Did you unknowingly rest your arm as a pillow while sleeping? It could cause a deadly 'this symptom'.
If you rest your arm on a pillow for a long time, your arm and hand may go numb. Falling asleep in this uncomfortable arm position causes muscles and ligaments to remain stretched, which reduces sleep quality and leads to increased pain and fatigue. Sleeping with your arm as a pillow is like placing a heavy dumbbell on your arm, as the weight of an adult's head is usually about 5 kg. Using an arm as a pillow compresses nerves and blood vessels. Continuous pressure on blood vessels and nerves can cause the hand to feel cold and turn blue, leading to thoracic outlet syndrome. Thoracic outlet syndrome is a condition where the upper thoracic structures compress the brachial plexus, subclavian vein, or subclavian artery, causing pain. Most cases of thoracic outlet syndrome are caused by poor posture. Maintaining positions that put strain on the neck and shoulders, such as resting with an arm as a pillow, carrying heavy bags, or prolonged computer use, can lead to thoracic outlet syndrome. Symptoms may include swelling, vein dilation, or discoloration in the shoulders, arms, or hands. Rarely, thrombosis can occur in the subclavian vein.
Sleeping in the correct posture improves sleep quality. The proper sleeping posture is to maintain the 'S' curve of the spine. First, while looking at the ceiling, align the back of the head, neck, and spine in a straight line, then stretch out the arms and legs so that the armpit or groin angle is about 45 degrees. At this time, ensure that the shoulders do not hunch inward, and keep the palms facing the ceiling. Placing a small cushion behind the knees helps maintain the normal curves of the joints from the spine to the hips and legs. Attention should also be paid to pillow selection. The pillow should be wider than the shoulders and long enough from the top of the head to the end of the cervical spine to fully support the head and neck, reducing the load on the neck. For people who sleep on their side, the pillow height should be higher than when sleeping on the back. About 10 to 15 cm is appropriate, considering shoulder height. This helps reduce pain caused by shoulders touching the floor.