1. Sleeping on Your Back

Sleeping on your back, also called the supine position, keeps your head, neck, and spine relatively aligned when your pillow provides proper support.

Potential benefits

Back sleeping may:

• Help keep the spine in a neutral position
• Reduce pressure on the shoulders and hips
• Avoid putting prolonged pressure on one side of the face
• Be comfortable for people who prefer an evenly supported sleeping position

A supportive pillow under the head and, for some people, a pillow under the knees can make this position more comfortable.

But there is an important exception

Sleeping on your back may not be the best choice for people with obstructive sleep apnea or significant snoring.

When a person sleeps on their back, the tongue and soft tissues at the back of the throat can move backward and contribute to airway narrowing. This can make breathing interruptions more common in some people with obstructive sleep apnea