The Nightly Choice That Could Protect or Endanger Your Brain

Key risk factors for stroke—high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (hardened arteries), and sleep apnea—can all be influenced by how you position your body for 6 to 8 hours each night. The goal during sleep is to maintain optimal, unimpeded blood flow through the two major vertebral arteries in the neck that supply nearly 20% of the brain’s blood—particularly the vital brainstem and cerebellum.

The Most Concerning Position: Flat on Your Back with Poor Neck Alignment

The Problem Explained:
Sleeping flat on your back (supine position) is common, but it becomes particularly risky when the neck is improperly aligned—either hyperextended by a too-high pillow or flexed forward by a too-low or absent pillow.