Do you want to know about the benefits of sleeping high? Then this blog is for you. It is important to find the right sleeping position that will allow you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
One of these positions is sleeping elevated. Sleeping elevated can help with breathing problems, congestion, snoring, and more.
If you’re unsure how to elevate your bed or what type of bed works best for this technique, check out our blog on the benefits of sleeping elevated!
It’s Great for those with breathing problems such as sleep apnea and snoring. If you find it difficult to breathe at night, then elevate the head of your bed by about 12 inches.
Elevating your body will help prevent fluid from pooling in your legs and lower back. This reduces the risk of developing some conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and osteoporosis.
It will also make it easier for you to breathe at night by raising the head of your bed high enough that your airway remains open.
This simple change can dramatically affect not just your sleep quality but also your life expectancy, as sleeping elevated has been associated with longer life spans.
What is Sleeping Elevated?
Sleeping elevated is exactly what it sounds like – sleeping in a bed raised by at least 12 inches. You can do this for your whole body if you have the luxury, but we’re going to start with just raising your head since this provides all of the same benefits, and you don’t need an extra headboard or any special equipment.
Sleeping Elevated is Good for Your Health
The main advantage of sleeping elevated is that it can help solve a number of health problems by preventing fluid from pooling in the legs and encouraging more restful sleep.
Sleeping elevated has been shown to reduce the release of stress hormones, which in turn increases melatonin production. Melatonin is the “sleep hormone” that helps you to get a good night’s rest.
The other added benefit of sleeping elevated is that it’s also likely to reduce snoring by allowing air to pass more freely through your nose and throat. This also benefits anyone who has sleep apnea, a common condition where your breathing is interrupted at night.
In addition to reducing stress hormones and encouraging melatonin production, elevated sleeping positions can also help improve blood circulation. This is helpful for those who suffer from migraines or back pain that’s caused by poor circulation in the upper body.
The main reason blood circulation improves is that the body relies much less on the heart to pump blood when in an elevated position, and instead, gravity does most of the work.
7 Benefits of Sleeping Elevated
1. Improves Your Quality of Sleep
When you sleep elevated, your airway remains more open at night due to the raised elevation while you are mostly in a supine position (on your back). This will result in better breathing while asleep.
2. Great for Pregnancy
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to reduce leg swelling during pregnancy. Gravity pulls down fluids from your legs into your lower body when sleeping elevated. Fluid buildup in the body can lead to conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and osteoporosis.
3. Improved Circulation in Your Upper Body (Migraine or Back Pain)
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to improve blood circulation, particularly in your upper body (the head). This is especially the case for those who suffer from migraines or back pain.
4. Less Stress, More Melatonin
Sleeping elevated has been shown to reduce the release of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine (adrenaline). This increased melatonin production can help you get a better night’s sleep.
5. Helps Solve Sleep Apnea Problems
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to benefit those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea by helping them breathe more easily. This is important because poor breathing can deprive you of the oxygen needed to keep your brain healthy.
6. Proneevents Post-Nasal Drip to High Blood Pressure (Elevated Blood Pressure)
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to help reduce high blood pressure. Again, this is due to improved blood circulation, which removes more impurities from the body. This increase of oxygen helps the heart do its job more efficiently and reduces stress on your system.
7. Helps Prevent Heart Disease and Osteoporosis
Sleeping elevated has been shown to reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and osteoporosis. This is because fluid buildup in your legs is blood thinners. Sleeping elevated can lead to some benefits.
Also Read: How To Sleep When Excited
Elevated Sleeping for Your Health: How Does It Work?
When you sleep on your back or even on your side, gravity pulls blood down to the lower half of your body. This can cause fluid buildup in your legs and ankles, especially if they are already swollen from pregnancy, or you suffer from heart disease.
Blood clots can also form more easily when sleeping elevated because there is not as much flow in the veins of your legs. Sleeping elevated can reduce both of these conditions, helping you breathe more easily while sleeping, reducing stress hormones, and encouraging melatonin production.
Sleeping pads designed with a wedge are recommended. You can buy them online or at many medical supply stores. They come in different shapes and sizes, and you can even find them made from memory foam.
While sleeping elevated is popular among those with heart conditions, it is important to speak with your doctor before changing your sleep habits.
7 Benefits Of Sleeping With Your Legs Elevated
When we sleep supine (on our backs), we tend to experience cardiovascular problems. This is because when in this position, gravity pulls fluid and blood down to our lower body. Elevated sleeping can help solve this issue and prevent many types of circulatory problems such as heart disease and obesity.
Here are seven other benefits that you can get from sleeping elevated.
1. Improved Breathing While Sleeping
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to improve breathing while asleep. This is important because when you are in a prone position, the fluid tends to pool in your legs, where it creates pressure on your lungs and diaphragm, making it difficult for your lungs to expand and contract.
This can lead to some respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, congestive heart failure, and even pneumonia if left untreated.
2. Less Back Pain
Sleeping elevated has been shown to reduce the amount of back pain people suffer from each night. When you sleep on your stomach or back, your back is in a completely unnatural position, and that can cause pain and discomfort throughout the night. Sleeping elevated puts you in a more natural state and will reduce stress on your joints and muscles.
3. Improved Circulation
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to improve circulation by removing fluid from the lower half of your body, reducing the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular problems such as obesity. This also reduces the tension on your lower back by taking pressure off of it.
4. Improved Regulation Of Your Body Temperature During Sleep
Sleeping elevated has been shown to improve body temperature regulation while you sleep, leading to a better night’s rest and more energy throughout the day.
While you sleep, your body is hard at work regulating its temperature to ensure that you feel refreshed and rejuvenated when you wake up the next morning. Elevating your legs will help reduce swelling during sleep which can help regulate your core temperature.
5. Reduced Stress During Sleep
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to lead to reduced stress levels during sleep. When you are in a prone position, stress hormones like cortisol can be increased, preventing you from entering REM sleep, the deepest stage of sleep. By sleeping elevated, your body will relax more fully and reduce stress on your joints.
6. Improved Muscle And Ligament Recovery
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to improve muscle and ligament recovery. This is because when you are in an elevated position, the fluids tend to pool into your lower extremities, which prevents them from moving around as much.
This reduces the tightness that you would normally experience if you were to sleep on a flat surface. This allows your muscles to relax, which prevents injuries and improves recovery time.
7. Reduced Pain While Standing Up After A Long Period Of Resting In Bed
Sleeping elevated has also been shown to improve pain levels while standing up after a long period of resting in bed.
When you sleep on your back, gravity pulls on your spine, which can cause stiffness and pain when you get up. Elevating your legs allows the fluids to pool in your lower extremities, which reduces muscle tension and helps prevent stiffness.
7 Benefits of Sleeping with Your Head Elevated
1. Prevents Acid Reflux When sleeping elevated with your head higher than your body, it can reduce the amount of acid reflux you suffer from at night. If you are one of the many who suffers from acid reflux or heartburn before bedtime, elevating your head during sleep can help alleviate this problem and improve your overall health.
2. Prevents Snoring Sleeping elevated can help prevent snoring when you are in bed with a partner. This is because when you sleep on your back, the air passages tend to become constricted, leading to snoring and other breathing problems while sleeping. Elevating your head during sleep allows more oxygen into your lungs, which can prevent snoring and improve your overall health.
3. Reduces Stress And Tension Sleeping elevated with your head higher than your body has been shown to reduce stress and tension in the muscles of your lower back when sleeping at night. This is because elevating your head during sleep allows the fluids to pool into the lower half of your body, which reduces the amount of tension you have on your back.
4. Helps Prevent Reflux Sleeping elevated with your head higher than your body has been shown to prevent reflux by preventing heartburn and acid reflux from waking you up at night. If you suffer from heartburn or acid reflux before bedtime, sleeping elevated with your head higher than your body can help reduce the severity of these symptoms and allow you to get a better night’s rest.
5. Reduces Snoring Sleeping elevated has also been shown to reduce snoring during sleep at night. Snoring occurs when air is pushed through the upper airway, which makes it vibrate and cause that “rattling” sound that is often heard when someone snores. Elevating your head during sleep allows the air passage to be opened up, which reduces the chances of snoring while you are sleeping.
6. Reduces Back Pain Sleeping elevated with your head higher than your body can help reduce back pain and stiffness in the morning after waking up. This is because elevating your head at night allows the fluids to pool into the lower half of your body, which reduces stiffness and pain when you get out of bed in the morning.
7. Better Blood Circulation When sleeping elevated with your head higher than your feet, it can help improve blood circulation throughout the body at night. When you sleep elevated, the fluids tend to pool into the lower half of your body which creates a better flow of blood throughout the body during sleep at night.
Reduces Stiffness And Pain In Your Back When You Wake Up Sleeping elevated with your head higher than your feet has been shown to reduce stiffness and pain when you wake up in the morning. This is because elevating your head during sleep allows for better circulation throughout your body at night, which helps reduce muscle tension and pain when you get out of bed in the morning.
How to Elevate Your Head While Sleeping?
If you are looking for a way to improve your health and reduce the pain of acid reflux, heartburn, or back pain before bedtime, most people find that sleeping elevated with their head is an easy solution.
There are many different ways to elevate your head while sleeping, including using pillows under your head, using an extra pillow to elevate your head, using a wedge pillow under your mattress, or sleeping on an adjustable bed.
DIY Adjustable Bed System If you are looking for the best way to elevate your head while sleeping, consider researching adjustable beds that will allow you to adjust the incline of the bed at night. This allows you to elevate your head at night, which can help reduce heartburn and acid reflux while sleeping at night.
Elevating Your Head To Improve Sleep If you find that your mattress is too low to the ground and does not offer enough support for you, consider researching adjustable beds that can allow you to elevate your head during sleep. This is the best way to elevate your head because it allows you to choose the incline of your mattress without having to sleep on a pillow which can disrupt your sleep.
Elevating Your Head On A Pillow If you are looking for a cheap and easy solution for elevating your head, consider using pillows under your legs or pillows that elevate your head during sleep. These can be used to elevate your head at night and help reduce heartburn, acid reflux, and back pain before bedtime.
Acid Reflux Wedge Pillow If you are looking for a cheap and easy solution for elevating your head, then consider using a wedge pillow under your mattress. This is one of the most popular solutions because it can easily fit under any mattress to elevate your head at night.
Sleeping Elevated While Using A Pillow If you are looking for a cheap and easy solution for elevating your head, consider sleeping elevated with pillows under your body or pillows that elevate your head during sleep. This is the most popular solution because it works with any bed to support your head for a better night’s sleep.
Is it good to elevate your head while sleeping?
Elevating your head during sleep is recommended by many doctors to help reduce acid reflux, heartburn, and pain in the back while sleeping at night. This is because it provides more space for stomach acid to collect which can create relief when sleeping.
The best way to elevate your head while sleeping on a bed includes using pillows under your head or a wedge pillow under your mattress. These solutions are the most popular because they work with any bed and create the best space for stomach acid to collect at night, which can help reduce complaints of heartburn, acid reflux, and back pain before bedtime.
Can you sleep elevated on a normal bed?
Yes, you can sleep elevated on a normal bed by elevating your head using pillows under your body. Or to promote your head with a wedge pillow under your mattress. These are the best solutions because they work with any bed and create the most space for stomach acid to collect at night, which can help reduce complaints of heartburn, acid reflux, and back pain before bedtime.
Is it good to sleep elevated on the ground?
Not many people recommend sleeping elevated without the aid of pillows, a wedge pillow, or an adjustable bed. Sleeping elevated can cause discomfort if you do not use pillows for support. This may make sleeping elevated, uncomfortable, and less effective for heartburn and acid reflux relief before bedtime.
Is it healthy to sleep with your feet elevated?
Sleeping elevated is one of the most effective ways to reduce complaints of heartburn, acid reflux, and back pain before bedtime. However, sleeping with your feet elevated can cause discomfort, which may make sleeping difficult. It is recommended to sleep on a mattress that offers a high degree of height adjustment to elevate your head at night for a better night’s sleep.
Is it good to elevate your head before bed?
You can achieve relief by elevating your head using pillows, wedge pillows, or adjustable beds. Elevating your head during sleep is one of the best ways to reduce complaints of heartburn, acid reflux, and back pain before bedtime. This is because it provides more space for stomach acid to collect which can help reduce acid reflux and heartburn during sleep.
The Bottom Line
Sleeping elevated is a great way to get more restful sleep. It can help you fight against snoring, neck pain, and backaches. New research suggests that it may also help prevent obesity by reducing time spent laying on your stomach each night. There are many benefits to sleeping elevated, so don’t hesitate to give this one a try!
