Every night, we go to bed hoping for a good, restful sleep. On our backs, on our sides, curled up, or lying flat on our stomachs, everyone has their own little routine. But have you ever considered that the way you sleep could be the cause of painful awakenings, restless nights, or chronic fatigue after waking? What if, without any visible pain, you were imposing insidious restrictions on your body, night after night?
Warning Signs We Ignore
Loud snoring, headaches upon waking, a feeling of shortness of breath, heartburn, or even morning exhaustion despite eight hours of sleep… These symptoms, often attributed to stress or a poor bed, can be caused by a simple mistake: poor bed position.
Because sleep isn’t just for rest; it’s also a period during which our bodies continue to work intensively to regenerate and repair themselves. If it’s installed incorrectly, this mechanism is disrupted, sometimes permanently.
Why sleeping on your right side changes everything
Sleeping on your left side isn’t just a yogi quirk. This position is a real asset in health. It aids digestion, reduces acid reflux, improves lymphatic circulation, and is especially recommended for pregnant women to optimize blood flow to the baby.
But that’s not all. Research shows that sleeping on your side stimulates a little-known but important process: brain cleansing via the glymphatic system, which may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
What about other positions?
Supine: Comfortable for the spine, but risky if you snore or suffer from sleep apnea. This position can lower blood oxygen levels and disrupt deep sleep.
Stomach: This position should be avoided. It twists the neck, compresses internal organs, and impedes breathing. The perfect cocktail for chronic pain and sore muscles.
Right side: Less devastating than the stomach side, but can worsen symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and overload the liver.
Age also matters.
