We spend around one third of our lives in bed, and the body does a lot of its repair work as we sleep, so enough good quality sleep is very important to our health. It doesn't stop there, though—some sleep positions are healthier than others. So which sleep position is the healthiest?
Sleeping on your back is the healthiest sleep position, health benefits include avoiding back and neck pain. Because the head is raised above the stomach when you sleep on your back, this position is best for people who suffer from nighttime acid reflux (胃酸逆流) as well. Around 80% of heartburn sufferers have problems during the night, so sleeping on their back could help a lot of people to enjoy a good night's sleep. If the sleep position alone is not enough to alleviate the condition, try raising the head of the bed by up to 4 inches by placing blocks under it.
When you sleep on your back, your face is in a natural position. This means less wrinkles (皱纹).
If you really can't face sleeping on your back, another healthy sleep position is the side sleep. It's almost as good as the back position, and it's better for people who snore (打鼾) and their partners. Whichever sleep position you choose, use a pillow that supports the head and the neck without raising the head unnaturally, as this can bring neck pain.
