The Best Side to Sleep On??
Avoid the right side. It may not be the best idea, especially for your heart, according to sleep specialist W. Christopher Winter, MD, medical director of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Sleep Medicine Center in the U.S. He explained that your blood flows throughout your body and eventually returns to the heart on the right side. But when you sleep on your right, “the pressure of your body smashes up against the blood vessels that return to your ticker.” Meanwhile, “sleeping on your left side with your right side not squished is supposed to potentially increase blood flow back to your heart,”. This is especially the case with pregnant women as the bump would increase the restriction placed upon the veins returning blood back to the heart on the right side.
Have acid reflux? Try the left side. It turns out that sleeping your left side may reduce the chances of suffering heartburn. A study found that those who slept on their left side were less likely to suffer heartburn problems. Sleeping on the right has been found to relax the connecting muscles between the stomach and the oesophagus. When these muscles are contracting they help to control the process of acid reflux
Back is still best. Despite the back-and-forth debate between the right and left side, research points to sleeping on your back as the best method for staying healthy while sleeping.“Back sleeping is the best option for pain management, as it allows your body to rest in a neutral position, which is great for reducing aches. It also cuts down on heartburn, as it keeps your head elevated above your chest, And, sleeping on your back gives your head, neck, and spine a proper rest throughout the night. When you sleep facing the ceiling, you will lessen the likelihood of suffering acid reflux. Note that if you suffer from sleep apnea or respiratory issues, experts recommend avoiding the back sleeping position, and instead going for a side position.
Avoid the stomach. Stomach sleepers tend to put more pressure on their muscles and joints, which can lead to aches, nerve issues, and numbness.
It’s hard to pinpoint the best method for sleeping. Experts agree that you should stick with whatever sleeping habits work best for you.
But, that said, sleeping on your back appears to be the healthiest method, followed by your left side, then your right one. Just try to avoid sleeping on your stomach if you can.