Have you ever woken up in the morning and instantly felt pains all over your body like you just completed a 20Km marathon? You are not alone because waking up with body pains affect one in five people according to the american sleep foundation.
You can easily finger where the body pains are coming from when you know you were involved in strenuous physical activities. Unfortunately, this can even happen to you when there hasn’t been any intensive physical activity the previous day.
Personally, I am not new to this and i can confirm that it is not a pleasant experience especially when you have a busy schedule ahead of you that requires your energy and focus.
In today’s post we are going to discuss why this happens and what you can do to fix this situation without breaking the bank.
Common Reasons You’re Waking Up with Body Pains
1. Poor Sleeping Posture
Not adopting a proper sleeping position can cause severe body pains in the mornings and this is one of the things we often get wrong when it comes to sleep quality.
Sleeping with a poor posture exerts excessive pressure on some specific parts of the body. In a situation where the spine is not properly aligned, there is tension formed in the muscle which can sometimes lead to an irritation of the nerves. This is one of the reasons why you wake up with pains in the neck, shoulders, lower back and hips.
For instance, sleeping on your stomach forces your neck to twist to one side, straining neck muscles, while sleeping on your side with no support between your knees can put stress on the hip joint
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Tips for Good Sleeping Posture:
- Maintaining the natural curve of your spine and keeping your ears, shoulders, and hips aligned is the ideal sleep position.
- Keep in mind that sleeping on your back or side is better than sleeping on your stomach
2. Unsuitable Mattress or Pillow
Getting a good quality and suitable mattress is the second step to correcting your morning body pains. Be sure not to go in for a too soft mattress, too hard or too old mattress because that contributes significantly to your body pains.
Too old mattress means it has sagged and lost its firmness which will cause your body to sink into uneven positions. This puts a lot of stress on your spine and joints. This effect is similar for a mattress that maybe too soft.
A mattress that is too hard creates pressure points on sensitive areas like the shoulders, hips, and tailbone, causing discomfort and pain during sleep. Additionally, Excessive pressure on joints from a hard mattress can contribute to joint pain, especially for people with existing joint conditions.
Also, a pillow that’s too soft or too firm often leads to neck pain. For example, if you sleep on your side with a soft pillow that doesn’t provide enough support under your neck, your head has to extend sideways to meet the pillow and in the opposite direction your neck will not align with your spine if the pillow is too hard and elevated.
Helpful Tips:
- It is important to go in for a firm mattress with a soft surface. You can even cover your mattress with Natural Talalay Latex.
- Replace old mattress as soon as possible to minimize risks of developing chronic body pains.
3. Muscle Tension and Stress
We often ignore the effects our mental health and wellbeing has on our physical health and sleep quality, but it is very important. According to the American Psychological Association, Muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stress, that is the body’s way of guarding against injury and pain.
When stressed, your muscles tend to tighten up and not fully relax, resulting in discomfort and disrupted sleep patterns. It is also one of the reasons why you wake up in the morning with body pains and the one you are most likely to ignore.
4. Physical Activity (or Lack of It) Before Bed
Working out on a normal day pushes your muscles and joints to their limit which is healthy because then your body builds a resistance over time. So, it is perfectly normal to experience body pains that should go away over few hours if you had done an intensive workout the previous days.
There is a type of body pain one feels also when they lack any form of physical activity. Because of the lack of activity, there is a high possibility to accumulate fat which adds up to your weight and strains your joints over time.
Tip: If you are one who frequently experiences body pains then this might be the best time to start working out or being more active.
Read Also: Six (6) Common fruits and vegetables to lower blood pressure.
Dehydration and Nutrient Deficiencies
Proper hydration and adequate mineral intake are fundamental to maintaining healthy muscle function. Water, along with essential minerals like magnesium and potassium, ensures your muscles contract and relax smoothly.
A lack of these vital components can lead to muscle cramps, fatigue, and impaired performance.
In conclusion, the source of your body pains whenever you wake up may not be as a result of one thing but could be because of many other factors. It is important however to note that while these points may not instantly solve all your body ache problems, it will go a long way to help you live a healthy life.
The reasons You’re Waking Up with Body Pain might not even be directly related to your bed, pillow or sleep posture but could only be a symptom for an underlying health condition.
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