Sleeping on your left has never been so right.
Waking up on the wrong side of the bed can not only put you in a bad mood but could also impact your health.
According to herbal nutrition expert Ali Ramadan, not all sleep is equal, explaining in a TikTok video there are a number of benefits to slumbering on the left side.
In the video, Ramadan said “when we sleep on the left side, the stomach and its gastric juices remain lower than the esophagus,” which affects digestion and heartburn.
“It also reduces pressure on the back and is the ideal way for pregnant women to sleep,” Ramadan added.
Sleeping on the left is also beneficial to those pregnant, with Sleep Foundation noting curling left is beneficial for expecting moms because it helps with blood flow between the heart, fetus, uterus and kidneys, while taking pressure off the liver and back.
However, a 2019 review of studies found there wasn’t any difference in the health of pregnant people or their babies depending on what side they slept on, suggesting it may be a comfort-based choice.
Those who suffer from heartburn or acid reflux may be better off lying left. A study published in the 2022 issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology found that stomach acid cleared much faster in participants lying on their left side, as opposed to their back or right side.
Healthline noted that some sleep experts think that sleeping on your right side could compress your vena cava, which is the large vein that carries blood to the rest of your body, suggesting if you suffer from heart issues you may want to roll over the left.
“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,” Ramadan noted in his TikTok.
Rachel Salas, M.D., an associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said sleeping on your back can help reduce back pain and skin conditions like acne — noting you may notice creases on your face when you sleep on your side.
“Over time, that can lead to breakouts or cause chronic changes to the skin,” Salas explained. “If you’re concerned about wrinkles, it’s another reason to sleep on your back.”
While some studies suggest what sleeping position may be better for heart health, there haven’t been any definitive studies to determine the best sleeping position for your heart, with it being somewhat dependent on if an individual suffers from a heart condition. Healthline suggested that overall, getting quality sleep is more important than what position you sleep in.
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