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This view is supported by a paper published in Obstetrics and Gynecology (opens in new tab) in 2019 that cast doubt on the reliability of the data in previous studies. In any event, she said, "The studies we have are underpowered and not randomized." "Your body typically will find ways to tell you not to lay in a position that is harmful to you or the baby," Kellie told Live Science. Kellie Stecher, an obstetrician-gynecologist, and author of " Delivering (opens in new tab) ," there’s no need to panic, however, as your body will naturally adapt to the correct position. By giving a little thought to positioning your body and bed, you might find your slumber is even sweeter.These findings might seem highly alarming. “The sleep environment is something that can easily be fixed,” Salas says.
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Positioning yourself on your side or stomach can help the airways stay open to reduce snoring and alleviate mild apnea, Salas says. Snoring and sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea causes the airways to collapse during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing.If you have soreness in your spine, experiment with different positions and pillows to find what works for you. But many people find back sleep is helpful for alleviating low-back pain. For people with neck pain, sleeping face up can sometimes make the pain worse. Back and neck pain: When it comes to alleviating pain, sleeping on your back is a mixed bag, Salas says.“But as you get older and have more medical issues, sleep position can become positive or negative.”Ĭonsider these factors before you switch off the light: Pick Your Positionįor young, healthy people, sleep position is less important, Salas says. Salas explains when and why position matters. “We could argue that some are better than others,” says Rachel Salas, M.D. , an associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
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