Did you know that having eight-hour sleep at night per day equals spending one third of your life sleeping? Sleep is vital for your physical and mental health. Therefore, the lack of sleep can wreak havoc on your body.
According to a study, conducted by the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, it’s not the quantity of sleep that matters; it’s the way you sleep. Indeed, your sleeping position impacts your health in so many ways. Let’s dig in:
Your Sleeping Position Affects Your Heart Health
Reportedly, the vast majority of people are side sleepers, but whether you sleep on your right side or your left side is what makes the difference. Since blood circulates throughout your body and returns to your heart on the right side, sleeping on your right side puts pressure on your blood vessels.
Meanwhile, sleeping on your left side allows the heart to properly pump blood so that it reaches the whole body. That’s because arteries are found on the left side. So, when you sleep on your right side, the blood needs to pump outwards first. Thereby, sleeping on your left side helps the arteries and increases blood flow.
Sleeping on Your Left Side Helps Your Digestive System
In a recent study, subjects were offered high-fat meals to induce acid reflux. Directly after the meals, participants slept for four hours on their left or right side. Devices measuring the esophageal acidity found that the global level of reflux was higher in those who slept on their right side.
In simple terms, right-side sleeping allows the stomach acids to reach the esophagus, which leads to acid reflux- that burning sensation you feel in your chest, potentially paired with regurgitated food or sour liquid. If you grapple with digestive issues, it’s better to sleep on your left side to relieve your digestive system.
Left-Side Sleeping Improves Lymphoid Drainage
According to the same study, sleeping on your right side may disrupt the function of your lymphoid draining system. In principle, the lymphoid draining system carries essential nutrients to the body cells. On top of that, it cleanses the body and flushes out waste products, as well as things that it does not need. For this reason, sleeping on your right side will prevent the completion of this role and harm your lymphoid draining system, the study reveals. What is more, the stomach and pancreas are located on the left side of the body.
This means that the stomach pushes against the pancreas and obstructs its proper functioning when you on your right side.
Sleeping on Your Left Side Relieves Pressure Off the Spleen
Your spleen can be found on the left side of your body. Ultimately, the main function of your spleen is to clean the blood. The waste material is carried through the lymphoid system to the spleen. Sleeping on your left side helps the body expel waste faster. In brief, it promotes the optimal functioning of the spleen. In simple terms, sleeping on your left side helps maintain proper bodily functions. So, if you want to enjoy a restful sleep and reap the benefits of vitamin Z, do not forget to sleep on your left side- and keep your socks on!
