Science
The Benefits Of Sleeping On Your Left Side May Surprise You
It could be time to mix up your sleeping position, regardless of whether you consider yourself a left side, back, or stomach sleeper.
This sleeping posture has the potential to improve your overall health in addition to being more comfortable.
Herbalist Ali Ramadan, also known as @holisticali, talked about some benefits of sleeping on your left side in a TikTok that got 406.9k likes.
Ramadan provided his audience with enough knowledge in just fifteen seconds to persuade anyone to begin sleeping on their left side.
“Dramatically switched to the left side after seeing this vid,” was one of the comments made. “I tried it, it’s true it makes a difference,” remarked a different user.
Ramadan claims that sleeping on the left side can help with heartburn and stomach issues in addition to encouraging a more peaceful night’s sleep.
According to Ramadan, “When we sleep on the left side, the stomach and its gastric juices remain lower than the esophagus thus reducing heartburn and digestive upsets.”
@holisticali Do you sleep on the left side? There are benefits to both right side sleeping and left side sleeping. The research shows it is better for digestive health to sleep on the left side, and for those who have heart failure it is better to sleep on the right side. Sources: https://www.dovepress.com/sleep-positions-and-nocturnal-body-movements-based-on-free-living-acce-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSS https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/410292 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12801953/ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000559.htm https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12801953/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10445529/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26835867/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8071510/ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleeping-positions/side-sleeping https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/sleep-effects-digestion https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19110135/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12535814/
♬ original sound – Ali Ramadan
He added that by avoiding placing too much pressure on the back, this sleeping position can help to relieve any back pain that may already be present.
You may have a fixed preference for a certain sleeping position. We are aware of that. To properly determine whether it’s worthwhile to go to the opposite side, we therefore brought in experts.
So Which Side Comes Out on Top?
To help you understand, Sleepopolis spoke with Jeff Kahn, co-founder of Rise Science and a specialist in sleep medicine. According to Kahn, there is no right or wrong way to sleep; nevertheless, people who are pregnant or have specific medical issues may find that resting on their left side is more comfortable.
“For instance, it might be advantageous for pregnant women because it can improve circulation to the heart, benefiting both mom and baby,” Kahn said.
In addition to helping expectant mothers, side sleeping can also benefit those who experience nausea.
“It’s also thought to help with digestion and reduce heartburn, which can be beneficial for those with gastrointestinal issues,” he said.
Kahn added that lying on your left side can facilitate easier food passage through your intestinal tract since your body’s digestive tract is shaped in a particular way.
“This is due to the layout of the digestive tract; when you’re on your left, gravity can help move food along from your small intestine to your large intestine,” he said. “When you lay on your left, your stomach is lower than your esophagus, making it harder for stomach acid to rise up into it causing acid reflux.”
Mattress Next Day’s creator and CEO, Martin Seeley, discussed the advantages of resting on your left side for your cardiovascular system in an interview with Sleepopolis.
“Sleeping on the left side can increase circulation and is often recommended for those with heart disease or high blood pressure. This position allows for better oxygenation of the body, which may help improve cardiovascular health,” Seeley said. “Meanwhile, sleeping on the right side can reduce circulation to some areas of the body such as the legs and feet.”
Although it appears that sleeping on the left side is preferable, Kahn noted that there isn’t much data to support this claim.
Ultimately, it’s crucial to select the sleeping posture that supports a restful night’s sleep and suits your body type.
“The best sleeping position for you is the one that you find most comfortable and that allows you to get enough healthy, naturalistic sleep,” Kahn said.
It could be advisable to continue sleeping in the position you are used to if you value your sleep. The last thing you want is to wake up on the wrong side of the bed.
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