Sleeping like you’re in outer space is a little known secret to getting an amazing night’s sleep here on Earth.say international doctors who literally recommend sleeping like an astronaut.
The ‘zero gravity’ or ‘zero g’ sleeping position includes sleeping with the head and legs elevated above the heart, with the midsection in a downward trough. This position is intended to create a feeling of weightlessness, raising the upper and lower body at the same time.
According to the report of Daily Mailthe position was originally conceived by NASA to help astronauts balance their weight and relieve stress on the body while in space. This mimics the body’s natural position when in low-gravity environments, so astronauts don’t have to work extra hard to get comfortable.
The goal is to keep the body resting at 120 degrees, which relieves pressure on the heart and allows blood to pump more freely through the body.
You don’t have to go to space to sleep better
“Being in a zero gravity position tends to be orthopedically better and easier on the hips and shoulders rather than sleeping on the joints“, said to dailymail.com Dr. Chris Winter, neurologist and sleep expert.
Winter added: “When you are lying down or on your back, acid comes out of the stomach because the stomach and esophagus are horizontal. As you tilt your head up, gravity keeps your stomach contents in your stomach.”.
Adjust body position could reduce the risk of acid reflux, which the National Institutes of Health estimates 60 million Americans experience at least once a month. It may also help you breathe easier, as keeping your head above your stomach is proven to help keep your airways open. This prevents snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea, which can prevent a good night’s rest.
Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly one-third of Americans don’t get enough rest (at least seven hours) each night. They also say that 8.4 percent of adults take sleeping pills, more than double the number they took 10 years earlier.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, lack of sleep has consistently been linked to chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression.