New Health Wisdom: Sleep Like a Cat
British feline experts observed that most domestic cats predominantly sleep in a lateral recumbent position: body lying on the right side, hind limbs slightly bent; right forelimb naturally tucked near the head on the right side, left forelimb naturally extended downward and slightly straight.
This posture closely resembles the standard sleeping position advocated in traditional Chinese medicine.
TCM emphasizes the “sleeping like a bow” posture: lie on the right side, bend the right leg, extend the left leg; bend the right elbow, place palm under the head; extend the left arm straight, resting on the left thigh.
TCM believes this posture protects heart energy, allows the brain to quickly calm down like a cat curling up, shifting from excitement to inhibition, enabling quick entry into sleep.
Does frequent change of sleep position increase heart disease risk?
New research confirms yes.
This is the first time American scientists assessed the relationship between sleep position changes and heart disease. Sudden blood pressure fluctuations significantly increase heart disease risk—commonly occurring when changing sleep positions at night or standing up abruptly.