Will a nap while lying on your stomach cause gastroptosis? The truth is...

Rumor: "Taking a nap lying on your stomach will cause gastroptosis"

A video online claimed that #stomach nap can cause gastroptosis#, sparking heated discussions among netizens. Many people said that they often take naps in this position.

Rumor analysis: This statement is rather one-sided. Gastroptosis is the result of multiple factors, not just improper nap posture.

If you don't take a nap at noon, you will collapse in the afternoon. In the fast-paced modern life, taking a nap at noon has become an important means for many people to restore their energy and improve their work and study efficiency. However, due to environmental or conditional restrictions, many people can only choose to take a nap lying on their desks. After waking up, they often feel stomach discomfort and numbness in their hands and feet. This can't help but make people wonder: Will lying on your stomach during lunch break lead to health problems such as gastroptosis? There are many different opinions on this statement online. Some people say it is a rumor, while others say it is indeed the case.

Today, we will delve deeper into this topic and uncover the truth.

What causes gastroptosis?

Gastroptosis refers to the downward shift of the stomach from its normal position in the abdominal cavity. It is usually caused by weakened diaphragmatic suspension, loose ligaments supporting the internal organs, or decreased intra-abdominal pressure and loose abdominal muscles. When the human body is upright, if the greater curvature of the stomach drops into the pelvic cavity, and the lowest point of the arc of the lesser curvature of the stomach drops below the line connecting the iliac crests, it constitutes gastroptosis. Mild patients may not have obvious discomfort, but severe patients may experience symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, belching, bloating, loss of appetite, and constipation, which seriously affect their quality of life. In fact, gastroptosis is the result of a combination of factors, not simply improper nap posture. Its main causes include:

1. Congenital structural abnormalities

Genetic factors or congenital maldevelopment may cause the ligaments around the stomach to become loose and unable to effectively support the stomach.

2. Thin body

Long-term weight loss or malnutrition leads to a loss of abdominal fat and muscle, which cannot provide adequate support for the stomach.

3. Bad living habits

Long-term lack of physical exercise or long-term bed rest due to illness can lead to relaxation of the abdominal muscles and weakening of the tension of the ligaments around the stomach.

4. Chronic wasting disease

Patients with chronic diseases such as tumors and diabetes are in a state of exhaustion for a long time, which causes a decrease in the tension of the abdominal wall and ligaments.

What are the potential effects of taking a nap during lunch break on your body?

1. Increased intraocular pressure

Sleeping on your stomach for a long time will compress the eyeballs, causing increased intraocular pressure and affecting blood circulation in the eyeballs. This may cause temporary blurred vision and worsen myopia. Long-term doing this may also induce eye diseases such as glaucoma.

2. Facial skin is under pressure

When sleeping on your stomach, the facial skin is directly pressed by the table top, which affects blood circulation and causes poor skin metabolism. Metabolic products such as oil and sweat cannot be discharged in time, which can easily clog the pores and cause skin problems such as acne and blackheads.

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3. Pressure on the heart

Sleeping on your stomach will compress the heart, reduce the amount of blood returning to the heart, and may cause myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. Doing this for a long time may cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

4. Affects breathing

When sleeping on your stomach, your face will be close to the pillow or table, which will restrict your breathing and may cause breathing difficulties. For patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome, it can easily lead to breathing difficulties and decreased blood oxygen exchange function.

5. Spinal deformation

Sleeping on your stomach goes against the physiological curvature of the spine. Doing this for a long time will put great pressure on the spine and cause excessive stretching of the ligaments and muscles.

6. Neck muscle strain

When sleeping on your stomach, the neck muscles are always in a tense state, which can easily lead to neck muscle strain and pain.

7. Affects digestion

Sleeping on your stomach may interfere with the normal digestion and absorption of the gastrointestinal tract, especially immediately after a meal, which can easily cause symptoms such as indigestion and stomach bloating.

8. Numbness in the arms

Prolonged pressure will lead to poor blood circulation in the arms and affect nerve conduction, causing local ischemia, numbness, soreness and other discomforts in the arms.

How to start a healthy nap?

1. Avoid taking a nap immediately after a meal

It is best to take a walk or stand for 15 to 30 minutes after a meal before taking a nap. This will help digestion and absorption of food and reduce stomach discomfort.

2. Choose the right time and place for lunch break

Take a nap in a quiet and comfortable environment, avoid noise or excessive light, and control the nap time to within 30 minutes. This will not only achieve the purpose of a nap, but also reduce the adverse effects of sleeping on your stomach on your body.

3. Choose the right posture for lunch break

Lying on your back or side is the best choice, which can reduce the pressure on the chest and abdomen. If conditions are limited, you can choose a U-shaped inflatable neck pillow and take a nap on a chair with a backrest. If you really want to sleep on your stomach, it is recommended to use a pillow to buffer the pressure and reduce the pressure on the body.

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4. Use a folding bed or reclining chair

When conditions permit, use comfortable equipment such as folding beds or reclining chairs to improve the effect of your lunch break and allow your body to better relax and recover.

5. Keep warm

Avoid taking naps in places where air conditioning or fans are blowing directly to prevent colds or other diseases. You can cover yourself with a blanket or clothes to maintain body temperature.

6. Pay attention to recovery after lunch break

Don't get up and move around immediately after a lunch break. Sit in bed for a while and gradually adjust to being awake. Doing simple stretching exercises or deep breathing exercises can help your body recover.

Although napping during lunch break usually does not directly cause gastroptosis, it does have a certain impact on the normal digestive function of the stomach and the functions of other body organs. Therefore, we should vigorously promote healthier and more scientific napping methods and healthy living habits to ensure that the body can be fully relaxed and restored. In addition, for those who often feel bloating or face other digestive problems, they should go to the hospital for examination in time to rule out possible health risks. Let us work together to make lunch break a real health refueling station!

Looking in the mirror of rumors

This type of rumor is often in the form of "a certain habit or situation" leading to "a certain disease". In fact, the occurrence of most diseases requires a combination of multiple factors. This simple attribution rumor often ignores the complexity of the disease and can easily lead to misunderstandings about the disease.

In life, we should avoid being misled by such information. When we see similar rumors, we should know how to distinguish them and consult professionals when we are in doubt.

Author: Li Tian, ​​Master's Supervisor

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Director of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association, National Health Science Popularization Expert