You may want to re-think the position you naturally gravitate towards when you climb into bed at night.
Because according to experts, one popular stance could leave you suffering with agonising back pain — and even struggling to breathe.
According to Dr Daria Sadovskaya, a Singapore-based kidney specialist, lying on your stomach with one leg pulled up to the chest is ‘particularly problematic’.
In a TikTok video watched almost six million times, she explained this was because the position can lead to ‘spinal misalignment’ and ‘nerve compression’.
She added: ‘Pulling one leg up causes the pelvis to rotate, twisting your lower back and leading to spinal misalignment.
‘Over time, this can result in back pain or stiffness.
‘It can also cause neck strain – turning your head to one side for long periods can strain the neck muscles and even lead to nerve compression.
‘The uneven positioning of the hips — one raised and one flat — can also create tension in the hip flexors and result in imbalanced pressure on the pelvis.
According to Dr Daria Sadovskaya, a Singapore-based nephrologist — a kidney specialist — lying on your stomach with one leg pulled up to the chest is ‘particularly problematic’
‘And, sleeping on your stomach compresses your chest, making it harder to breathe deeply and reducing oxygen intake.’
Experts have long warned that dozing off lying on the stomach can strain the neck as it is permanently twisted to one side throughout the night.
Dr Sadovskaya recommended other sleeping positions instead, as they are known to increase the chances of a deep, long-lasting sleep.
Sleeping flat on the back is considered the ‘best sleep position’ because it keeps your head, neck, and spine in a neutral alignment, reducing the risk of pain,’ she said.
‘It also minimises pressure on joints and can prevent facial wrinkles, as there’s no pressure on your face.’
Sleeping sideways, resting a hand under the pillow, is also ‘highly beneficial’ she added.
‘This position is great for reducing snoring and alleviating sleep apnoea by keeping your airways open,’ she said.
‘To maintain proper alignment, use a supportive pillow between your knees to keep your spine neutral.’
Sleeping flat on the back is considered the ‘best sleep position’ because it keeps your head, neck, and spine in a neutral alignment, reducing the risk of pain,’ she said
Sleep deprivation can lead to obesity, memory loss, diabetes, heart disease, heightened and unstable emotions, impaired ability to learn and a reduced immune response, leaving you vulnerable to disease
It comes as one study last year found that around around one in six Brits suffer insomnia, yet 65 per cent never seek help for their sleep problem.
The poll of 2,000 people, by The Sleep Charity, found nine in ten experience some sort of sleep problem, while one in two engage in high-risk or dangerous behaviours when unable to sleep.
Poor sleep has been linked to a number of health problems, including cancer, stroke and infertility.
Experts have long advised that waking up during the night does not necessarily mean you have insomnia, which figures suggest affects up to 14million Brits.
Still, sleep deprivation takes its own toll, from irritability and reduced focus in the short term, to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
According to the American Sleep Association, nearly 70 million Americans also have a sleep disorder.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
