whether you're on your side, back or stomach. But if you snore
like a bear every time your head hits the pillow or you wake up feeling stiff
as a board, it might be time to switch things up at bedtime. Here's the scoop
on the benefits and drawbacks of the most common sleeping positions.
Side Sleeping
The
Good: Side sleeping is by far the most commonly reported sleep position, and
for good reason — it can have a whole lot of health benefits. If you snore or
have breathing problems, sleeping on your side is the best choice for opening
your airways so you can breathe better at night, says sleep specialist W.
Christopher Winter, MD, medical director of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Sleep
Medicine Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.