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Sleeping with legs elevated
Is it good or bad to sleep with your legs elevated above your heart? I’ve read different articles that promote health benefits of elevating your legs above your heart, but I want to know if that’s true and if it’s good or bad to sleep that way. I’m thinking of an adjustable bed where you can elevate the legs to a permanent position above your heart. This would obviously also require you to sleep on your back, which I did see a Mayo article that does not recommend that sleeping position.
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I am interested to hear discussion on this topic. For my own reasons mostly related to my CPAP, I have also been learning to sleep on my back. I am also considering an adjustable bed and I have one stent in my heart. I look forward to hearing the experience and wisdom of others.
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1 ReactionHello @tianaf, Welcome to Connect. Thanks for starting this discussion. It's a great question and one that I've thought about a lot. Like @sicko I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP which does throw a wrinkle into elevating your legs when sleeping. I'm a side sleeper by habit but do occasionally end up on my back which sometimes causes my sleep apnea events to be a little higher. I also have lymphedema and wear compression socks during the day so elevating my legs does help with the swelling. My problem is sleeping on your side when your legs are elevated can be a little uncomfortable.
My wife and I have a split California king adjustable bed and I elevate the feet on my side slightly above the heart. I also use a small pillow between the knees to make it a little more comfortable. I can also use the zero gravity position for sleeping which is really comfortable but sometimes difficult to get out of bed for any nightly trips the bathroom without looking for the remote and leveling the bed.
I do think it would be smart to talk to your doctor first if you have any underlying medical conditions. Here are a couple of articles that might be helpful:
-- Mayo Clinic Minute: What is the best sleeping position?:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-what-is-the-best-sleeping-position/
-- What Are the Benefits of Elevating Your Legs?:
https://www.healthline.com/health/elevating-legs
Are you a side sleeper by nature?
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1 ReactionThank you John,
I read/listened to the articles you provided. Much appreciated. They provided what seems to me to be good reason to invest in a bed in which I can sleep with my legs raised to ease my heart load and assist blood flow. The second article provides logical reasons for CPAP users to make an effort to sleep on the left side. Lots of good info to work with.
Peter
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2 ReactionsI just posted my experience to another writer.
But I would like to share with this to Support leg elevated.
Please find the copy of my experiences:
Would like to share my experience:
I am Prediabetes, Senior over 75 years old.
I have body vibrations lately – at the lower back body, only when sleeping & started at mid night.
I tried to use electrical massage it helps & stop vibrations only 3 hours. Need massage again.
Now, I find out : lifting up the legs (put pillows under legs) & do not put arms over the head while sleeping – results are much better.
As I guest: during sleeping, let your body at the same level of your heart level. The blood will circulate more smoothly and pass through the nerve system without any disturbance.
When standing up, the blood circulation is more faster & smoothly – no disturb of nerve system & no vibration(s).
This is my point of view.