9 Benefits of Sleeping Elevated

What are the benefits of sleeping elevated? By raising the head, one will open breathing passages to improve sleep problems due to health issues and snoring. Benefits of sleeping elevated allow those suffering from the illnesses such as those caused by heart diseases, acid reflux, and congestion problems, as well as sleep apnea. For a detailed information on determining how much sleep you need, check out this guide.

1. Stop Mouth Breathing

2. End Post Nasal Drip

3. Curb Snoring and Sleep Apnea

4. Alleviate Heart Congestion and Inflammation

5. Lessen Shortness of Breath

6. COPD Relief

7. Soothe Head Stuffiness

8. Relieve Migraine

9. Help for Nervous System, Spine and Movement Disorders

Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT) is being studied as an alternative and addition to traditional medicine to help restore health along with a better sleep. Along with opening breathing passages, sleeping elevated also is being shown to be beneficial in aiding relief for various medical concerns.

1. Stop Mouth Breathing

If your mouth is dry upon waking, then most likely you are mouth breathing while asleep. Mouth breathing can be caused by several factors including: a nasal obstruction from a cold or illness, habit beginning in childhood, and even in late pregnancy.

Mouth breathing causes the oxygen absorption capacity of the lungs to be reduced whereas nose breathing produces nitric oxide gas to increase the lung’s oxygen absorption capacity. Nighttime mouth breathing can dry out gums increasing the danger of cavities, plaque and gum disease. This problem can also acerbate snoring problems keeping everyone awake.
Using and adjustable bed frame to raise the head in bed can alleviate mouth breathing. Sleeping flat can force the mouth open whereas sleeping elevated will create a clear passage to promote nasal breathing with a better unobstructed air flow.

2. End Post-Nasal Drop

The body normally creates about a quart of mucus each day. Most will not notice this occurrence, but those with post-nasal drip certainly will as they deal with the feel of the trickle down the back of the throat. Post-nasal drip can be detrimental on sleep as it causes one to awake coughing and hacking in an attempt to clear the throat of mucus.

Lying flat allows for mucus to gather in the back of the throat. Keeping the head elevated while sleeping can help in keeping post-nasal drip from occurring by curbing the dripping of mucus traveling from the sinuses to the back of throat. Simply by raising the head of an adjustable bed frame will help to end the dreaded post-nasal drip for a better sleep.

3. Curb Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring may be an indication of sleep apnea, a condition of obstructed breathing. Sleep apnea is caused by pauses in breathing while sleeping which results and lower blood oxygen making the heart work harder. This is a medical condition that should be treated by a medical professional.

Whether sleep apnea or just simple snoring, the loud explosion from the nose while sleeping can awaken the sleeper and those sharing a snorer’s bed.

Sleeping elevated will help to curb snoring and encourage better breathing. An adjustable bed base will allow for easy raising of the head when time for sleep. Having the frame remote handy will allow the snorer and mate to adjust the elevation of the head quickly when the nighttime noise awakens all.

4. Alleviate Heart Congestion and Inflammation

Those suffering from serious heart ailments can see the benefits of sleeping elevated. Hospitals use adjustable beds for patients with congestive heart failure, myocarditis, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and a host of addition heart maladies. These conditions cause a shortness of breath that becomes very serious when lying flat.

Once a doctor is consulted and the patient is being treated it is important to seek as much comfort as possible to help in alleviating health illnesses. Sleeping inclined is necessary to promote the best ease of breathing that is possible to promote a better sleep and health.

5. Lessen Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath while lying down can be caused by a host of conditions from medical to psychological. Respiratory infections, sleep apnea, COPD, heart health, and panic disorders can all be seen to worsen when lying flat.

To reduce shortness of breath effects when heading to sleep it is as easy as raising the head of the bed. Simply sleep with the head elevated to achieve better breathing and less chance of being awakened by shortness of breath.

6. COPD Relief

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease causing difficulty in breathing. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This disease can cause sleepless nights as the unhealthy lungs cause one to awaken as the natural oxygen level falls and the carbon dioxide level rises.

COPD flattens the diaphragm which, in turn, causes less affective breathing that the muscle is used for. The neck and chest wall muscles are forced to work for breathing to compensate for the diaphragm not working correctly.

For breathing aided by the neck and chest wall COPD sufferers need to be in a more upright position. The adjustable bed base is the perfect solution to allow those with COPD to be able to get a comfortable sleep while inclined in bed.

7. Soothe Head Stuffines

Anyone who has experienced a simple cold or any respiratory ailment understands the uncomfortable sleep that lying flat delivers. Symptoms of pressure in the sinus passages are heightened when not being drained in the prone position.

By sleeping elevated the mucus will be able to drain more easily and allow one to sleep more peacefully. This position will also aid in preventing the mouth breathing brought on by respiratory problems.

8. Relieve Migraine

Lying flat can put too much pressure on the head causing the brain to get congested. This allows for the reduction of oxygen and sugar needed for brain cells to have the right circulation. When this occurs blood vessels open wider increasing pressure in an attempt to clear the brain with new fluid.

This brain flush is what causes the effects of the painful migraine headache. Research conducted has concluded that by sleeping elevated with the head raised will relieve over 70 percent of migraines. Those with chronic headaches can find relief using an adjustable bed frame.

9. Help for Nervous System, Spine and Movement Disorders

Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT) is now being researched and used to help those stricken nervous system problems. Andrew K. Fletcher has done studies determining amazing improvements in numerous conditions simply by elevating the head while sleeping.

After working with those with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson’s Fletcher’s subjects saw noticeably improvement after sleeping inclined. Many of the subjects were left with needing no medication or therapy after using IBT.

Conclusion

The many benefits of sleeping elevated prove to be endless as more and more research is being conducted. Sleeping on a comfortable memory foam mattress atop an adjustable bed base may be just what the doctor ordered. Add a great memory foam pillow and bedding to achieve the healthiest of sleep possible.