What do you mean sleeping on your left side is bad for the heart? Whether you’ve stumbled upon this myth online, or if you’ve struggled to fall asleep one too many nights wondering if what is your go-to sleeping position will hurt you in the end, it’s common to hear sleeping on your left side is bad for your heart. It sounds so dramatic when all you’re trying to do is get a good night’s sleep.
Why is sleeping on your left side so bad for your heart? Shouldn’t the time we spend unconscious be a time when we don’t have to worry about positioning ourselves for fear of jeopardizing our bodies? What’s more, sleep should be a time when our bodies take risks—restoring functionality—and not a time when they need to be on guard.
After all, your heart is a muscle. It’s always working, always pumping blood, whether you’re awake or asleep. The more you hear about it being an active organ, the more mindful you may become about its activity during sleep, and how sleeping in certain positions might exacerbate its need for activity.
So in the next few minutes, we’re going to discuss whether sleeping on your left side is truly bad for your heart, what this common myth means for your comfort and daily life, and how to go about everything from here on out for the best decisions for continuous good sleep. By the end, you’ll know what’s best for you—and your heart! Let’s get started!
What Your Sleep Position Says About Your Body
When you go to sleep at night, you’re probably not thinking about how you’re positioning your body. You’ll find whatever’s comfortable and that’s it. However, your sleep position may dictate how your body feels while you’re sleeping and the moment you wake up. Some people sleep all bundled up in the fetal position while some people like to splay out like a starfish. Many people sleep on their sides—in fact, side sleeping is one of the most popular sleep positions—but does it matter which side?
Like the rest of your body, however, your body is a system. Therefore, when you’re sleeping, all adjustments—from the spine to the organs—impacts how you’ll feel in the morning. For example, sleeping on your stomach puts pressure on your neck which is forced to turn to one side for many hours. Sleeping on your back can worsen snoring (for you at least), and sleeping on your side may serve as a happy medium—it reduces pressure on the spine and has been shown to reduce snoring in comparison to back-sleeping. But is there a difference between sleeping on your left side or on your right side relative to your heart?
Since the heart lies slightly on the left side of the chest, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched for people to think that sleeping that way would crimp it or cut it off. Let’s find out!
Why Are People Concerned With Sleeping On Their Left Side?
People are concerned with sleeping on their left side based off a few different hypotheses and distant memories. Perhaps they heard that sleeping on the left exasperates pressure on the heart because it is physically closer to that side of your body. This seems reasonable on a superficial level—your heart is on the left so why add your body weight to it is pinning it down when you don’t have to?
Another way in which this is a notion people come to adopts is that they feel discomforts sleeping on their left side—from waking with heart palpitations to feeling tightness in the chest. They connect these feelings to how close the chest is to the heart and ponder whether it’s the positioning to blame. Not to mention, when laying on the left, one is more likely to feel their heartbeat more intensely which does not help those with anxiety.
Yet, just because it’s uncomfortable does not mean it’s unhealthy. Our bodies can endure a lot excluding how they operate when at rest. Therefore, it’s important to assess what’s going on—physically and psychologically—through sleeping on one’s left side and why it may be a cause for concern.
Does Sleeping on Left Side Put Pressure on Heart?
When I sleep on my left side does my body weigh down on the left side of my chest and therefore push down on the heart since the heart is located slightly on the left side of the body? Does it overwork the heart? The fact that we know that the heart is not just hanging out where it is in the thoracic cavity, but rather, surrounded by a pericardial sac, a number of muscles and tissues that comprise the thoracic cavity and rib cage does suggest that—even if someone were to sleep in an awkward position—the integrity of the heart would remain safe from damage.
In addition, the heart is a muscle used to pumping; making it squished while laying a certain way will not change whether or not it can do its job. Finally, when people sleep on their left side, one can feel things upon falling asleep or when waking in the morning, but to no extent where blood flow becomes compromised. Even if blood flow in and out of the heart and arteries becomes altered somewhat due to resting on the left side, it is not so much that one passes out or cannot function; the body adjusts too well.
That said, some people may feel their heartbeat a little stronger when lying on their left side. This doesn’t indicate something bad but instead means that people are more aware of their heartbeat because it may be closer to the surface when sleeping on one’s Left Side. Similarly, people might notice blood flow to their wrists more after working out yet it’s still there all the time; one is just more aware of it at those times.
Who Should NOT Worry About Sleeping On Their Left Side?
The majority of people who should worry about sleeping on their left side are people who have sensitive stomachs. This does not mean that sleeping on the left side is bad; instead, it’s going to exacerbate issues if you already have acid reflux. Breathing problems might also stem from someone sleeping on their left side since the heart is located there.
Unfortunately, unless someone knows they have these conditions, it might seem as if them sleeping on their left side is causing problems when in reality, it’s just highlighting what’s dirty in the first place. For sensitive stomachs, sleeping on the left side could be bad because as someone sleeps and their body relaxes, it doesn’t mean their gastrointestinal system does. Thus, if you’re someone who finds that your heartburn is severely worse when you sleep, waking up with a bitter taste in your mouth or angry burning, it may NOT be your heart—it may be the left side of your stomach or digestive system failing to do its job.
For someone who has breathing concerns, sleeping on their left side might make them more aware of what’s going on. If you’re having difficulty breathing for whatever reason, even if your heart is fine, sleeping on your left side might bring attention to it. But like those with the heart issues, this does NOT mean your heart is in jeopardy; it means that that how you feel about your body is only amplified.
If you’re finding that you have chest pains or your heart rate is up in the middle of the night, it’s easy to assume that sleep position is the problem. In reality, it’s probably anxiety, something stressful going on, or something digestive from food before bed. If you are worried about how your heart is doing, go to your doctor; changing sleep positions might not be the way to go.
What Are the Left Side Sleeping Advantages?
Ironically, left side sleeping isn’t as bad as some say. For example, sleeping on your left side while pregnant is suggested as it gives better blood flow to the baby. Sleeping on your left side avoids pressure on the inferior vena cava, which is a vein on the right side of your body, providing good circulation and reduced pressure for mom.
In addition, sleeping on your left side is also better for digestion. Your stomach is located on the left side, and thus sleeping this way allows the stomach to process food even while you sleep, which is why if you’ve eaten too much and feel bloated, sleeping on your left side can relieve some pressure.
These do not relate to your heart, but relaying that sleeping on your left side isn’t bad for you in general; it’s just one of many sleeping positions to which your body becomes accustomed. It’s all about comfort!
What Are the Other Sleeping Positions?
If someone is wondering if sleeping on the left side is bad, they may be wondering what other sleeping positions exist. Let’s compare.
Sleeping on your right side. It’s essentially like sleeping on your left side. It may feel different, however, as your heart won’t be so close to the surface. Therefore, for those who find their left side feeling uncomfortable because they hear their heartbeat too much, sleeping on the right side may help. It’s also good for the stomach for those who have acid reflux.
Sleeping on your back. This is the best position for keeping the spine and neck in a neutral position. However, it’s not the best for everyone. If you snore, have sleep apnea, or difficulty breathing at night, then sleeping on your back exacerbates these problems. Some find that sleeping on their backs with extra support under the head helps, however, if this is the case, side sleeping may work better.
Sleeping on your stomach. This is statistically the least favorable position and probably for good reason. Sleeping on the stomach adds strain to the neck and lower back and does not help breathing. If you sleep on your stomach, consider using a thin pillow or no pillow to avoid cranking your neck while trying to keep your back as straight as possible.
There is no one “best” position for anyone. Whatever works and allows someone to wake refreshed and without pain is effective.
Sleep Tips for Heart Health
Regardless of whether you sleep on your left side, right side, or back, the goal is quality sleep. The heart works constantly throughout the day and sleep is one time when it can truly reset itself. Here are some simplified tips to make sure sleep habits are heart-healthy.
First, create a consistent schedule for sleep. Falling asleep and waking up at the same time each day allows your body to fall into a rhythm. The more effortless it can be to be well-rested, the less effort your heart has to exert keeping you awake and active.
Second, make your sleeping environment conducive to sleep. This means keeping your room dark, quiet, and cool. Also, consider your bedding. If your mattress sags, or if your pillow is flat or too lumpy, it might be time to purchase something new.
Third, think about how and when you eat and drink before bed. If you go to bed right after an enormous meal or guzzling a ton of water—or worse—alcohol or caffeinated drinks, then you’re doomed to have an uncomfortable night no matter how well you sleep. Try to eat your last meal a few hours before going to sleep and limit drinks in the hour or so before bed. If you need a drink, restrict yourself to water or herbal tea.
Finally, get up and move throughout the day. Whether that means taking a casual walk, stretching a little bit, or even dancing to your favorite song in the living room will help promote better sleep at night. When your heart is healthy during the day from activity, going to sleep becomes easier.
When to See a Doctor
If sleep positions are highly concerning related to heart health, speak to a doctor. This is especially true if you already experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or an elevated heart rate that seems unending. These scenarios could indicate more than just an issue relating to how you sleep, and knowledge is power instead of speculation.
Only a medical professional may know whether bad sleep is the cause or something else. They may evaluate your lifestyle, potential stresses or habits and generalize from there. Generally, they’ll quell your fears and tell you the position is not harming your heart.
Conclusion
So in the end, does sleeping on your left side harm your heart? For most, it does not. The heart is so well-protected, and the body is aware of how to position itself during sleep without causing any harm. If someone feels discomfort from sleeping on the left, it’s more likely gastrointestinal or other issues that aren’t associated with the heart. If sleeping on the left side is your choice, keep doing it.
But if you are uncomfortable or wake with a funny feeling, assess your own body and try to switch sides—and you’re welcome to chat with your doctor to ease your mind. One of the best things you can do for your heart is get good sleep so place yourself in a situation where restoration is most beneficial.
Where do you like to sleep? On your left side, on your stomach, on your back? Wherever you do, I hope it’s good sleep! And no need to worry, your heart will continue to pump with no issue on either side.