Dr. Oz: Do Sleep Positions Affect Our Health?
Dr. Oz talked to chiropractor Steven Shoshany about what our sleep positions mean about our health. He said in his practice, patients often come in with neck or shoulder or back pain and they say it’s because they’re sleeping funny. So this segment is all about how to avoid “sleeping funny.”
Dr. Oz: Why You Shouldn’t Sleep On Your Stomach
Dr. Oz talked about how sleep positions can affect your health and which one is the best for you. (Khongkit Wiriyachan / Shutterstock.com)
Susan from the audience demonstrated how she sleeps on a bed. She loves sleeping on her stomach. Dr. Shoshany said that this is his least favorite position because sleeping that way will keep your head turned one way. This is like giving your neck an Indian burn. Vital organs also get blood through the neck, so it’s not a good idea to sleep on your neck. This can also cause carpal tunnel because the nerves can get pinched.
Dr. Shoshany said if you want to sleep on your stomach, use a thinner, flatter pillow. This will keep your head less extended. A pillow under your pelvis will also help your spine stay neutral.
Dr. Oz: Sleeping on the Back is Best
Andrea from the audience demonstrated how she sleeps, which Dr. Oz referred to as a “Spider-Man position.” She was kind of just sprawled out awkwardly. She sleeps this way because she has a daughter who usually sleeps in the bed on her.
Dr. Shoshany said that sleeping on your back is the best position for your neck. A pillow under the spine might be helpful to prevent lower back pain and a travel pillow under the knees might work for Andrea as she sleeps in her Spider-Man pose.
Dr. Oz: Sleeping on Your Side
If you’re a side sleeper, you might have neck pain, knee pain, hip pain, and acid reflux. To make side sleeping more comfortable, you might want a pillow between the knees. This will help avoid a lot of pain.
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