Oftentimes, recliners are everyone’s go-to for sleep comfort and relaxation after a long day. You can easily picture and assume what happens after preparing a nice meal, brewing your favorite coffee, or getting all your popcorn done in the microwave.
You’ll sit in front of your television, ready to catch up on the last episode(or even the newly released) you left last night (or so you thought), and all of a sudden, you don’t know what happens next. The real question is, is sleeping on your recliner good? Is it safe for your health? Will it allow your body to regenerate properly? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Are There Any Health Benefits When You Sleep On A Recliner Chair?
Most people who have invested in reclining chairs have heard the news, either through word of mouth from a fellow sleep-deprived co-worker or supportive friend; you’ll want to experience that relaxing moment where you can sleep and feel rejuvenated afterward.
The good news is, not just rumors to improve sales; best recliner chair comes with health benefits you cannot toss off the grid. Several people even ditch their top-rated mattress over recliners to take advantage of their health benefits.
Lying down after a long day of sitting or standing up can help your spine decompress all the accumulated pressure after the day. However, aside from health practitioners, according to Cozyseating, sleeping with a reclining chair may have better health benefits than sleeping while lying down. This can be beneficial, but it’s best to know when to do it and avoid it.
The quality of your sleep is vital to your overall health and well-being. This can help alleviate your lifestyle and allow the body, mind, and spirit to relax and regenerate. Sleeping on your recliner keeps the airways open and your trunk in an upright position.
Here are some of the known health benefits of sleeping on your reclining chair:
It helps you breathe easier
Sleeping on the recliner helps you breathe properly and easier as it opens up the diaphragm. the reclining position has proven relief from symptoms, particularly:
- Acid reflux
- GERD (gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- Snoring
- Heartburn
- Sleep apnea
Most people who suffer from GERD, acid reflux, heartburn, or sleep apnea find it relaxing and relieving to sleep on a recliner through its upright position, allowing gravity to retain tummy acids down.
It relieves back pain
Once in your life, you’ll have to deal with back pain. Our core muscles and back are consistently working on balancing the lower and upper bodies accordingly.
You can reduce the pressure from your back by reclining or elevating your feet. This position eliminates the pressure from the spine and allows the muscles to relax. Your overworked muscles need to recover after a long day of stress.
As you elevate your feet, gravity then sends blood to your lower back’s tendons and muscles. The process allows your back to recover and heal. If you sleep on the recliner, you allow your muscles to rest and keep them healthy.
It improves blood circulation
After a long day of sitting or standing, your legs feel the pressure, and they deserve to be pampered as longer hours of standing or sitting cause the blood rush on the lower part of your body, e.i, feet and legs, elevating them at night can reduce inflammation and stress.
Once you recline your feet and legs up or above heart-level, it improves blood circulation and allows the body to recover from fatigue. Aside from that, doing this regularly is also beneficial for the back.
Better digestion
The body needs to also be on that rest-and-digest mode where you implement deep and slow breathing while in a recline position. This mode allows the body to actively digest what you ate as it repairs and heals the body.
This process enables the digestive system to properly function and fully process what you ate. With a rest-digest mode before sleeping, you’ll have a better quality of rest.
Calm the nerves
Elevating the feet and legs helps improve blood circulation, allows you to breathe properly and easily, and alleviates back pain. These things have positive results on the nervous system.
The nerves are consistently working and firing to move the body while getting everything done. With a reclined position, you’re giving the body a chance to feel relaxed from all the daily fatigue and pressure as it heals.
With the nervous system getting its much-needed moment to relax and heal, you’ll have a clearer and quieter mind.
Can You Sleep Comfortably In A Recliner Chair?
While there are plenty of known health benefits when you sleep in a reclined position, continuous sleeping on your recliner may result in hip and knee contractures. This is when your muscles start tightening over your joint, which results in limited standing or upright posture.
The hip and knee contractures can affect the core muscles, throw off the center of your balance, and increase your risk of falling. However, if the pain, discomfort, fatigue, etc., doesn’t alleviate after some time, it’s best to check with a certified specialist to see the root cause of your discomfort.
Furthermore, many people can sleep comfortably on their recliner chair compared when sleeping on a mattress.
Conclusion
There are plenty of reasons why most people choose to sleep on a reclining chair. Some find comfort and adequate support to sleep on a recliner chair after back surgery. Since sleeping in a reclined position is not as stressful as upright sitting on the chair, it can be highly beneficial for your back.
It’s also a great idea to ensure that the recliner provides significant back support to eliminate sitting with your spine curved as it puts more pressure on the back.