What are the Benefits of Sleeping in a Riser Recliner Chair?

Many of us find sleeping in a chair easier and more comfortable than sleeping in a bed. This is particularly true as we get older, when sleep becomes lighter, and we wake more frequently during the night. So why don’t more of us sleep in chairs?

Good quality, restful sleep is vital for our health. This means that if you can sleep comfortably in a riser recliner, but not in a bed, then sleeping in the chair might be best for you overall. There are a few other reasons why sleeping in a riser recliner can be beneficial, including:

Helping with acid reflux and heart burn

Acid reflux affects many of us at some point up to 25% of adults in the UK suffer with acid reflux.

Acid reflux is when stomach acid moves up from your stomach and into your throat, which can create the burning sensation known as heartburn.

Gravity gives us a helping hand at keeping stomach acid down when we’re in an upright position, which means that people with acid reflux may find it easier to sleep soundly in an upright position.

Sleeping in a riser recliner makes it easier to remain upright than in a normal bed. The back of the chair can be tilted to a reclined, but still relatively upright, angle. Lifting your torso above your waist by 20cm is enough to ease acid reflux symptoms. This improves your comfort, while allowing gravity to help keep acid reflux in check.

Helping with sleep apnoea 

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder, where the walls of the throat relax while you sleep. This causes your throat to narrow and your breathing to stop for short periods while you sleep.

Your brain wakes you each time, to restart your breathing. These episodes can happen many times each night, causing poor quality, broken sleep. The cause of OSA varies from person to person. Gravity plays a role in causing OSA, alongside a person’s anatomy. Often, the soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax too much, and gravity pulls these tissues downwards – narrowing the airway.

Elevating your head while you sleep may help to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnoea. So sleeping in a more upright position, such as in a riser recliner chair or an adjustable bed, can improve the quality of your sleep if you have OSA. This is particularly useful for those with mild to moderate OSA However, OSA can have serious health consequences if left untreated, so see your doctor for advice if you think you may have sleep apnoea.

Relieving shoulder pain

If you have shoulder pain, then sleeping in a riser recliner may be a good option. Sleeping on your side can make pain and tightness in your shoulders worse. It can be difficult to stop yourself from rolling onto your side while asleep in a normal bed. Sleeping in a riser recliner has the advantage of making it difficult for you to roll onto your side while you’re asleep.