How do you usually sleep — on your back, side, or stomach?
I never knew this, but apparently people who sleep on their backs are called "back sleepers," and those who sleep on their stomachs are called "stomach sleepers."
I've been a stomach sleeper since childhood.
That's because I somehow feel more secure when my stomach is facing down.
Similarly, wild animals rarely expose their bellies when they sleep.
This is because the belly holds many vital organs, so animals instinctively see it as an area to defend.
Some people say that sleeping on your stomach isn't good for your health.
In this position, you have to turn your neck to one side, which can compress the nerves in your neck.
On top of that, the muscles in your lower back stay strained for hours, which can lead to lower back pain.
On the other hand, there is a condition where sleeping on your back isn't recommended either.
That's obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder in which the upper airway collapses during sleep, leading to snoring and low oxygen levels at night.
At the clinic, I always advise patients with this disorder to avoid sleeping on their backs.
That said, according to an article I read, what matters is whether you can change positions during sleep, rather than which position you fall asleep in.
