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Dr. Jay Chang, a chiropractor at Chirowell clinic in Arizona, recently racked up 21 million views on TikTok. The surge in user engagement was sparked by a video discussing the health risks of sleeping on your stomach. Dr. Chang strongly advised his 250,000 followers to choose their sleeping positions wisely.
According to statistics, 47 percent of people prefer sleeping in the fetal position, 13 percent sleep on their side with their arms out, and 11 percent sleep on their back. Meanwhile, 17 percent enjoy sleeping on their stomachs.
Experts indicate that the last group does not get quality rest. Stomach sleepers tend to toss and turn throughout the night. However, Dr. Chang points out that the most concerning aspect is the significant strain this position places on the neck, lower back, and heart.
In this position, the torso naturally sinks into the mattress under its weight. This results in the spine bending, which often leads to misalignment.
“When you sleep on your stomach, you have to turn your head to the side. This puts considerable stress on the neck and lower back,” he noted. As a result, you may wake up with neck and back pain. He added that this sleeping position could contribute to certain cardiovascular issues, especially for those who already have heart problems.
Sleeping on your stomach is also detrimental to your health as it can hinder breathing, according to the Daily Mail.
People often don’t realize that waking up with a headache is frequently caused by this sleeping position. Tension and muscle contractions in the neck and head can lead to this discomfort.
Dr. Jay Chang agrees with his colleagues who recommend sleeping on your back or side. Experts consider these positions optimal for getting a good night’s sleep and waking up pain-free.
Among these, sleeping on your back is deemed the best by specialists. This position allows the body’s weight to be distributed more evenly, meaning no single area experiences more strain than another.
