Did you know that your sleeping position is strongly related to your sleep quality? This is why your choice of mattress should be supportive of your prominent sleeping position.
While back sleepers don’t make up the majority of the population, there is still a large number of back sleepers in Singapore. Plus, back sleeping offers a unique variety of health benefits, like relieving some sinus issues and promoting the neutral alignment of your spine.
If you are a back sleeper, trust that your spine will receive the right amount of pressure relief since it is directly supported by the mattress, given that your mattress is the right one for your position.
Let’s talk more about what supine sleeping is and how you can make the most of this sleeping position.
Are You a Back Sleeper?
If you prefer to sleep on your back, then you are a supine or back sleeper. You are also considered a rare one since most people often sleep on their sides and only 37.5% of the population are back sleepers.
The good news is that sleep experts consider lying on your back to be the healthiest position for your spine. This sleeping position also promotes proper blood circulation throughout your body as you rest.
Benefits of Back Sleeping
Sleep experts call back sleep the supine sleeping position. This is not the most prominent sleeping position among adults, but it comes with a variety of benefits, including:
Back and Neck Pain Relief
Many sleep experts suggest people who suffer from back and neck pain switch to back sleeping. When you sleep on your back, your spine and neck are automatically positioned in a neutral position, which reduces the pressure that these parts of your body receive. This sleeping position also prevents unnecessary twisting of your body or neck, which can lead to strains and pain.
Prevents Headache
Poor head and neck alignment during sleep is one of the causes of discomfort and headaches during sleep. This is referred to as a "cervicogenic headache," where the pain develops in the person’s neck and goes up to the head. A healthy spine and neck alignment during rest can also help in alleviating tension headaches.
May Help Reduce Acid Reflux
If you suffer from acid reflux frequently, sleeping on your back while giving your head enough elevation can prevent the problem.
Can Help Prevent Face Wrinkles
While there is still limited evidence, some studies suggest sleeping on the side can increase the likelihood of developing premature wrinkles and fine lines. When you sleep on your side or on your stomach with your face on the side, your face is pressed against the pillow, which compresses the skin. Over time, this frequent compression may cause fine lines or wrinkles.
When you sleep on your back, you prevent this compression and could lower your chances of developing wrinkles due to your sleeping position. This is also helpful in preventing acne breakouts.
Help You Wake Up with Less Puffy Eyes
Have you ever experienced looking at yourself in the mirror when you wake up and seeing those puffy morning eyes? If you sleep on your back, your body receives the proper circulation of blood, which prevents too much blood from building up around your eyes. This lessens the puffiness that you see when you wake up.
Helps Relieve Sinus Build Up
If you’ve ever experienced sleeping on your side with congestion or sinus issues, you’ll notice that the blockage usually stays on the side where you sleep. If you’re experiencing congestion or sinus pain, sleeping on your back with your head up can help you relieve the congestion.
Downsides of Back Sleeping
While back sleeping is generally healthy for the back, for some people, supine sleeping can make it worse, especially when the mattress is not supportive for the sleeping position. Moreover, if you snore or have sleep apnea, lying on your back might not be the best position to get comfortable.
In this case, it’s important to visit a doctor or choose a mattress that can better support your needs. Based on the doctor’s recommendations, you may try to shift into a different sleeping position.
Tips to Comfortably Sleep on Your Back
If you’re sleeping on your back, you are still prone to aches and pains if your body doesn’t get the right support that it needs.
Choose the Right Mattress to Support Your Sleeping Position
Whatever your sleeping position is, maintaining the correct alignment of your spine should be your number one priority. To ensure that you can sleep healthily and comfortably on your back, choose a mattress that will give you the right pressure relief and pushback support.
A medium-soft to medium-firm mattress will work well for many back sleepers as it can balance the contour and support of the sleeping surface.
The material also matters since it will influence your overall comfort when you sleep. If you are a hot sleeper, sleeping on your back can cause you to sweat a lot. In this case, a breathable open-cell latex mattress, a gel memory foam mattress, or a pocketed spring mattress is an excellent choice.
Choose the Right Pillow
When sleeping on your back, your head and neck must be elevated enough to get ample support but not too much to strain your neck. Your head should stay in a neutral alignment to avoid neck and back pains. You can also put a pillow under your knees to reduce the pressure exerted on your lower back.
Contour pillows like the Somnuz latex pillow provide ergonomic comfort for back sleepers with their low head support and contouring neck design.
Enjoy a Restful Sleep with Somnuz
Among the common sleeping positions, back sleeping is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable for your spine. However, if you snore in your sleep, we recommend shifting to your side instead of sleeping on your back so you can breathe easier.
Regardless of your sleeping position, choosing the right mattress and pillows is important to make sure that your body is well-supported during snooze. Be kind to your spine and choose the right sleeping solutions that can keep you comfy and ache-free.
At Somnuz, we take pride in our supportive range of pocketed spring mattresses in Singapore, made from quality and breathable materials to give you the best sleep comfort. Check out our range of premium mattresses and pillows when you visit our showrooms. You may also shop for your new Somnuz mattress conveniently online.
DISCLAIMER: All the information, including the texts, images, and other materials on this website, are for educational purposes only. Although we strive to present accurate information to our readers, no material on the Somnuz website is a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified medical professional concerning your health. NEVER disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read in this article.