The only solid explanation for why we sleep is because we get sleepy, according to William Dement.
Sleep is the only major behavior in search of a function that matters for our health and wellbeing.
Are we doing it correctly? The research says about sleeping position.
People prefer to sleep on their sides. It's good to hear that people who lie on their backs are more likely to sleep poorly.
We move a lot during the night. The study found that participants spent about 54 percent of their time in bed on their side, 37 percent on their back, and 7 percent on their front.
During the night, males tend to be restless with more position shifts, arm, thigh, and upper back movements.
It's a good idea to allow your body to move during the night.
Your body will keep a record of any pain you experience during sleep. This is why we don't develop bedsores in our daily life.
If you can't move because your partner is taking up too much room in the bed, switch sides or get a bigger bed.
Don't put yourself in a tight position; give yourself some room to move around.
It's important that you're comfortable. There is no evidence for a good sleep position. Your age, weight, environment, activities, and whether you're pregnant all affect which sleep position is best for you.
Ideally, we can find a position that helps us get a good night's sleep and one that doesn't cause us to wake up in pain.
Some layout are better than others. People who slept in a position with a rotation of the spine woke up with more pain in the morning.
The side positions are still better than the other options, despite the fact that some forms of side- sleeping may cause a bit of load on the spine.
It's important to choose the right pillow for a good sleep.
A lack of support for the head and neck during sleep has been found to cause muscle problems such as neck pain and shoulder pain.
The pillow material doesn't seem to have an effect on the spine. The shape and height are more important than anything else. It is possible to have a longer night's sleep with a U-shaped pillow and it is also possible to have less pain in the mornings with a roll-shaped pillow.
Science doesn't know what the optimal mattress is. It would be difficult to compare this over the long term.
There are not good mattresses. Changing your mattress is a good idea if your bed is sagging, has lost its firmness, or is showing signs of wear and tear.
The lifespan of the mattress can be improved by rotating it. It should be done at least once a year.
It's a good idea to set a cool room temperature. The ideal temperature for sleeping is 18.3C.
The room should be allowed to have some air flow in it. It keeps us nice and cool during the night and brings nice, fresh air as well.
It may be possible to get to sleep with some medications. The quality of your sleep can be affected by the amount of stimulants you use.
It's important to not go to bed with a full bladder as having to get up at night to wee can affect sleep.
Christian Moro is an associate professor of science and medicine at Bond University.
Under a Creative Commons license, this article is re-posted. The original article is worth a read.