THE LOW DOWN ON SLEEP POSITIONS

SLEEP POSITIONS, According to Johns Hopkins Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Consider the following as you switch off the light:  Back and neck pain: When it comes to alleviating pain, sleeping on your back is a mixed bag. For people with neck pain, sleeping face up can sometimes make the pain worse. But many people find back sleep is helpful for alleviating low-back pain. If you have soreness in your spine, experiment with different positions and pillows to find what works for you.  Snoring and sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea causes the airways to collapse during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. It often goes hand-in-hand with snoring. Positioning yourself on your side or stomach can help the airways stay open to reduce snoring and alleviate mild apnea.  Reflux and heartburn: If you suffer from heartburn, sleeping on your right side can make symptoms worse. That’s true for people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and for people who have heartburn for other reasons, such as pregnant women. Flip to your left side to cool the burn.  Appearance: If you sleep on your side or stomach, you’ve probably noticed creases on your face when you wake up. “Over time, that can lead to…chronic changes to the skin…” “If you’re concerned about wrinkles, it’s another reason to sleep on your back.”