This is what sleeping on the left side does for our brain, stomach & glymphatic health

Many people like to sleep on their sides. They might not be aware, though, that there are certain health advantages to this. In actuality, the body may react differently to various sleeping positions, both positively and negatively. People should generally sleep however they feel most comfortable. Nevertheless, individuals might want to think about shifting their bed position if they are exhibiting symptoms like jaw discomfort, back pain, poor digestion, and more. In particular, they might wish to think about sleeping on their left side.

The Advantages of Left-Side Sleeping

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Cut down on back pain: Sleeping on one’s stomach can put strain on the spine and make it hurt. Side sleeping eases lower back pain and maintains the spine’s natural straight position.
Minimize snoring: When you sleep on your back, your tongue and soft palate slip backward, partially obstructing your airway and making snoring worse. It also frequently happens to those who have sleep apnea. However, side sleeping maintains the airway open and the tongue forward.
Enhance digestion: Sleeping on the left side, in particular, may help reduce heartburn, constipation, and bloating, among other gastrointestinal issues. Because the stomach is located on the left side of the body, gravity might help with digestion when you lie on that side.[1]
It might support the health of the brain. A lot of individuals don’t know that the brain gets rid of garbage while you sleep. By supporting the glymphatic system, which is comparable to our lymphatic system but located in our central nervous system, side sleeping has been shown to improve the brain’s ability to eliminate metabolic waste. According to research on animals, this may help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other brain disorders. To further develop these ideas, more human study is required.[2] Enhances blood flow: In order for blood to reach the placenta during pregnancy, good circulation is essential. For this reason, pregnant women are advised to sleep in this position.

How to Develop the Ability to Sleep on Your Side

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Select a quality mattress and pillow.

Choose a pillow that complements the shape of your collarbones.
Make sure the neck can be supported by the pillow’s firmness.
In order to avoid creating strain in the shoulders and hips, mattresses frequently need to be softer.

Make use of pillows as supports and barriers.

To help support your hips and lower back, place a pillow between your knees.
To rest your upper arm comfortably, you can also embrace a cushion.
Purchase body pillows to keep your posture.
To keep from rolling over, sew a tennis ball onto the back of a shirt.

Initially, sleep on the couch.

In any case, couches are frequently small and only allow for side sleeping.
Negative Effects of Side Sleeping

Beautiful young woman sleeping in bed at night

Despite the potential advantages, this posture is not suitable for everyone, particularly for people who use pillows and mattresses that make side sleeping uncomfortable. Among these drawbacks are:
Both hip and shoulder pain
On overly firm beds, side sleeping may put more strain on the knees, hips, and shoulders. On the other hand, overly soft mattresses may cause pain and misalign the spine.

Face pressure

Lying on their sides can cause unpleasant or uncomfortable pressure in the faces of people with glaucoma and sinus congestion. It could also make a stiff or tight jaw worse.

The Advantages and Drawbacks of Different Sleep Positions

Beautiful young woman sleeping in bed at night

In the end, people ought to sleep however they find most comfortable. However, it’s crucial to think about the potential positive and negative effects of your sleeping posture on your body. Another option would be to start your nights on your left side and let your body take on whatever posture it wants. Additionally, there are advantages to sleeping on your right side, so if you’re having trouble retraining yourself, don’t worry. Likewise, there are benefits and drawbacks to sleeping on one’s stomach or back.

Dozing off on your back

Young man lying on bed with orthopedic pillow at home
Benefits: It could assist withHip discomfort
Knee discomfort
The condition of arthritis
Having fibromyalgia
congestion of the sinuses
Bursitis

Advice:

To support your lower back and spine, place a pillow beneath your knees.
To ease joint pressure, spread your arms and legs wide.
Avoid pillows that angle your chin toward your chest and instead pick one that provides appropriate neck support.
To lessen headaches, sinus accumulations, and heartburn, raise the head with more pillows or a wedge pillow.
Dozing off on your stomach

Black Guy Sleeping Lying On Stomach On Bed In Bedroom Indoor. Millennial Man Resting Napping Peacefully At Home. Healthy Sleep, Rest And Relaxation Concept. Panorama

Unfortunately, authorities advise avoiding it for people who prefer this position.”There’s probably a reason why you’re experiencing back pain if you’re sleeping on your stomach,” says Bill Fish, a certified sleep science coach. “Your core pushes into the sleep surface more because the majority of your body weight is around it. This basically puts strain on your spine in the wrong direction, causing neck and back pain.”

However, for individuals who are unable to switch to their side, here are some pointers:

the back of a woman sleeping on her side in bed
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