Better Sleep: Finding the Right Position for You

Is your preferred sleep position hazardous to your health? You may not realize it, but how you sleep — on your back, your side, your stomach — not only can determine whether you get a good night’s rest, it can make you more likely to snore, exacerbate back pain and acid reflux disease or cause heart issues. So is there a best sleeping position? What are the benefits and downsides of each one? And just how detrimental can the wrong position be? In this episode, we explore a little talked about aspect of sleep’s health impact: the position most people settle into without thinking about it. Expert: Dr. Mas Takashima, Sleep Medicine Specialist Interviewer: Todd Ackerman Notable topics covered: All the aspects of health your sleep position can affect The study that showed how sleeping on your back facilitates snoring Is sleeping on your stomach definitely the least healthy position? Aligning the spine: side sleeping with a pillow between the knees How do you know if your position is affecting you if you sleep alone Restless sleepers: the effect of moving from position to position Can you train yourself to sleep in a different position? Advice on what to do with your hands in different sleeping positions If you’re sleeping well, do you need to change your position? If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog.