Why we should not sleep like this - Research shows what is the right way to sleep

The posture we consciously - or unconsciously - choose to sleep is directly related to the state of our body, as sleep experts point out.

In many cases of chronic pain, sleep posture is key to treating or worsening the problem.

A 2015 study by the National Institutes of Health in the United States estimated that at least 25 million Americans suffer from chronic pain and, for the most part, do not get enough sleep for their body.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, most people prefer to sleep on their side, although orthopedists warn that this position is likely to cause shoulder and thigh pain.

Sleeping on the side on the right side is often associated with the feeling of "burning" in the chest, because the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes, resulting in fluid rising from the stomach to the esophagus.

Those who sleep on their left side have less problems, as in this position the passage from the stomach closes better.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine professor Shelby Harris, who specializes in sleep issues, emphasizes that those who wake up with body aches should definitely change their posture.

According to her, just as important as the position is the choice of the appropriate pillow that will support the head by absorbing the tension from the shoulders.

After a night's sleep on the side, however, we are more likely to have pain and "tingling" in one of our limbs.

However, any sleep disturbances on the side are nothing compared to the problems that sleeping on the face can create. Those who sleep face down turn their head too much to breathe, thus straining their neck, while increasing the likelihood of muscle and joint pain.

For those who are accustomed to sleeping face down, Harris recommends a thinner pillow to reduce the tension in the neck. Other doctors advise placing another pillow in the cuticle to make it easier to breathe through the nose and mouth without crooked throat.

However, it would be best for them to learn to sleep on their backs.

According to recent research, only 8% of people sleep on their backs, despite the fact that this is considered the ideal posture for the treatment of chronic physical pain and heartburn.

However, Harris warns that this attitude is not suitable for those who snore. For the rest, however, the teacher insists that this is the best choice, especially if combined with a second pillow below the knees.

With information from Popular Science