Over 6.5 million Americans over 40 years old suffer from peripheral artery disease. The buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries is the cause.
Optimizing your sleeping position can improve comfort, even though managing PAD requires lifestyle changes and medical treatment. What’s the ideal sleep position to treat peripheral artery diseases? What you should know.
#1 – leg elevation
The discomfort caused by PAD can be reduced by elevating your legs when you sleep. Blood pooling is prevented by elevating the legs a little above heart level. The swelling and pain resulting from blood pooling or collecting in the legs are significant.
Elevation allows gravity to work and returns Blood from the legs to the heart.
You can raise your leg section in an adjustable mattress by raising it sufficiently. If you prefer to sleep on a regular bed, you can elevate your legs using pillows. You can place as many pillows as you like under your legs to raise them until they’re comfortable and above the heart level.
Raising your legs also helps relieve muscle tension because it removes pressure. The elevation is the best position to sleep in if you have a lot of swelling or pain caused by peripheral artery diseases.
#2 – Sleeping on your back
This tip won’t work if you’re one of 90+ million Americans who snore. Some reports indicate that those with PAD may benefit from sleeping on their backs.
Why is this so?
Sleeping on your back will help distribute weight evenly and reduce pressure on blood vessels. Less pressure means less discomfort.
The legs and feet are also elevated, albeit a little bit, to improve blood circulation. When the legs are elevated further using pillows; this technique creates the angle necessary to reduce strain on the lower back.
#3 – Side sleeping
Side sleeping is the best option for people with peripheral artery diseases if they cannot sleep on their backs.
When sleeping on your side, avoid tucking your legs into the chest in the fetal position. This can reduce blood flow. To prevent flow blood restrictions, keep your legs straight and in line with your body. Consider placing a cushion between your knees if this is difficult to maintain. This can improve your alignment and reduce any strain placed on your hips.
# Quality pillows and mattresses
PAD patients can improve their sleep by investing in supportive mattresses and pillows. Memory foam mattresses and contour pillows, for example, benefit those suffering from peripheral artery diseases because they offer targeted support that relieves pressure instantly.
A mattress with sufficient body support in the hips, legs, and shoulders and pillows that provide neck and shoulder support can help PAD patients get good sleep.
Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
For several reasons, people with PAD are not recommended to sleep on their stomachs.
When you sleep on your back, your legs are lower than the heart. Blood can pool in the lower legs if you sleep on your stomach. This causes swelling and discomfort.
Second, sleeping on the stomach can put excessive pressure on your neck and spine. It can also cause discomfort and impede blood flow.
If you often find yourself sleeping on your stomach, place firm pillows, extra covers, or a body pillow long on each side. This should stop you from rolling onto your stomach while sleeping.
The ideal sleep position to prevent peripheral arterial disease – the key takeaway
There is no cure-all for PAD. However, certain sleeping positions can help improve blood flow and reduce discomfort. The proven option of elevating the legs over the heart or sleeping on your side with the proper leg alignment is an excellent way to achieve some comfort.
By investing in supportive bedding and prioritizing the proper sleep position, you can improve the quality of your sleep while managing symptoms of PAD.
The Good News
Early diagnosis allows patients to avoid discomfort and swelling caused by advanced PAD. One of these adjustments may be the correct sleeping position.
Advances in vascular medicine have allowed for several treatment options to alleviate symptoms of PAD, even when the veins become severely clogged, and the disease is advanced.
Are you having difficulty sleeping due to the pain caused by peripheral arterial disease? Contact the Midwest Institute of Non-Surgical Therapy team.
