Sleeping positions and their effect on your health

Have you ever woken up with a sore neck or back? Or how about waking up with a dry throat? If you have experienced any of these, chances are you didn’t have a good night’s sleep. And if one doesn’t have a good night’s sleep, one could feel tired and even cranky throughout the rest of the day. This is why knowing what sleeping position is right for you matters, says Dr. Lisa M. Cannon.

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As one grows up, there are massive changes in the body that affects sleep. Weight, for instance, matters a lot when it comes to finding the right sleeping position. Any woman who’s carried a child for nine months can tell you that sleeping on their backs was painful due to the added weight and the pressure it caused their spines.

The body often shifts to a more comfortable position when sleeping. However, some people sleep through the discomfort, which then translates to other problems. Besides stiff body parts, they could easily develop sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that is often associated with other illnesses like stroke or heart failure, diabetes, depression, and severe headaches.

If you feel like no sleeping position works in giving you a good night’s rest, consider changing mattresses. There are a lot of mattresses out there, several of which are made specifically for certain body types. It could be possible that what you need is a mattress that suits you in terms of stiffness or firmness. If all else fails, Dr. Lisa M. Cannon recommends visiting a sleep clinic as no person should suffer sleeping problems for an extended period.

Dr. Lisa M. Cannon is a New Jersey-based physician. She earned her degree in medicine from New York Medical College. She has board certifications in critical care medicine, internal medicine, and pulmonary disease. Her practice focusses on pulmonary and respiratory medicine and sleep medicine. For similar reading materials, visit this blog.

Increase lung capacity in five ways

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Individuals who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary fibrosis often have difficulty in breathing. The fear of experiencing a flare-up may hinder them from living their best lives. In this blog, Dr. Lisa M. Cannon shares a few tips to increase lung capacity.

Proper exercise helps in increasing lung capacity. While it may seem counterintuitive to work out with COPD, getting the muscles in shape can improve breathing. Toned and strong muscles use energy efficiently. Breathing exercises such as pursed-lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing help improve the use of proper muscles when breathing.

Keep the house clean. The air quality at home must be a priority, as it can be more polluted than the air outside. Houses and offices should be cleaned regularly to reduce allergens inside.

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Eat smaller meals throughout the day. Doing this can lessen the chances of experiencing COPD symptoms, as eating large meals at a time can cause one’s stomach to bloat, thus pressing the lungs, keeping them from expanding to the fullest, and resulting in shortness of breath. When medical professionals say that smoking kills, we better believe it. Also, quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke. Such environmental irritants make the lungs weak.

Dr. Lisa M. Cannon encourages individuals to get vaccinations for flu and pneumonia to help avoid contracting lung infections. In keeping the lungs healthy, one must be proactive; prevention is always better than cure. Improved breathing can help one experience better overall health.

Dr. Lisa M. Cannon is a board-certified specialist in pulmonary disease, critical care, and internal medicine. To continue giving her patients the best service, she completed her Master’s in Public Health from the NYU Wagner School of Public Service. Subscribe to this blog for similar reads.