The reason why you shouldn’t sleep on your right side
It is safe to say that most of us get around eight hours of sleep each night. This equates to around a third of one’s life being in a state of slumber. But did you realize that the position you are in during this time can have an effect on your quality of rest and your health? Let’s examine why we shouldn’t be sleeping on our right side.
Sleep is very important for our well-being. So, if you are often getting a poor night’s sleep, you’re whole body can be thrown off balance, which can eventually result in some types of health problems.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, proper sleep has been found to be essential to our health. The study also goes on to confirm that the position in which we sleep can in turn effect the quality of sleep we get each night.
It’s bad for the heart
Sleeping on the left side makes it easier for blood to be distributed throughout the body. This is because most the main arteries are located towards the left. However, when we sleep on the right side it makes the job of pumping blood through our veins much harder, thereby reducing proper circulation to the arteries.
It slows down digestion
While sleeping on the right side, it becomes easier for stomach acid to enter into the esophagus and cause heartburn. Consequently, sleeping on the left side helps prevent this problem. So if you suffer from digestive problems, make sure you choose your left side before you drift off.
It doesn’t help with lymphatic drainage
Studies have found that sleeping on the left side promotes the process of lymphatic drainage. The process transports nutrients to different areas of the body while at the same time cleansing the body and disposing of the elements that we don’t need.
Some internal organs don’t function as well
Both the stomach and the pancreas can be found on the left side of the body, making sleep on the left side less stressful for them to function.
Releases the pressure from the spleen
The spleen also is found on the left side of the human body, and it carries out the vital role of cleansing the blood. This organ also works with the lymphatic system to get rid of waist products from the system. Sleeping on the left side, however, helps the spleen work more efficiently.
So if you don’t have any health problems preventing you from sleeping on your left side, it is still not too late to change your sleeping habits. You will improve your quality of life with a good night’s rest, and your long-term health will thank you.
