What's Your Sleeping Position?

Is side, stomach, or back best? And can
you switch to another position if the one
you favor may not be best for your
health? "You're naturally going to
gravitate toward a position that you feel
best sleeping in," Park says. You'll also
tend to choose one based on how well
you're able to breathe. "The smaller the
airway in your throat becomes at night,
the more likely it is you're going to sleep
on your stomach," he says.
Back sleeping is a no-no for snorers and
those with sleep apnea; side sleeping is
best because it helps keep your airways
open. Research suggests sleeping on the
left side can relieve heartburn symptoms,
while right-side sleeping makes them worse.
Sleeping on the left side is also recommended
during pregnancy to improve circulation to the
heart -- good for mom and baby.
Go with the flow. You may have heard that
sleeping on your back prevents facial wrinkles
because nothing is pushing against your face, but
that doesn't mean you should change your snooze.
Trying to change your natural sleep position can
harm the quality of your sleep, says Park.
Mattress matters. The condition of your mattress
will often dictate your sleep position. If you have an
old, worn-out mattress that sags in the middle,
sleeping on your side or stomach is more difficult.
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