Zizhu Pharmaceuticals Medical Safety Yuting Small Knowledge
Many people think that sleeping is just about being comfortable, and posture doesn't matter. However, experts warn that for certain patients, improper posture can often trigger or worsen their conditions. Generally speaking, sleeping postures are divided into four types: supine, prone, left lateral decubitus, and right lateral decubitus. The choice of any one posture should be individualized based on the person and their medical condition.
Dr. Xu Liang, deputy director of the Sleep Disorders Research Institute at Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pointed out that the prone position is the least recommended sleeping posture, especially for those with heart disease, hypertension, or cerebral thrombosis, as it can compress the heart and lungs, affecting breathing. Obese individuals, snorers, and those with respiratory diseases are not suitable for the supine position, as it can easily cause the tongue root to fall back, obstructing breathing. Patients with gastric diseases, acute liver diseases, or gallstones should avoid the left lateral decubitus position, as it can compress the heart and stomach. The right lateral decubitus position is unsuitable for pregnant women, as it can compress the fetus in the abdomen.
So, what sleeping posture should these people adopt? Dr. Gao Wei from the Department of Neurology at Tsinghua University Yiquan Hospital gave some suggestions.
People with cervical spondylosis should sleep on a hard bed and maintain a supine posture, with the pillow not too high.
For heart disease patients, the right lateral decubitus position is preferred, as it allows more blood to flow to the right side, thereby reducing the burden on the heart. They must never sleep in the prone or left lateral decubitus positions.
For those with lung or respiratory diseases, the prone position should be avoided. Instead, they should sleep supine or on their side, always ensuring smooth breathing without placing their hands on their chest. However, if the patient has tuberculosis, they should sleep on their side so as to facilitate the expectoration of accumulated blood in the trachea. If the left lung is affected, the left lateral decubitus position is appropriate; if the right lung is affected, the right lateral decubitus position is suitable.
For people suffering from sleep apnea syndrome, such as habitual snorers, changing from a supine to a lateral or prone position may help. In fact, about one-third of patients see improvement in their condition after changing their sleeping posture.
Patients with varicose veins or leg edema should preferably sleep supine, which facilitates elevating the legs at an angle of around 20 degrees (not too high), allowing venous blood to return to the heart, improving circulation, and reducing swelling.
For people with diabetes or excessive alcohol consumption, sleeping supine is suitable, allowing full extension of the hands and feet. Curling up should be avoided, as it can lead to nerve paralysis.
For long-term bedridden stroke or chronic patients, attention should be paid to frequently changing sleeping postures. If family members neglect care and always let the patient lie supine, bedsores can easily develop on the back and buttocks. Therefore, the best method is to turn the patient every 2-3 hours, changing from supine to lateral or prone positions. Adjusting sleeping posture can also help patients expel phlegm, preventing it from accumulating in the posterior lung wall.
Please choose the statement that matches your actual situation. If a statement does not match or is incorrect, continue to the next test. You will soon get your score. Patience in completing this test may reveal potential health issues!
This sleep test is not for medical purposes. If you think you have sleep disorders, contact a doctor to solve the problem.
1. People often say I snore.
2. I am often told that I experience breath-holding during sleep.
3. I suffer from high blood pressure.
4. Friends and relatives often complain about my bad temper and impatience.
5. I often wish I had more energy.
6. I often sweat while sleeping at night.
7. I often feel palpitations or arrhythmia throughout the night.
8. I often feel headaches when I wake up in the morning.
9. I often suddenly wake up gasping for air and taking deep breaths.
10. I am overweight.
11. I am not interested in sex.
12. I am sleepy and struggle to stay awake.
13. I often feel dry mouth when I wake up in the morning.
14. I have difficulty falling asleep.
15. Various thoughts often come to me, making it difficult to fall asleep.
16. I am troubled by sleep problems several times a week.
17. Once I wake up, it's hard for me to fall back asleep.
18. I often become confused about things and find it hard to let go.
19. I often want to sleep longer but wake up early.
20. I often lie in bed for half an hour or more before falling asleep.
21. I often feel low-spirited.
22. I cannot concentrate on work or study.
23. When I am angry or frightened, I often feel weak in my limbs.
24. I often feel drowsy while driving.
25. I often feel dizzy.
26. When falling asleep or waking up, I often experience scenes from dreams.
27. I often fall asleep in social situations, like watching movies or at gatherings.
28. I often miss work due to drowsiness.
29. When falling asleep or taking a nap, I often dream.
30. During the day, no matter how hard I try to stay awake, sleepiness often overtakes me.
31. I have experienced muscle paralysis while sleeping.
32. I often wake up in the middle of the night feeling acid reflux.
33. I often wake up in the middle of the night coughing and having difficulty breathing.
34. I often suffer from sore throat.
35. I often wake up at night feeling short of breath.
36. Besides exercising, I often feel tense in my leg muscles.
37. I have noticed (and others have reminded me) that I experience partial limb spasms while sleeping.
38. I have been told that I kick my legs while sleeping.
39. When falling asleep, I have experienced leg pain or numbness.
40. I have experienced leg pain or cramps at night.
41. At night, sometimes I can't control my legs and have to move them to stay comfortable.
42. Despite sleeping well all night, I still feel very sleepy during the day.
Result Analysis:
Choosing items 1-13: You may have sleep apnea, a potential sleep disorder where the patient experiences multiple episodes of breathing cessation during sleep.
Choosing items 14-20: You may have insomnia, defined as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep regularly.
Choosing items 21-30: You may have narcolepsy, a lifelong condition characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks during normal waking hours.
Choosing items 31-35: You may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition caused by acid reflux during sleep.
Choosing items 36-42: You may have periodic limb movement disorder, a condition that causes involuntary limb movements during sleep.
Sleep Disorders
Zizhu Pharmaceuticals Medical Safety Small Knowledge
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