The way you sleep affects your back!

People generally hit the bed without paying much attention to the way they sleep. It may be comfortable initially, but sleeping in the wrong position the whole night can invite a number of posture-related backaches and neck problems.

People often complain that they experience stiffness and pain in their neck or back when they wake up in morning. This is due to sleeping in the wrong posture at night. We all know the importance of good posture, but it is not limited only to sitting or standing. Maintaining the correct posture is essential even while sleeping, and failure to do so can lead to a number of back ailments.

One common but extremely harmful position is sleeping on the stomach. Though it is the preferred position for many people, it can be really harmful to the spine, causing both immediate pain and long term damage. Sleeping on the stomach directs a large part of the body's weight to the middle portion of the body. As a result, the body is unable to maintain the natural curve of the spine and staying in this position overnight puts a lot of strain on the backbone and the back muscles. While sleeping in this position, the person tends to tilt their head in one direction or the other. This puts a lot of stress on the neck, resulting in stiffness and sharp pains in the neck.

Another bad position is the foetal position, where the person curls up into a ball with their knees drawn up and their chin tilted downwards. This posture also puts a lot of pressure on the spine and leads to a number of back and neck problems.

Incorrect sleeping postures can cause complications that go beyond back problems. The spine consists of numerous nerves that go to different parts of the body. Any stress on the spine also affects these nerves and can lead to various problems in other parts of the body too. For instance, people sometimes experience tingling or numbness in some parts of the body while the rest of the body is fine.

That is not all. Discomfort in the night causes the person to wake up again and again. As a result, the body and mind are both deprived of sufficient rest. When it happens repeatedly, the overall health and physical capabilities of the person also deteriorate.

The best way to prevent all these problems is to sleep in the right position, which not only gives the body the rest it needs but also keeps the spine healthy. The best position to sleep in comfortably is sleeping on your back with your arms at your side. This posture maintains the alignment of the spine perfectly. However, you should avoid using pillows that are very thick, even while sleeping in this position. Sleeping on your side is another good option. In this posture too, the natural curve of spine is maintained and thus, the back stays aligned and fit.

Posture plays a crucial role in maintaining back health, be it while sitting, standing or sleeping. Ignoring the way we position our bodies is a major cause for back ailments. It leads to severe spinal problems either immediately or gradually.