Benefits Of Sleeping In A Hammock Archives

Sleeping with Your Head Elevated – Good or Bad?

Should you elevate your head while sleeping?

I was very curious about the answer to this question since now I sleep every night in a Viviere hammock, and my head is slightly elevated. I personally find it very comfortable (and I don’t even use a pillow).

However, I still wanted to find out if this was a good thing or a bad thing. So I did some research, and here’s what I found out:

What About Beds that Incline?

Some people believe in the benefits of sleeping with the head elevated that they raise the head of the bed with a few bricks or cinder blocks. It actually has a name: Inclined Bed Therapy (or IBT), and according to NaturalNews.com, this style of sleeping offers numerous advantages:

Decompression of the skeletal system
Decreased arthritic pain
Improved circulation
Clearer skin
Lower blood pressure
Increased hydration
Less stress on the heart
Removal of toxins in the body and more.

Although all of these health benefits sound wonderful (especially for a small and inexpensive lifestyle change), I was skeptical. Who wouldn’t be? So I researched some more.

What Do Medical Resources Think?

The University of Maryland Medical Center even states that “Sleeping in an upright position may improve oxygen levels in overweight people with sleep apnea” as well as elevating the head of the bed.
WebMD says that elevating your head while sleeping can help reduce swelling and puffiness around the eyes.
For those with sinus congestion, Dr Satish Govindaraj, MD recommends sleeping with your head elevated so that your head is above your heart. This prevents mucus build up in the sinuses which can then disrupt sleep.

Notes specifically for people who sleep on their backs:

According to BetterSleep.org, people who sleep on their backs often suffer from snoring because of the flat back position. In addition to possibly causing a ruckus, snoring can prevent you from getting a restful night’s sleep – even if you don’t wake up. I’m guessing that any back sleeper can benefit from improved breathing at night.

But wait, there’s more great news for us black sleepers… 😉

This sleeping position is known to also cause sleep apnea or bring about lower back pain. Ouch! Spinlife.com reports that the body is unable to retain proper posture while sleeping on a flat surface. Therefore, muscle and joint tension tends to increase.

Another reason to adjust your sleeping position and avoid a flat bed is to improve circulation by evenly distributing pressure throughout your body. People often accomplish this by elevating their head, feet or both – whether by using an adjustable bed, wedge pillow or some other device.

Are There Benefits to Sleeping Without a Pillow?

This was another question I had, since I stopped sleeping with a pillow once I started sleeping in a hammock. There’s no need for one, due to the fact that my head is comfortably elevated while I sleep anyway. Here’s what I discovered:

Dr Weil suggests thinner pillows for people who sleep on their backs. Why? To prevent your head from being thrown too far forward.
The University of Utah Health Care states that pillows should be used to support the natural curvature of the neck. However, too much elevation can cause strain the muscles in the back, shoulders and neck because it can take your neck, chest and hips out of alignment.

In Summary…

Although I can’t say whether or not you should sleep with your head elevated, with or without a pillow or even use a hammock as a bed, I found all of this information very interesting. I figured at least it could help others figure out ways that they could improve their sleep and maybe even their health.

Hope this helps you!

Are There Benefits to Sleeping with Your Legs Elevated?

When you lay in a sleeping hammock, you’ll notice that both your head and your legs are slightly raised above your abdomen. So, are there benefits to sleeping with your legs elevated?

I was curious to see what the experts said, so I did some research. Here’s what I found out…

Get Better Blood Circulation:

In his book, Everything You’ll Need to Know, Vol 14 Human Circulatory System, RC Ellis says that if you want to increase circulation and blood flow to the legs and feet, you want to elevate them with a foam wedge or an adjustable bed. This sounded counterintuitive, until I researched more…

I also noticed that numerous yoga practitioners suggest raised-leg poses to boost blood circulation, to the feet as well. The following short video clip explains how this method works, draining “stale” blood from the feet. Although this pose is not designed for long periods of sleeping, it demonstrates how elevating your feet can indeed provide health benefits.

Mid Walsh at Dancing Crow Yoga explains it well, in that the parasympathetic nervous system is in charge of resting and digesting. “When the legs are above the head, gravity helps blood to return to the heart, which then becomes more full than otherwise. Since more blood is pumped with each stroke, the heart doesn’t need to pump as much or as fast. So it pumps slower and softer.”

Elevate Your Legs for Brain Pressure Relief:

An article in the Hawaii Reporter by researcher Sidney Ross Singer that laying flat while sleeping can be a contributing factor to a variety of health issues. Laying in a flat position eliminates the effects of gravity on brain circulation. This, in turn, increases intracranial pressure and can cause a back-up of blood in the brain.

HealthRising.org agrees that this increased blood pressure can be a problem, potentially resulting in chronic fatigue syndrome and migraine headaches.

Singer continues, stating that sinus congestion, glaucoma, strokes and even Alzheimer’s disease are associated with brain pressure and chronic brain congestion. However, there is a simple sleeping solution.

Elevate the head about 10-30 degrees, using pillows or a foam wedge. Legs should be elevated too, similar to laying back in a recliner chair. Sounds like similar positioning as a hammock, doesn’t it?

Does it Reduce Leg Swelling?

The Vein Center says that leg elevation is a great way to reduce foot or leg swelling, sometimes called edema. This is especially important for people who sit or stand for long periods throughout the day.

Although sleeping with legs elevated will not prevent or stop varicose veins, simply raising your legs above your heart can make them look and feel much better. And that in itself is a big benefit.

Can Sleeping with Your Legs Elevated Alleviate Back Pain?

Might there be a benefit if you suffer from back pain? The University of Utah Health Care says that back sleepers should place a pillow underneath their knees to reduce stress on the spine, plus support the natural curve in the lower back.

For some people, switching up your sleeping position may not have a big impact. However, for those of us with sleeping disorders (ie. snoring, sleep apnea, restless legs) or health issues, it make make a significant difference. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before making any big changes.

How to Get Better Sleep… with a Hammock?

Many of us have heard that it’s ideal to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. That can be a large undertaking in and of itself. However, the amount of “rest” that we get during that period is a completely different story.

Sleeping position has a big impact on sleep quality, ranging from on your back (best) to on your stomach(worst) – and everything in between.

Not to mention that our bodies typically move throughout the night to achieve the optimal comfort level, which in turn can disrupt our sleep and therefore the rest we are actually getting.

Different Sleeping Positions — courtesy of https://thirdmonk.net

What’s Wrong with Best Sleeping Position?

Even though sleeping on one’s back is touted as “best” due to the fact that it promotes a less interrupted sleeping period, the Better Sleep Council states that this position can actually result in lower back pain and/or sleep apnea. And according to WedMD, snorers should avoid sleeping on their backs because it can obstruct airways.

As far as I know, there hasn’t been enough research done to resolve whether or not sleeping in a hammock helps issues like snoring or sleep apnea. I addition, people who have switched up their sleeping have had mixed results – some with improvements while others not. Here’s more information on the topic.

Why Should We Get Better Sleep?

Sleep is necessary for our bodies to repair themselves. WebMD states that the amount of sleep that we get has been linked to such health problems as heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes and obesity. Good sleep can also lower chronic pain levels. Plus, it can lessen the risk of injury, boost our immune systems and improve our brain power and memory.

Besides feeling groggy in the morning or being in a bad mood, there are many more reasons to find out how to get better sleep.

How to Sleep Better Naturally:

Some people immediately reach for sleeping pills or other sleep aids. However, there are several natural remedies you can try if you have trouble falling or staying asleep.

The Mayo Clinic suggests sticking to a sleep schedule and creating a nighttime ritual that signals to your body that it’s time to wind down and relax (ie a warm shower or relaxing music). You also want to avoid caffeine and alcohol that can disrupt the quality of your sleep. Try it, even if you are able to fall asleep right away.

More Natural Sleep Remedies:

Adding exercise to your daily routine often leads to a deeper and more restful night’s sleep. Try to manage your stress either through relaxation techniques like meditation or by avoiding stressful activities when possible. Lastly, create a dark, quiet space to limit nighttime disturbances.

Avoid stimulating your brain right before bedtime. Some people even suggest reading a boring book (…avoid ones that stimulate your brain to start thinking about new ideas).

Why a Sleeping Hammock?

I don’t know exactly how hammocks work as far as getting a good night’s rest, I just know that they have worked wonders for me.

If you are familiar with my story, you already know that I first tried a “hammock bed” to relieve my lower back pain. Since then, I have noticed that if I rock the hammock slightly, I fall asleep faster. In addition, I stay asleep for longer and move around less. This probably happens because the hammock wraps around me, providing a comfortable and secure resting environment.

Consider the fact that baby hammocks provide babies with a longer, better rest. Granted, adults are not babies (at least some of them 😉 ). That said, do you think that grown-ups might be able to enjoy these same benefits from a similar sleeping position?

In my opinion, it was worth a try.

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