In the 1970s, psychoanalyst Samuel Dunkell suggested that the way people sleep could reflect their personality, although his theory was never scientifically proven. Today, experts focus less on personality and more on how sleep positions affect health. Even though sleep positions have many creative names, specialists usually classify them into four main types: sleeping on the left side, right side, back, or stomach.
Sleep habits change throughout life. Babies are advised to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of choking. As children grow, they start changing positions more often, mostly sleeping on their sides or backs. In adulthood, side-sleeping becomes the most common position, while sleeping on the stomach is the least popular.
Each sleeping position affects the body differently. Some positions help the spine stay aligned, while others may strain muscles and joints, causing stiffness in the morning. Sleeping on the stomach is often discouraged because it stretches the natural curve of the spine, but it can help people with certain breathing problems. Sleeping on the back may reduce lower back pain if a pillow is placed under the knees, but it can also increase snoring and worsen sleep apnea. Overall, choosing the right sleep position depends on personal comfort and health needs.
Vocabulary:
• psychoanalyst (noun): a specialist who studies the human mind and behavior
• unsubstantiated (adj): not supported by proof or evidence
• semi-fetal (adj): a partly curled sleeping position like a baby
• posture (noun): the way the body is positioned
• prone (adj): lying flat with the stomach facing down
• spine (noun): the backbone that supports the body
• curvature (noun): a natural curve or bend
• airway (noun): the passage through which air enters the lungs
• sleep apnea (noun): a condition causing pauses in breathing during sleep
• suffocation (noun): lack of air that makes breathing difficult or impossible
Source: TED-ed