If you live to be 75 years old and sleep 8 hours a night, you will spend 25 years asleep! The position that you sleep can have a big influence on your health. Here are some tips for different sleepers from your South Orlando FL Chiropractor.

Sleep Tips in South Orlando FL

• Face Down: The majority of health experts/doctors agree that this is the WORST way to sleep. Why? Sleeping face down puts excess pressure on your spine/muscles due to your head being rotated and forced backwards into extension. This position can also decrease blood flow and breathing during the night due to the rotation of your head off to one side.
• On your side: If you like to sleep on your side try putting a pillow between your knees and the ankles. This will help the alignment of your hips even out and keep your spine in a neutral position. Try to avoid twisted positions of the body and try to keep your shoulders from excessively rolling/collapsing to one side. You can use extra pillows to help prop you into the correct position, everyone is different so experiment with what works best for you. Also, make sure you are using the right size pillow to allow the head to be in a neutral position when on the side and not hanging too far down or propped too far up. Which side to choose?
• Left side: This side can help with acid reflux and digestion
• Right side: This side has been known to cause heartburn in some people, but for others is just fine.
• Face Up: Most people feel that this is the BEST position to sleep in. Why? This position usually keeps the spine in a neutral position and limits excessive bending/twisting to one side. You can put a pillow under your knees/legs to help take some pressure off your low back and flatten it out. Maintaining a neutral spine is one of the keys to finding the best sleeping position. Again, make sure the pillow under your head is the correct height.