After a busy day at work, you may want to go back to sleep to recharge. However, those who have breathing problems often have difficulty sleeping. For well sleeping, you have to find a good sleeping position for breathing.
What is the best sleeping position for shortness of breath? Well, see the following explanation!
Choosing the correct sleeping position has a vital role in health for those with breathing problems. Why?
The reason is the wrong sleeping position can worsen the health condition of the respiratory system. You could run out of breath while sleeping in the wrong place.
You’ve probably thought that sleeping on your back is the best sleeping position for breathing. Unfortunately, sleeping in this position can exacerbate breathing problems and cause you to snore.
Meanwhile, sleeping in a prone position is also not suitable for breathing. This position can cause shortness of breath and several other health problems, such as pain in the neck area.
Well, sleeping on the left side is suitable for breathing. This sleeping position can optimize your breathing. How could that be?
A study has shown that sleeping on your side can reduce the potential for snoring and treat sleep apnea, a sleep disorder associated with breathing problems.
In that study, 50% of patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea and 19% with moderate obstructive sleep apnea experienced up to a 50% reduction in sleep apnea symptoms that occurred during side sleep.
Not only that but sleeping on your side can also reduce the intensity and severity of sleep apnea. Therefore, it can conclude that this sleeping position is the best for you to breathe.
Breathing problems that require certain sleeping positions
In general, a good sleeping position to make it easier to breathe is on your left side. However, some breathing problems require particular sleeping positions, such as:
1. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
If you have Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ensure that a good pillow supports your head and neck. When sleeping, position the body sideways to the left.
Then, bend your knees partially on the legs attached to the mattress. Meanwhile, the portions that are not connected to the bed are straight.
According to the British Lung Foundation, this sleeping position can help when you’re out of breath, especially when COPD symptoms are on the way.
2. Breathlessness
A good sleeping position for breathing is on the left side. However, if you experience shortness of breath, you can make modifications or slight changes to the place.
For example, when sleeping on your side, try sandwiching a pillow between your legs while a different pillow supports your head.
However, to prevent shortness of breath during sleep, you can sleep on your back. However, use a comfortable pillow, and place another pillow under your knees. Meanwhile, your knees should be bent.
3. Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing occasionally stops while you sleep. So, to not reduce the quality of your sleep, it is vital to sleep in the correct position.
Sleep apnea patients’ best sleeping position for breathing is sleeping on the left side.
In addition, this sleeping position can also overcome insomnia and GERD, two health problems that can trigger sleep apnea. The side sleeping position is also suitable for blood flow.
