Did you know your sleeping position could impact your respiratory health? As new and surprising as it sounds, maintaining your respiratory health in today’s urbanized world is extremely vital, but the importance of respiratory health has been specially amplified in the face of the pandemic as it is the key to fight the virus. In the modern world, respiratory diseases are quite common considering the quantity of harmful effluents released into the air by automobiles, factories, house chimneys, machines etc. If something as mundane as your sleeping position can help improve your respiration and prevent shortness of breath, why not give it a shot?
Shortness of breath is a very frightening symptom of chronic lung diseases. It won’t be shocking if this phenomenon is described as ‘air hunger’. It causes people to gasp for oxygen and often occurs with chest tightness and anxiety. While inhalers prescribed by your doctor will help fight shortness of breath, staying calm and following certain effective sleeping positions will also aid in the long run. Here are some prescribed sleeping positions that will give your lungs a boost and make them stronger to fight the COVID-19 virus.
Sleeping Position A:
- Lie on your side with a pillow between your knees.
- Place a pillow or two under your head.
- Straighten your back, relax, use your preferred breathing techniques.
Sleeping Position B:
- Lie down on your back with a pillow under your knees.
- Place a pillow or two under your head.
- Relax and use your breathing techniques.
Sleeping position C – Proning:
- Lie down on your stomach, with a pillow below your chest. Perform deep inhalation and exhalation.
- Pay attention to your rib movement in the process.
- Inhale and exhale for 10 mins and push your ribs towards the pillow simultaneously.
- Following this, place two pillows below your abdomen and continue with deep inhalation and exhalation.
These sleeping positions will help manifest a better, steady lifestyle while avoiding respiratory problems at the same time. Thus, the next time you wake up in the middle of the night due to shortness of breath, you know what to do.
