Quality and comfortable mattresses are vital for a restful night’s sleep. It can also help decrease your stress and anxiety levels, benefit your mind and body, and improve your overall life quality.
When choosing a mattress, consider how you sleep. The body parts that need more support to keep spinal alignment vary depending on your sleeping position. Opting for a mattress that suits your sleeping position prevents body pain and boosts comfort.
This article will share the benefits of different sleeping positions and their ideal mattresses.
Back Sleeper
Sleeping on your back is one of the ideal positions for your head, neck, and back alignments. Back sleepers don’t add extra pressure on these areas, so their spine can rest well in a neutral position.
A medium-firm mattress gives better spine support for back sleepers. It helps your heavier body areas from dropping too deep into the mattress.
As a result, it limits your spine’s over-flexion. Besides being supportive enough to align your spine, it should be cushioned enough to keep your shoulders, lower back, and hips comfortable.
Materials like memory foam and hybrid mattresses are among the best for conforming to the head, neck, and spine.
Keep in mind, however, that sleeping on the back and face up may worsen acid reflux and snoring. It lets acid escape from your stomach, flow freely into your esophagus, and remain there, causing a majorly painful night of sleep.
It also narrows and intermittently blocks the airway, which could make breathing difficult and snoring worse.
If it happens often and is left untreated, you may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or recurrent blocked airway, which can be fatal.
Side Sleepers
To relieve acid reflux, sleeping with your left side down is recommended. This is due to our stomach’s shape, the esophagogastric angle, and gravity.
When you sleep on your left, the great curvature of the stomach, with the help of gravity, can keep the acid from flowing to your esophagus.
Conversely, acid can more likely flow toward your esophagus if you sleep on your right, causing more reflux episodes when sleeping.
Sleeping on the left side is also advised during pregnancy, the last trimester in particular. Not only does it keep pressure off internal organs, but it also promotes healthy blood flow.
It helps prevent the airway from collapsing too, which can help reduce snoring. According to the Sleep Foundation, sleeping on the side is the best for people suffering from neck and back pain.
Medium-firm all-foam or hybrid mattresses are great for side sleepers. They have thicker comfort layers that can provide significant pressure relief, which is recommended for pregnant women and those with terrible body pain.
But for even better relief from sores, aches, and pains, taking pain medications like Oxycontin before bed can help.
Doing so can set the stage for a better good night’s rest, but be sure you’re not pregnant, and you’ve already sought medical advice.
Moreover, memory foam comfort layers top the list when it comes to contouring. Their plush feel is a good option for those who sleep on their left side for reflux relief.
Plus, they come with adjustable frames. They can elevate your upper body and help keep your stomach acid from returning to the esophagus.
Sleeping upright helps you breathe through your nose more easily and not sleep with your mouth open, preventing snoring.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleeping can also diminish the risk of snoring and sleep apnea, but that’s all.
This sleeping position can disturb your spine’s neutral position. In other words, it can be taxing for your neck and back, causing pain in those areas and your joints and shoulders.
Despite the idea that stomach sleeping will likely cause poor sleep and discomfort throughout your day, roughly 16% of the population still likes to sleep face down.
If you’re one of these people, you need a firm mattress that can keep your spine in a neutral alignment and keep you from sagging into the bed, which can cause back pain.
It provides your muscles with resistance, preventing your spine from being misaligned during sleep.
Combination Sleepers
Combination sleepers are those who sleep in two or more positions. Some sleep in different positions throughout their sleep, while others change their positions on a nightly basis.
While that may sound like a challenge for anyone they sleep with, sleeping in different positions can give them all the benefits of back, side, and stomach sleeping positions.
Specifically, it can stop excessive snoring, prevent numbness in the legs, and improve circulation.
As a combo sleeper, find a mattress that can accommodate all your sleeping positions. Ideally, look for a medium to medium-firm bed with a balance of softness and support. However, if you’re 250 pounds or more, opt for a firm mattress for better optimal support.
If you’re sleeping with someone, a bed with superior motion isolation can benefit you all. It’ll ensure that you won’t wake the others in the middle of the night despite your tossing and turning.
On the market, memory foam mattresses do best for motion isolation. They absorb movement, and their close contouring means they compress directly beneath your weight rather than causing the surface to tilt.
Final Thoughts
Dedicate time to researching your mattress choices.
Since you’ll spend more time on it than any other furniture in your house, it’s crucial to be aware of your sleeping position and figure out the right mattress that suits it and meets your needs.
When you do so, your comfort and well-being are guaranteed for the years to come.
Jean Smith is a fitness enthusiast and blogger who focuses on fitness and a healthy lifestyle. She is passionate about assisting people in living healthier lifestyles and is constantly on the lookout for new and creative methods to stay fit and healthy. Her articles are excellent resources for anyone interested in improving their health and fitness.