Which is the healthiest side to sleep on?

Author: Baylee Lind  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Sleep on your left side for better digestion “It takes some pressure off your stomach.” In fact, research shows that not only do GERD sufferers who sleep on the right side experience more instances of heartburn than when on their left side, but these episodes also last longer.

Which side is best for your heart to sleep on?

What's the best sleeping position for your heart? There is limited evidence linking a person's sleeping position with their overall heart health. While studies have found that people with heart failure often avoid sleeping on their left side, it does not show that this sleeping position causes heart problems.

What is the healthiest sleeping position?

Side sleeping helps prevent the airway from collapsing and can reduce snoring. "And so, all in all, sleeping on the side — perhaps with their head slightly elevated as long as that's comfortable — is a good way to sleep," says Dr. Krahn.

Is it better to sleep on your left or right side brain?

“Researchers have found that sleeping position can impact the movement of blood and cerebrospinal fluid through the brain,” Dr. Gliebus says. “They have also discovered that sleeping on the side can improve cerebrospinal fluid clearance.” Sleeping on your left side can also keep pressure off your internal organs.

Why should I not sleep on my right side?

Reflux and heartburn: If you suffer from heartburn, sleeping on your right side can make symptoms worse, Salas says. That's true for people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and for people who have heartburn for other reasons, such as pregnant women. Flip to your left side to cool the burn.

Is Sleeping On Your Left Side Healthier Than Sleeping On Your Right Side?

What is the best sleeping position for high blood pressure?

According to Connor, you should sleep on your left side if you have high blood pressure. “This puts less strain on blood vessels, and in turn, less strain on our heart.” It also helps to keep your airway from being obstructed, which can decrease snoring and help you breathe more deeply through the night.

Why sleep on the left side?

The best side to sleep on depends on your personal preference as well as the support of your mattress and pillow. Left side sleeping may benefit pregnant people or those who experience acid reflux, while right side sleeping may be preferred by people with heart conditions.

What is the best position to sleep in to heal your body?

Specifically, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these sleep positions, it's easier to keep your spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure on the spine and enables your muscles to relax and recover.

How to sleep for blood circulation?

Keeping your legs elevated while sleeping can help improve blood circulation, reducing symptoms like leg pain and swelling. It is also helpful to sleep on your back with supported legs. However, avoid sleeping on your right side as it can put additional pressure on your organs and blood vessels.

What is the best sleeping position to avoid dementia?

Sleep on your side to boost brain power

Side sleeping could help keep you sharp and possibly reduce your dementia risk.

How should I sleep to avoid a stroke?

How can we lower our stroke risk?
  1. Sleep in a dark room that is quiet and comfortable.
  2. Lower the thermostat. Warmer temperatures prevent you from resting adequately.
  3. Avoid caffeine late in the day—no soda, tea or coffee late at night.
  4. Kick the late-night snacking habit.

What sleeping position is best for anxiety?

Try the best position to sleep with anxiety: The best sleeping position for anxiety is on your back with your limbs splayed out, otherwise known as the 'shooting star' position or supine position. While you may feel tempted to curl on your side, this position causes muscle tension rather than relaxation.

What side is better to sleep on for your stomach?

Gut health: There is no medical evidence to support that sleeping on one side is better than the other. However, the location of the stomach is a clue. The stomach's natural position is on the left side, where it can digest food more effectively.

What is the best position for a woman to sleep?

Sleep Better on Your Back

A side position might be the most popular, but sleeping on your back is by consensus the most beneficial. Your back remains straight and your pelvis untwisted. Lying with your arms and legs extended out can be good for your spine and neck - some say it could even lead to fewer wrinkles!

What happens if you sleep with your head lower than your feet?

Head down tilt (HDT) reduces intracranial perfusion and leads to jugular vein congestion (Marshall-Goebel et al., 2016; Kramer et al., 2017). Moreover, an increased intracranial pressure is a consequence of HDT (Lawley et al., 2017).

Which position is not good for sleeping?

Sleeping on your front is considered unhealthy because it can inhibit breathing and cause irregular curvature of the spine. The turning of the head to one side when sleeping in this position is another cause of such a curvature.

Is it better to sleep on the right or left side for the heart?

These same studies have found that people with heart failure often prefer to sleep on their right side, which could be a protective mechanism, as one study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology concluded.

Why should wife sleep on the left side?

According to astrology, the wife sleeping on the left side of the husband strengthens emotional harmony... Read More. In Sanatan Dharma, during a marriage, the wife is asked to sit on the left side of the husband. This practice continues during pujas and religious rituals, where the wife always sits on the left side.

What is the best sleeping position to prevent blood clots?

Elevating your legs and sleeping on your back are the best positions to prevent clot formation. Avoid curling tightly in a fetal position, which can restrict blood flow. Simple habits like staying hydrated and stretching before bed can further reduce clot risks.

What position is best for lowering heart rate?

Left Recumbent Position Decreases Heart Rate without Alterations in Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Healthy Young Adults.

What is the fastest thing to lower blood pressure?

The fastest ways to safely lower blood pressure include:
  • Practicing breathing exercises that slow your heart rate and promote relaxation.
  • Lying down and resting for 10 minutes.
  • Eating a healthy diet.
  • Losing weight (if needed)
  • Doing regular exercise.
  • Limiting alcohol.
  • Stopping smoking.
  • Taking your medication as directed.

Which arm should you take blood pressure on?

Which arm to measure blood pressure in. It's a good idea to have your blood pressure measured in both arms at least once, since the reading in one arm (usually the right) may be slightly higher than that in the left. In general, the arm-to-arm difference in systolic blood pressure is 5 points or less.

Previous article
How do you hang clothes without a clothesline?
Next article
What to do after dyeing fabric?