If you’re anything like me, you won’t give your sleeping position any thought.
Imagine that you have just enough energy to drag yourself to the bedroom and turn out the lights before you fall asleep after coming home from yet another exhausting day at work, playing with the kids, cooking, putting them to bed, and possibly having some time to unwind in front of the TV or read a book.
Naturally, timetables vary, but my point is that I’ve never really thought about how I sleep. It’s crucial that I get enough sleep before the chaos starts again tomorrow, isn’t it?
Apparently not, that is. The fact that your body is working hard when you get the recommended eight hours of sleep—or, in my experience, frequently less—may not surprise you. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to consider how you claim those hours, even down to something as seemingly inconsiderate as the side you lie on.
In a sense, most of us have a favored “sleeping style.” When we’re claiming our forty winks, that is to say, a side of preference. While some choose to sleep on their left side, others choose to sleep on their right. Heck, some people lie on their backs and sleep through the night in the pharaoh pose.
However, it turns out that sleeping on your left side has a lot of possible health benefits, and we felt it only right to share a few of them with you lovely people, our cherished readers.
What is the source of all this, then? According to a few different internet sources, sleeping on your left side is supposed to help with the following, though it ultimately comes down to personal preference when it comes to comfort:
Heartburn at Night
Sleeping on your left side may help if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or acid reflux. By keeping the stomach below the esophagus, this position reduces the possibility of acid refluxing into the esophagus, which frequently results in the painful feeling of heartburn.
Liver and spleen function
The function of the spleen comes next. Sleeping on your left side promotes blood flow to the organ, which enhances its ability to boost your immune system and filter contaminants from your body.
Because it is located on the right side of your body, your liver might also gain from this. Choosing to sleep on your left side helps your body handle any poisons and chemicals, which improves detoxification.
Women who are expecting
The Sleep Foundation advises expectant mothers to sleep on their left side whenever feasible since it facilitates the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body. This is particularly crucial in the final trimester since, as was already noted, resting on one’s left side promotes heart health and relieves pressure on the liver.
Because resting on one’s back has been linked in some studies to an increased risk of late stillbirth, side-sleeping is generally thought to be safer during pregnancy.
A healthy bowel movement
The left side of your body contains the ileocecal valve, which joins the large and small intestines (don’t worry, I’ve never heard of that either). It has been suggested that sleeping on your left side facilitates the passage of waste products from the small to the large intestine. Gravity facilitates the process, which helps with waste removal and better bowel motions.
When to think about changing your sleeping position
Nevertheless, resting on your left side is not required, and there are several advantages to sleeping in other postures.
The most crucial thing is to be at ease all night long and ready to change positions if you discover that one posture isn’t suited for you. Because you’re naturally placing more weight on one side while you lie in the same position for hours on end, side sleeping, for instance, might make pre-existing problems in, say, your shoulders worse.
We hope that this article has taught you something. When you sleep, do you have a favorite position? If so, please post it in the comments to help us start people talking.
