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Which side is better to sleep on – right or left? The discussion on this topic has been going on for some time. Dr. Christopher Winter, a neurologist and sleep scientist, advises avoiding sleep on your right side. Why? The doctor indicates several reasons that are important for our health.
- Dr. Christopher Winter: If you are snoring or having difficulty breathing, sleeping on your side is the best way to open your airway
- Sleeping on your left side results in better circulation. For this reason, this position is recommended for pregnant women
- This position also helps to reduce the likelihood of heartburn
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Sleeping on the side with curled legs is the most common position we adopt during sleep (the so-called embryonic position). The reason is prosaic, for most of us it is simply the most comfortable. Hardly anyone thinks about the impact it has on our health. Meanwhile, it turns out to be quite large.
When is side sleeping a good choice and when might it be harmful?
Dr. Christopher Winter, a sleep medicine neurologist, talked about the benefits of sleeping on your side. “If you snore or have breathing problems, sleeping on your side is the best way to open your airways,” says the specialist.
In his opinion, this position may also help relieve low back pain. – Lying on the side with slightly tucked legs we recreate the natural curvature of the spine – she says. Side sleeping can also help “release” the stresses of standing or sitting for long periods during the day.
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Moreover, a mouse experiment conducted several years ago showed that sleeping on your side can prevent the development of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. – Our study showed that compared to sleeping on the stomach or on the back, the brain cleans out toxins best when we lie on our side while sleeping – said Prof. Helene Benveniste from Stony Brook University School of Medicine.
Dr. Christopher Winter emphasized that it is not known whether this applies to humans as well, but it is certain that sleep plays a huge role in cleansing the brain of toxins, including protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Do you have sleep problems, do you suffer from insomnia? If the situation is not urgent, you can consult a doctor without leaving your home, using telemedicine. For this, the patient can make an appointment with your doctor for a TV visit.
There is also the other side of the coin. Physiotherapists have pointed out that sleeping on your side with your legs sharply tucked close to your chest can lead to back pain or joint pain. All because this position is no longer natural for us.
Which side is better to sleep on – right or left, and what is the best sleeping position?
Dr. Christopher Winter is straightforward: avoid the right side, try to sleep on the left side. There are several reasons. Sleeping on the left side results in better circulation – the human aorta is curved to the left. For this reason, pregnant women are advised to sleep on their left side or nap in this position. – During this time, a woman’s heart works harder, and sleeping on her right side additionally hinders blood circulation – says the specialist.
There is also another benefit of sleeping on your left side. It has been found that this position helps to reduce the likelihood of heartburn. Sleeping on the right side causes the stomach to press against the pancreas. Falling asleep on your left side prevents stomach acid from going into your esophagus.
- Also check: Seven ways to fight insomnia
Despite these benefits, left side sleep is not considered the healthiest sleeping position. According to doctors and physical therapists, it is best to sleep on your back. This position allows the body to rest in a neutral position and reduces the risk of heartburn. Note, people with sleep apnea should not sleep on their backs. A more desirable position for them is sleeping on their side.
What is the worst sleeping position for us? Sleeping on the stomach is considered to be such. This position puts the greatest strain on the spine, the internal organs are compressed and the lungs have limited access to air.
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