How Sleeping on Your Left Side Affects Your Health

The quality and length of sleep you get each night has an enormous impact on your overall health and wellbeing. There are many sleeping positions but these three are the most common: sleeping on your back, on your left or on your right side. Even though a certain position may feel more comfortable, it may actually be harmful for your health. The wrong position can lead to health issues such as fatigue, back and neck pain, stomach issues, premature wrinkles, heartburn and sleep apnea.

Sleeping on your left side is beneficial for your health and it allows you to rest better. Here are 7 benefits of sleeping on the left side.

Heart works better

Sleeping on the left side helps the heart to pump blood towards the body and helps the circulatory system to function properly.

Helps Pregnant Women

Most pregnant women, find sleeping on the right side more comfortable. But sleeping on the left side has unique benefits, it enhances better blood circulation and it shields the liver from unwelcome weight, especially towards the end of the pregnancy.

Prevents Heartburn at Night

Sleeping on the left side prevents gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux. Your stomach will be positioned below the cardiac sphincter, which separates the esophagus and the stomach. This way everything that is in the stomach can’t return into the esophagus.

Beneficial for the Lymphatic System

The removal of toxins from the lymphatic system goes faster by sleeping on the left side. Experts find this true, because it pumps out waste better into the thoracic duct, which is positioned on the left side.

Helps the Spleen

Located on the left side of the body, the spleen belongs to the lymphatic system and same applies to it as well. Gravity again helps the spleen function better in the process of toxin filtration.

The Gut Gets a Helping Hand in Waste Removal

The ileocecal valve, separates the small and large intestine. Sleeping on the left side facilitates the transport of waste through the valve from the small to the large intestine, by using – you guessed it – gravity.

Liver won’t clog

The liver works better at night if you sleep on the left side. Sleeping on the left side, helps the liver to keeps toxins neutralized before being accumulated in the liver.

Now when you are aware of the benefits from sleeping on your left side and want to give it a try, keep in mind that the adaptation will be hard. But with perseverance, after a while it will become a habit and you health will be improved.