If we ask you what you prefer, left or right, we are not thinking about politics, but about the side on which you rest if you usually sleep on your side. In this case, there are physiological factors that advise sleeping on the left side, unless you have an injury to that shoulder or some other unusual medical circumstance.
We know that it is normal not to pay attention to this aspect because, to begin with, one changes position several times during the night. But once we explain to you why it is better to sleep on the left side, we would almost bet that you will start to pay attention to that detail. That’s what happened to us.
What is the best side to sleep on?
If you have trouble falling asleep, you have probably thought a lot about what the reasons might be. Stop and reflect: what if you sleep poorly because you are not choosing the best side to sleep on?
It seems like something unimportant, but you will see the number of ailments and health issues that one can avoid by prioritizing sleeping on the left side, without obsessing if you wake up on the other side.
You know, we care about your rest, which is why we only sell pocket spring mattresses, as we believe they are the best option for everyone, adapting them, and for the same reason, we ask you to let us tell you about which side is better to sleep on and why, especially if you are pregnant or suffer from gastroesophageal reflux.
Why is it better to sleep on the left side?: benefits
We repeat that there are particular circumstances that make the left side not the best side to sleep on, such as a trauma to that shoulder or being recently operated on something that forces you to adopt a certain position.
If that is your case, the doctor will indicate the best position for you to sleep in during your recovery. For others, and for when you recover, here is a list of benefits of preferably sleeping on the left side of the body.
Promotes good digestion
When one has poor digestion, they rest and sleep poorly. In the case of gastroesophageal reflux, it is possible to cough due to the irritation that occurs in the throat because of the rise of stomach acids. You cough and wake up several times at night, which makes you get up tired, which does not help with gastritis.
Fortunately, the human body is not symmetrical, which implies that there are differences between sleeping on one side or the other. If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, you can sleep on your back with your head and shoulders slightly elevated, or try sleeping on the left side for a general improvement in digestion.
When you lie on your left side, you facilitate the transit of fluids in the digestive system, avoiding accumulations, reflux, and dyspepsia.
Improves circulation
We continue with the asymmetries because the heart is located on the left side for the vast majority of people, and the size of both lungs is not identical.
When you sleep on the left side, on one hand, you prevent the obstruction of the aorta, which is responsible for sending oxygenated blood from the heart to the organs. Moreover, sleeping on this side also relieves pressure on the inferior vena cava, promoting the return of blood loaded with carbon dioxide to the heart and lungs.
Have you noticed? By sleeping on the left side, you promote the flow of blood both ways, thus improving overall circulation.
Good for the brain
Sleeping on the left side also improves lymphatic circulation, which runs parallel to the blood circulation. This is important for many things in general, but it has been particularly shown to be good for the brain.
It is still being studied, but it seems that tending to sleep on the left side reduces the likelihood of developing some neurodegenerative diseases.
One of the best positions for the spine
In general, and except for the exceptions mentioned earlier, sleeping on your side on a good mattress with one or more pillows of the appropriate thickness is the best way to ensure proper alignment of the spine while you sleep.
If you are one of those people who do not wake up in bizarre positions without being able to control it, then you need to ensure that your mattress allows for the correct alignment of the spine, regardless of the side and position you sleep in that night or for that period. The most ergonomic mattresses are usually pocket spring ones.
The best option for pregnant women
When you are pregnant and the months go by, the baby presses on the vena cava if you sleep on the right side. There are women who do not have major circulatory problems during pregnancy due to a series of favorable factors, such as not gaining too much weight. But it is common to suffer from swollen ankles, and it is not rare for varicose veins to form that remain after childbirth unless they are sclerosed. It would be great to improve circulation without medication, and in fact, it is as easy as sleeping on the correct side.
Additionally, in the first trimester of pregnancy, nausea and often gastroesophageal reflux are common. You can avoid all this by sleeping on the left side.
Sleeping on the left side may be a habit that goes unnoticed, just like the opposite case. However, there are differences for your health and rest depending on which side you usually sleep on.
Given the importance of rest in health and quality of life, don’t you think it’s worth paying attention to which side we usually adopt to support the weight of the body while sleeping and changing habits if necessary? Remember that the first thing is to ensure optimal conditions with good support, temperature, and humidity, but once this foundation is secured, you don’t have to settle for a half-hearted rest.