According to studies, sleeping in this position can harm your heart

You toss and turn to get comfy enough to rest some nights. You may be so tired that you barely make it to your bed before falling asleep on other days. But, whatever occurs at the end of the day, we're usually so focused on falling asleep that we don't notice how we're lying in bed. While it may appear that sleeping in the wrong posture may only result in a stiff neck or spine, research has shown that staying in one position can harm your heart. Continue reading to discover how to prepare for a restful night's sleep.

According to research, sleeping on your left side may be hazardous to your heart

According to Healthline, while further research is needed, some scientists have looked into how sleeping in different postures could influence your heart. An electrocardiogram (ECG) was used to monitor electrical activity in the heart as 40 volunteers, 18 of who had been diagnosed with heart disease and 22 of whom were considered healthy, rotated between sleeping on their backs and sides in a 1997 study. The subjects who slept on their left side experienced the most significant alterations in their ECG readings while sleeping.

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Other studies have discovered that sleeping on your left side has significant consequences for your heart

In a different study published in 2018, ECG was utilized to track the heart data of nine people. Participants who slept on their left sides, just as they did in the 1997 study, observed significant changes in their heart's electrical activity. In this experiment, however, a technique called vectorcardiography was applied. It revealed that the heart turned and shifted while in that posture, which the researchers believe could explain the observed abnormalities.

According to Healthline, almost no ECG abnormalities were noted when individuals slept on their right side. According to imaging, the heart was held securely in place while sleeping by a small layer of tissue between the lungs known as the mediastinum.

However, both studies soon concluded that more research into how sleep posture affects heart activity, in general, is required. While some individuals with congestive heart failure have experienced difficulty breathing or discomfort while sleeping on their left side, there is no compelling evidence that sleeping on your left side increases your risk of heart disease if you don't already have one.

According to some sleep specialists, sleeping on your left side may help blood flow to your heart

On the other hand, some specialists think that sleeping on your left side is not only safe but also good for your health. According to W. Christopher Winter, MD, medical director of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Sleep Medicine Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, it has to do with how blood circulates.

Because blood returns to the heart through the right atrium on the right side of the body, sleeping on your right side may strain the organ's prominent blood veins. "Sleeping on your left side, with your right side not crushed," Winter explained, "is thought to enhance blood flow back to your heart potentially."

According to doctors, some persons with cardiac issues should avoid sleeping on their backs or left sides.

Those who have previously been diagnosed with heart disease will receive further guidance on sleeping postures. While your physician should make all recommendations in these instances, some doctors believe that sleeping on their left side could benefit.

"If feasible, people who have suffered heart failure or other heart issues should sleep on their right side. "Sleeping on your right side allows your heart to remain in place with the support of the mediastinum, reducing the interruption of your heart's electrical current," explains Tri-City Cardiology in Mesa, Arizona, repeating prior research findings. "This will assist in preventing respiratory problems and discomfort while on the job."

They advise that rolling over onto your back can cause another issue, as it "can worsen sleep apnea, and patients with sleep apnea are more prone to develop heart disease." Instead of causing back pain by sleeping on your stomach, experts advocate sleeping on your back with your head elevated with cushions, allowing easier breathing and lowering heart pressure.