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Did you know that more than 40% of the population does not get enough sleep? This leads to serious health complications, such as depression, weight gain and high blood pressure.
But even those who manage to sleep the recommended 7–8 hours can harm their health by the way they sleep. According to experts like Kevin Wade, senior therapist at the St. John-Clark Pain Treatment Centre, the position in which you sleep best could be the reason you have back, shoulder and abdominal pain.
According to this established chiropractor, you should not sleep on your right side. The sleep and chiropractic expert says that sleeping on your left side can provide you with significant benefits and improve your overall health. Other specialists agree and believe that the correct sleeping position is key.
Below you will find the main reasons why you should sleep on the left and not on the right side:
digestion:
If you constantly feel bloated or have digestive problems, it could be a more serious health issue. Try looking at how you sleep at night — it could be the cause of your digestive problems.
“The stomach and pancreas are on the left side of the body, so sleeping on the left side actually helps them function properly,” says Douillard.
When you lie down in bed, undigested toxins move from the small intestine to the large intestine. Once in the large intestine, they are expelled in the morning. That is why you should sleep on your left side; it helps better digestion.
Experts also suggest that after a large meal you should lie down on your left side. It will help you digest the food faster and you will have more energy.
Healthy heart:
Your heart is located on the left side of the body. So it makes sense when experts like Dr. Douillard say that you should not sleep on your right side, but rather on your left side.
When you sleep on your left side, blood will flow to your heart much more smoothly. The last thing you want to do is stress your heart, so sleep on your left side and give your heart and the rest of your body the rest they deserve.
Pregnant women
Pregnant women should spend as much time as possible sleeping on their left side, says WebMD. It helps reduce pressure on the back and also aids blood flow to the uterus and fetus.
Many pregnant women develop spinal problems during pregnancy, and by sleeping on the left side they reduce pressure on their spine.
Sleeping on the left side also helps the flow of nutrients to the placenta, which keeps the baby healthy. The best sleeping position for pregnant women is on the left side, with knees bent and a pillow between them.
snoring
Are you awake at night when everyone else is long asleep because your partner snores? If so, there is nothing simpler than telling your partner to sleep on their left side.
Sleep specialist W. Christopher Winter told CNN that by sleeping on the left side you actually keep the tongue and throat in a neutral position.
This will help keep your airways open, and you can breathe properly. Sleeping on your back is also known to worsen snoring because it pushes your muscles toward the back of the neck.
