I used to suffer from chronic sinus congestion, particularly after waking
up in the morning.
About a year ago, I started sleeping propped up by a number of pillows, so
I'm essentially in a semi-sitting position when I sleep. I got the idea,
interestingly, during a trip to Williamsburg, VA, during which I learned
that sleeping lying flat, the way most people do now, is a fairly recent
innovation that arose in the 19th Century. Before then, people who could
afford beds and pillows did, in fact, sleep in a semi-sitting position
(upper body at at least a 45 degree angle from the mattress) - in the
belief that sleeping lying flat was extremely unhealthy because it
prevented the sinuses from draining.
Well, I've discovered a great deal of wisdom in that pre-Victorian belief.
I began emulating our Colonial forebears and sleeping pretty much sitting
up - with the result being that not only do I now suffer little or no
sinus congestion regardless of the season, but my lower back problems have
also all but disappeared, because my weight when I sleep has now been
shifted to my buttocks and upper thighs.
I tried earlier putting phone books under the legs of the head of my bed -
this did not provide enough lift to give me the same benefits that
sleeping sitting up has done.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone else sleeps this way - or if anyone
who tries it accrues the same benefits that I have.
Karen Mercedes
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html
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I want to know God's thoughts...
the rest are details.
- Albert Einstein
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