When sleeping, it is best for the elderly to adopt the "arched" position. This position is relatively relaxed and helps to relax the muscles throughout the body, eliminate fatigue, and assist in food movement from the stomach to the duodenum. It also facilitates blood flow back to the heart, reduces the burden on the heart, and prevents compression of the heart.
The arched sleeping position is particularly suitable for elderly people who snore. They may experience breath pauses while snoring. If they sleep in a supine position, the tongue may fall back. Since the muscles of the elderly's airway are relatively relaxed, it is easy to cause airway collapse, leading to poor airway circulation and worsening snoring symptoms.
In addition, some elderly people with specific illnesses, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, are also advised to adopt the arched sleeping position. If they lie on their backs for too long, stomach acid may reflux, causing discomfort. As for the prone sleeping position, it is generally not recommended as it can compress the chest, except for elderly people with back injuries.
Here's a helpful tip for elderly people who often experience lower limb edema: placing a thin blanket or small pillow under the lower limbs while sleeping can promote blood circulation and alleviate symptoms of lower limb edema.
