Do you often fall asleep while working on your desk or computer? When fatigue and drowsiness take over, a short nap on your desk may feel relaxing but you must have experienced terrible back pain or stiff neck afterwards. It is due to sitting and being inactive for long hours. A bad sleeping position significantly affects your sleep and overall health. 

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Being motionless in a seated position for a long time can stiffen your joints. In some cases, it can raise your risk of deep-vein thrombosis.

Here are some side effects of sleeping in a sitting position and how it can be fatal:

May cause stiffness in joints: Restricted movement and the inability to stretch can lead to stiffness in joints. Laying down straight allows the limbs and joints to stretch while sitting can affect blood circulation, restrict movement and lead to further complications such as joint pain.

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Impair blood circulation: Sitting in one posture for a long period can lead to blockage of blood flow, resulting in impaired circulation.

Severe back pain: Sleeping while seated may result in the body staying in a single position for a long time. Being motionless in a bad posture can cause terrible pain in the lower back and other body parts.

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Risk of deep-vein thrombosis

Discussed above were the short-term problems, sleeping while seated can also result in serious conditions such as deep-vein thrombosis. In this condition, a clot known as a thrombus develops in one or more of the deep veins in your body, especially in the lower legs or thighs. This can be a major consequence of sleeping in a sitting position for long hours. 

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If left unchecked, this condition can cause sudden death in severe circumstances. The blood clot can break off and travel to the brain or lungs, resulting in death.

A few symptoms of deep-vein thrombosis are sudden pain in the foot or ankle, skin redness, swelling in feet, leg cramps, and a warm sensation on the skin.

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Benefits of sleeping in sitting position

A recliner can be a good choice if you want to sleep while sitting. Sleeping in a sitting position can be beneficial for pregnant women as they often struggle to find an appropriate position that is comfortable for their belly. 

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If you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea it can be a great position for sleeping. Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. 

It also helps to relieve acid reflux and people suffering from gastrointestinal problems.