Jamie & I had (actually, are still having) a rather animated debate on whether it is physically possible to sleep upside down for a prolonged period of time. By “upside down”, we do not mean on your stomach but rather hanging like a bat. And by “prolonged”, we mean a full nights sleep; at least 6 hours. We’ve tried searching the web but are yet unable to find what we are looking for. He states that sans any pre-existing medical conditions, it’s fine. I feel it’s physiologically dangerous. In short, he’s says “when you wake up, you’re happy”. I say “if you wake up, you’re happy”. We’d love any thoughts on this, especially if we could be directed to a link with an answer.
legobuff.com
husband. father. geek.
It’s crazy. I’ve been thinking about the same thing.
It shouldn’t be harming. Depending on your health?
arent u sleeping upside down when ur laying on your back
Sims do it: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=72048
I want to sleep upside down – do you think I’m gonna need special equipment/Training ? Does anyone know of anyone whose tried it other than Batman and Charles Manson, whose not real and lying respectively ? Do they sleep upside down in space ? If so do you think astronauts will be able to help ? Ok, no offence but I think I’m gonna ask them! If you like I can get back to you.
In my oppinion you would black out…the heart pumb that bring de-oxygenated blood back to the heart is not strong enough to get it back….I would be scared of preassure building up in the brain and causing a hemorrhage or something…not a good idea, just try hang upside down for even five minutes….it HURTS.
Your heart is not designed to pull blood through the body…it pushes.
And when it gets done “pushing” your blood halfway through your body, guess what it does? It “pulls” it back.
Being inverted is no different from standing, your body may need time to adjust, however. Go at it in increasing amounts and you should be fine.
I sleep upside down regularly.I believe that seeing as our brain’s are busiest while asleep then it make’s sense to keep the blood flow mostly to the head.On awaking i feel far better than after a usual horizontal sleep.I also believe that our bodies adjust to this habit so their are no danger’s.Not yet anyway!
SAD TWAT!
Awesome… well said John!!
OMG john…..you have changed!
So… How do you feel about that John? Claire you rock my world!x
And how do you feel about that John? Claire… u r lovely, come hang upside down with me in my cave hunni!! xx
How do you feel about that John??
John, its been lovely….but i’m going to go and hangout/up in Gareth cave for a bit, i’m afraid you are going have to think hard as to how you feel about that….as you really have changed…SAD TWAT x
This is unreal, I’ve been thinking about doing this for ages. I’ve got a bad back and bought one of these inverter tables and find I’m almost falling asleep when I’m in it, it’s so relaxing and I just feel my whole spine from neck to lower back being slowly stretched.
I’ll give it a go, let you know how I get on. If I don’t get back to you then you know something went seriously wrong!
did you die?
yup, he’s dead.
I’d say it wouldn’t be too dangerous so long as you didn’t jump right into it.
When I first started hanging upside down blood would rush to my head and I would feel tuns of pressure. Over time my body seemed to adjust accordingly and I seemed fine upside down. However, I was only doing 20 minute “sessions.”
Like any other physical training, it requires work, but maybe it’s possible. Train in 5 minute increments over time or something!
Sleeping upside down could be revolutionary. Since we’re right side up most of our awake life (16+ hours a day for most people), I’m sure sleeping upside down could pose many benefits.
Over time, like mentioned, it could be good for your back. It could be good for your height. Aging people have “saggy” cheeks; this could help prevent the look of aging. I’m sure there could be many other benefits too.
Gravity has great impact on us over time for things we don’t usually think about…
Currently I’m unable to get a proper setup for experimenting with this, but if I do end up getting there somehow (I find a money tree or something), then I’ll definitely post my progress here and what my doctor says over time…
I’m not a doctor or anything, so don’t listen to me… I just decided I’d throw my own thoughts into this.
Get a life you SAD TWAT!!!! p.s. next time you wanna throw your own thoughts in….. aim for the foooookin bin!!!!
I am really going to do this. I am crazy. If sleeping upside down works, I’ll let this blog know. I am dead if I don’t respond in 6 months.
has it been 6 mos. yet?! is he dead???? Oh wait, he’s still on LOST. Never mind.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA LOL LOL LOL !!!
rotflol!!!
pimplol!!!
Ya gotta admit, that was a good one.
Srry jackie.
I’m in extreme back pain almost 24/7. I’m a machinist, and I’m considering building one of these inverted beds. Does anybody have any info if its working for them?
email me at: jdozer@fpcas.com
Has anyone ever seen WAYNE’S WORLD 2? When Wayne and Garth go to England to meet this manager dude for their concert, they enter his house and find him sleeping upside down. They don’t show the apparatus he’s using, but he says that he picked it up from Keith Richards, and its the reason why Keith is invincible.
Yes! haha
“This may be the reason Keith cannot be killed by conventional weapons” hahaha
ps. “I had to beat them to death with their own shoes…”
<3 Del Preston lol
OMG Keith Richards is not a good choice to boost this! If you look like that after hangin upside down, Im goin to sleep standin up ~ LOL Funny how many people think about this
The 1989 Batman movie shows the device much better than Wayne’s World 2. However, Wayne’s World 2 does explain the reason for sleeping upside down. Wayne’s World 2, Del Preston: “Sleeping like this will add ten years to your life.” Probably not far from the truth. My physical anthropology professor explained it well; when we are young, there is cartilage in between our spinal bones. (as well as others) As we age and put wear on these bones, more and more of this cartilage is worn away and eventually our bones are worn away. Sleeping upside down takes the weight off of those joints and actually allows some of the cartilage to regrow. My professor has a friend who trained to be a police officer and was not accepted because he was not tall enough. He began sleeping upside down and gained just enough height to qualify.
Alright, I’ve been considering this for a long while also, and yes, I am one of those nut jobs who first got the idea from Wayne’s World. I found an ebay site, and if you go halfway down the apparatus used in Wayne’s World can be found. I only skimmed over the info, but I don’t see anything about prolonged use or sleeping this way. Here’s the link: http://stores.ebay.com/Better-Health-Innovations/Benefits-of-Inversion-Therapy.html
I have an inversion bar and I feel it is really comfortable to hang upside down. I started in small increments of time, when I first got it i could hardly stay upside down for more than a minture. Now I can hang there for over a half an hour. I am very interested in actually sleeping inverted but unaware of any risks I would like to know if this is harmful. I think it would be fine as Chris said just as long as you work your body up to it.
This site explains everything and it concludes that this should not be done.
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/archive/index.php/t-121257.html
Well here are a few links I went and found on the subject after reading the last post, and I will state my opinion on the subject:
The links I’m providing all seem to be from sites selling inversion therapy equipment, whereas Mathaies’ link clearly is not affiliated with any company benefiting from the information stated. The links I am posting seem to have some “research” behind them, whereas Mathaies’ link seems to be from someone knowledgeable with our best interests at heart but probably not a researcher of any kind. So I conclude that the best way to go about inversion for any length, especially for a duration as long as a night’s sleep should be discussed with a physician before attempting.
Here are a few links I found, take them as you will considering they are meant to sell these items:
http://www.net2fitness.com/benefits_of_inversion.htm
http://www.teeterhangups.com/about/faq.html
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/lowback/inversion_therapy.htm
I picked this one up from Kieth Ricchards. This is probably why I am invunerable to conevtional weapons.
btw your heart IS a pump you idiots. More than 50% of your body is below your heart 65% of your life (think about it genius)This is perfectly safe for anyone without a heart condition. This idea could also increase your mental capacity because your brain will be subjected to a much greater blood flow, which almost certainly increases brain activity and development. SERIOUSLY
Don’t B sounding so angry…I’m sure others have an understanding of different things in life that u might never understand…it takes all kinds 2 make this crazy world.
I would get a midnight headache dude. You are so weird. I am not sleeping like a bat. I would fall and break my neck.
:C
XP But check out earlier comment. PLZ…… someone get back to me!
Welll….. what is the consensus here? What happened to the people who said they would try this and get back to us? did they die? Anyone have any verifiable journal articles or health science articles? I’m sure they can be found on a university database super search.
makindaac is right, nobody has gotten back to us. did anyone try it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7633617.stm-
check it out!
Erik is stupid
Wouldn’t it B real interesting if we could defy gravity by spending half our life up side down…lol. I’d b up side down all the time.
I usually will suspend myself upside down to relax after a hard day’s work to relieve stress and meditate but I’ve actually fallen asleep upside down. In fact, I think I blacked out from it. I was watching a movie (yes, upside down) and woke up about 20 minutes later. I was shocked by how long I was out. I thought it was maybe 5 minutes at most. I was surprised at how good I felt when I awakened. My tired eyes were no longer tired. My head felt cleared and even more awake from all of the oxygenated blood and I no longer felt exhausted. I noticed a lot of phlegm “drainage” from the lymphatic system through my sinuses and back of the throat, like symptoms of having a mild cold. It eventually subsides several hours later but my body, muscles and joints felt incredibly relieved. I would only recommend short periods because that is all you need. I would not recommend doing it for prolonged periods of time as the dangers stated could become dangerous (hemorraging). It’s great for relaxation and meditation though. Just don’t do it very long and you’ll feel better than ever.
The thing about the heart acting as a pump, when we are right side up, then our hearts let the blood run down into our legs, but then has to pump it all back up against gravity.. When we are upside down, it has to do the exact same thing in reverse order. We pump up first then down.
I was actually trying to find something along the lines of getting restless sleeping at the head of the bed and having to switch positions, like pippi longstocking does.
I (head board)
I (feet) I
I___________________I
I (Foot Board) I (Head)
I am one 16th Native american and sometimes can’t stay stiil in oe place very long (also have MILD A.D.D.) Am I crazy for doing this or do I have an ancient internal compass that tells me that I have to “move” somewhere?
Alright, I personally just wanted to say you’re all fucking toolbags, esepecially the guy who was like, “MY FRIENDS COUSINS BROTHER’S SISTER’S HUSBAND SLEPT UPSIDE DOWN AND GREW AND BECAME A POLICE OFFICER ROFL”
………………………….
FAIL.
Could this possibly have benefits? Maybe, but seriously, we don’t sleep right side up, we sleep in very neutral position. Sleeping horizontally will not age you faster or make you shorter. I dare you to get a study together and prove me wrong.
this is actually a good way of relaxing. I have been doing it gradually since last summer. I can now go for about 40 minutes. Once you are done your back will feel very relaxed and you will feel refreshed
Well, I am a former black bat from the gyuana islands in sub tropical sea of Elondo Es Queer Eye. I sleep upside roughly 6-9 hours per day and always feel great when I awake at night. Amen!
i hang up for 20 minutes 1-2 times a day for my back. i imagine it would be very difficult to do as it takes a good period of time to just be able to get where the head rush isn’t bringing you for a break for 20 minutes.
also you might mess your feet up. all of your weight at 90 degrees supported by your ankles (boots or bar closing) for 6-8 hours is not sounding fun.
If you get a system with a better support system, do not invert at a full 90 degrees, and foam everything up and are most confident in the fact that you are secure – maybe.
Best way to try it would be in some phasic sleep though (naps only 2-3 hours)
I would be very CERTAIN that you are fastened in though. You don’t want to snap your neck from your ankles rawing and sweating over the night – though if you are asleep it won’t be a terrible way to die I guess.
I had a very strange state of mind when I took a nap with my head more down to my left side few hours ago. (dream)I remember I was in my own bathroom, I was seeing things with very weird perspective: I was trying to put down the seat, I see it, only very zoomed in, and I couldn’t get it moving, I was confused about what was going on, everything around me seemed very real, I just couldn’t do anything.
I will try this again with lower slope…
I want to try this. Didn’t the do it in the Adam’s Family or the Munsters..one of them shows? Ever since I was little I’ve had the urge to hang upside down. I sleep in weird position. As a Child I had a water-bed, instead of sleeping in the middle…I would hang my head over the edge. Maybe this is why I have a long neck. :) But i do get a lot of neck ‘crinks’ and my neck is always cracking.
I have a lot of tension in my body…more than a ‘normal’ 24yr old should have. I haven’t slept totally upside down. but have slept in half-way upside down positions. Seems like the only way I can remember my dreams, like last night. I awoke just about 10 minutes ago…I awoke with the thought of hanging upside down. I don’t know how to go about doing this. I don’t want to have to buy ‘special’ equipment but it seems like the only way.
Everyone seems to be saying if you do it ‘ don’t do it too long’ Well…I’m sorry but if I’m asleep…I am OUT. I have nights where I toss and turn…and I do have major insomnia which is another reason I want to try this. But Once I finally get to sleep..it’s interrupted for the most part. So I guess I will have to practice when I know I won’t fall asleep.
All I can think of to do is ‘hanging off the bed’ like I have before but that pressure on your muscles isn’t too comfortable. I wish I could think of a comfortable way. I’ll be checking this periodically. See if anyone else has any ideas.
got THE WORST manflu. nose is dripping like a leaky tap. (every 90-120 seconds) cant be arsed with it so gna sleep on an incline… mite end up deaf in the morning due to collection of fluid. mite end up dead due to haemoraging.
incline is about 20-30% made of some well furry cushions… :)
will leave the page open an comment in the morning.
if i dont. check out myspace.com/fluidlines
sure the boys will post a nice little RIP.
…
see you on the other side. x
I’ve wanted to sleep upsidedown ever since hearing David Lettermans Top 10 about Tom Cruise; where he stated I heard he sleep’s upside down like a bat (can’t remember exact quote) and it’s not true offcourse its just a joke(making him sound like weird, or we from this blog may believe it makes him sound superhuman or weird in a good way).
I have gravity boots which you see people hang upside down in the movies to do upsidedown sit-ups (some chick roller derby movie with actress from Juno and I think the girl from E.T, I think maybe in Footloose Movie aswell but I cant remember) , which i was doing alot once upon a time and my friend said i had a six pack at the time. I havnt used them in a while, but want to get back in to it. I have an old mattress in the garage which ive been planning to put underneath cause i dont quite trust my handy work i.e meaning the bar I installed, but I do pull-ups(chin-ups) on it so i quess it should hold my weight upside down.
I didnt install the bar that came with it as its designed for doorways and we have the shorter doorways and I wanted to hang my arms aswell.
I just used to go to the park and do it on the chin-up bar at the park, I would not get headaches or feel dissy and sometimes hang for 20minutes (I was extremely fit though).I did notice the way I would breath would be similar to circular breathing as you are trying to ease the blood flow to your head with the way you breath, which came quite naturally for me. Im not sure if someone who couldnt breath in this manner would find it difficult with an increasing bloodflow to the head and no reprieve. My guess is if i were to fall asleep in this manner; i would either fall asleep breathing in this fashion and wake up when my breathing resembled how you breath when you normally sleep(not circle breathing), or i would gradually loose this circle breathing thing and breath how i normally would before i fall asleep and thus fall asleep (i think you have to be quite relaxed to fall asleep).
Perhaps this would be good therapy for those who suffer sleep apnea but im not a doctor so dont try this at home.
I’d love to get some elderely people with alsiemers disease or other brain conditions to give it a go but im not qualified and there familys would never allow it, I dont know if it would help as therapy for their condition anyway.once again im no doctor.
bye andre’
Would never dream of trying to sleep vertically upside down. Currently though, I have been sleeping with only my head hanging off of the edge of the bed to get my ‘upside down’ effect (my shoulders are still on the edge of the bed). It’s easier when I’m on my back. I can sleep on my stomach as well like this, but it has a possibility of straining my neck muscles a little sometimes. But my brain feels great in the morning.
I got the urge to sleep like this b/c I was just feeling stressed out in general and I would wake up in the mornings with mild headaches. Getting the extra blood up there overnight did wonders.
Only one time when I let too much of my body hang over the edge of the bed, I woke up to feel swelling/fluid pressure in my eyes/eyelids & felt the stuffiness in my sinuses. ( I didn’t bother to look in the mirror to see if I was actually swollen or anything, so I’m only reporting what I felt.)
Otherwise, the only thing I plan on doing is to maybe put a few blocks under one side of my bed to lift it up maybe 1 foot, sleeping inclined like that. I think you guys are crazy for wanting to go fully vertically inverted. I’m certain if it gets too uncomfortable for me, I will somehow move myself and just wakeup on the floor in the morning :) .
It is potentially harmful to sleep upside down because it raises your intracranial pressure. That is why it hurts when you attempt it. Doing this repetitively may cause an aneurysm to develop. More importantly, if someone has a congenital aneurysm or an elderly person with a history of hypertension attempts it, they are at risk for rupturing the aneurysm and having an intracranial bleed. Your brain has a well designed flow control which makes sure it gets the blood it needs at all times, sleeping upside down only overwhelms the brain with unneeded pressure.
Bloody hell Jeff, it’s all doom and gloom with you!! lighten up dude lifes to short to constantly be the right way up… PEACE!!! ….. SAD TWAT!!
Thanks jeff,
The coincidence being that my mother had an aneurysm rupture (she survived it, but she is not 100% the same.)
99% ??