Is sleeping in a recliner chair bad for your heart? Sleeping in a recliner doesn't directly impact your heart, but it's bad for your circulation. Poor circulation can increase the risk of blood clots, which can cause heart attacks.
This can cause or exacerbate existing problems, such as sleep apnea, and also possibly create congestion in your lungs. While sleeping in a recliner might feel easy and even comfortable at the moment, it isn't a good long-term solution, especially as many people develop poor circulation with age.
Sleeping in a Recliner: Strain on the Heart
When lying flat, gravity distributes body weight evenly, promoting healthy blood circulation. Reclining, on the other hand, compresses the chest cavity, altering the natural alignment of the body and potentially impeding blood flow.
Comfort: Recliners can provide better support for certain body types or conditions, such as back pain or acid reflux, making them more comfortable for some individuals. Posture: Sleeping in a reclined position can help improve posture and relieve pressure on the spine.
Sometimes arthritic hips and shoulders or other pain-related conditions can make sleeping in a flat bed uncomfortable. Older people with sleep apnoea may sometimes like to sleep sitting with their head raised, as in a reclining chair.
Sitting in a recliner with your feet above heart level allows gravity to naturally reduce stress and inflammation. This position jumpstarts your body's circulation and helps you recover from surgery faster. This is why most doctors will recommend a recliner for your recovery.
"There's a host of evidence overall suggesting that probably sleeping on the side is better," says Dr. Virend Somers, a cardiologist and director of the sleep facility within Mayo Clinic's Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Side sleeping helps prevent the airway from collapsing and can reduce snoring.
However, maintaining this sleep position regularly also comes with potential downsides like disrupted sleep quality, bad posture, increased apnea events, blood clots, and reduced respiratory function.
Left Recumbent Position Decreases Heart Rate without Alterations in Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Healthy Young Adults.
Reflux and heartburn: If you suffer from heartburn, sleeping on your right side can make symptoms worse, Salas says. That's true for people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and for people who have heartburn for other reasons, such as pregnant women. Flip to your left side to cool the burn.
According to research published in the European Heart journal, going to sleep between 10pm and 11pm is linked to a lower risk of heart and circulatory disease. The study used data from over 88,000 UK Biobank participants aged 43-74, who were monitored over the course of a week.
If you have a long-term (chronic) lung problem associated with excessive mucus, or you have increased mucus from an infection, lying with your chest lower than your belly (abdomen) can help loosen and drain extra mucus from your lungs.
Older studies found that a 30-degree angle or a 60-degree angle (which is what your head is more likely to be at when you're in a recliner) yielded similar benefits. The reason why the angle makes a difference is that many cases of sleep apnea are the result of throat tissues collapsing and obstructing your airway.
Sitting or reclining in such a recliner can promote relaxation and provide restful sleep, reducing GERD symptoms.
It's Not Ideal for Your Back
These unfavorable sleeping positions may strain neck muscles or cause or aggravate lower back pain, which, in turn, can lead to poor-quality sleep. Continuing to sleep this way over time can even cause more serious medical conditions, such as heart problems.
Sleeping in a recliner for short periods of time won't have any permanent or serious effects on your body. However, continually sleeping in a recliner for a long time can result in knee and hip contractures. This can cause your muscles to tighten over your joints and result in limited upright posture and standing.
Enhanced Circulation and Blood Flow
When you put your feet up on a recliner, your legs get elevated, which eases the effort for your heart to pump blood. By changing your posture, gravity helps your circulation, giving it a leg up and making it easier for blood to flow back to your heart.
Promoting healthy blood circulation during sleep is essential for preventing blood clots, especially for seniors and those with limited mobility. Elevating your legs, sleeping on your left side, or slightly elevating the head are all simple ways to reduce the risk of clots.
Which side is better to sleep on for your heart? Whether you should sleep on your right or left side depends on which health issues you face. The left side may provide more benefits, particularly for those who are pregnant, or experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Improved Circulation & Vascular Health
Healthy circulation prevents blood from pooling in your veins, descreasing your risk for spider veins. But that's not all: when you sleep on your left side, you take pressure off your body's largest vein, the Vena Cava, located on the right side of your body.
Recliners are excellent mobility aids
Besides, regular changes in sitting positions can reduce stiffness and allow for better mobility. The reclining function also helps the elderly maintain their independence longer and minimizes their need to rely on someone else.
Depending on the specific spine condition, recliners can be a good option for people with back pain if used in moderation and as advised by a spine specialist. A well-designed recliner can provide excellent support and comfort, potentially reducing strain on the lumbar spine and alleviating lower back pain.
Are Recliner Lift Chairs Covered by Medicare? The motorized lift mechanism of the lift chair or seat-lift chair is a Medicare-covered item. If you qualify, Medicare may cover up to 80 percent of the approved amount for the seat lift mechanism.