Sleeping is very important for good health. A good night’s sleep keeps you in a good mood and also ensures overall well-being.
Not getting enough sleep is eventually going to affect a person’s functioning. Also, lack of sleep can be a reason for a ton of diseases including heart issues.
Proper sleep not only ensures physical health but also promotes mental wellness. Moreover, studies have shown that sleeping on your left side offers health benefits.
Health Benefits of Sleeping on Your Left Side
Here is why sleeping on your left side is thought to have the most benefits to your overall health.
1. Normal Heart Function
The left side of the heart pumps blood towards your body. This makes sense why you need to sleep on the left side because in that way you can make it easier for your heart to function properly even when you sleep.
In addition, sleeping in this position can help the circulatory system to use gravity as a benefit, to be more specific with the aorta and the inferior vena cava i.e. IVC which is a big vein that helps carry the deoxygenated blood to your heart and is on the right side of the spine.
2. Beneficial for Pregnant Women
When a pregnant woman sleeps sideways, either left or right side, she avoids pressure on the uterus from the liver. This promotes improvement in blood circulation to the fetus and also inside the mother’s body. Additionally, it helps prevent back pain, which is a major problem among pregnant women.
According to medical experts, sleeping on the left side is the best since there’s less pressure on the vein that takes blood to the heart from the lungs, making it easier for your heart to pump the blood.
However, after a few months, as the fetus grows, the extra weight can cause pain and discomfort, making it hard to sleep on the side. Thus, when side sleeping, consider placing a pillow between your legs, and keep extra pillows or blankets wherever you feel like your body needs support.
3. Improves Drainage of the Lymphatic System
The Lymphatic system removes impurities and toxins from the body. According to experts, the lymphatic system drains into the thoracic duct placed on the left side. That is why you will benefit if you sleep on the left side, as it will help to accelerate and facilitate the removal of toxins from the body.
In addition, the lymphatic system gathers protein that escaped from the cells. If you sleep on the left side, you can aid in bringing them to where they are supposed to be.
4. Help the Liver Not to Congest
The liver is on the right side of your body, and it can become congested if you spend hours sleeping on the right side.
Sleep on your left side to allow substances and toxins to be neutralized by the liver before being moved out of your body or collected in the liver.
5. Improved Function of the Spleen
The spleen is the organ that is part of the lymphatic system. It is located on the left side of your body, and if you sleep on that side, you will help the spleen to function better.
Gravity boosts the blood flow to the spleen and at the same time allows it to filter the impurities.
6. Prevent Heartburn at Night
In case you have GERD, i.e., gastroesophageal reflux disease or acid reflux, you should consider sleeping on your left side. When you are in this position, your stomach is placed below the cardiac sphincter, which connects the esophagus to the stomach.
If you sleep on the left side, the contents found in the stomach won’t flow back into the esophagus, and that will prevent nighttime GERD or acid reflux.
7. Boost the Gut to Help Get Rid of Waste Products
The ileocecal valve, i.e., IV, is a place on your left side where the junction of the large intestine and small intestine is located. You need to sleep on your left side to boost the proper elimination of waste products.
While sleeping on your left side, you help them transfer from the small to the large intestine, allowing gravity to do its work and boost regular bowel movement.
Now that you are aware of the benefits, tonight try this sleeping position. You might find it hard to adjust at first, but with time, not only will you get used to it, but you will also enjoy the benefits.
