# Is it healthier to sleep on one particular side of the body?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 29, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280 "2003-10-29T18:48:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chrisboehk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@chrisboehk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisboehk)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280/1 "2003-10-29T18:48:52Z")

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Is it better to sleep on the back, stomach, right or left side? Which side is better for the heart, lungs, other organs, whole body, etc.? Does it even make a difference? Thanks, Chris

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**Author:** ![meatpropeller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@meatpropeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meatpropeller)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280/2 "2003-10-29T19:56:15Z")

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for pregnant women, iirc, it’s better to sleep on either the right or left side. i believe it had something to do with the venous return of blood, total blood volume, and associated organs (spleen, liver, veins). so much for that expensive education… i can look up an old homework answer if you need something more specific.

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**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280/3 "2003-10-29T20:14:19Z")

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It’s best to sleep on the _outside_. The inside sticks to the sheets.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280/4 "2003-10-29T20:21:11Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> The inside sticks to the sheets.

That’s just another reason why [you gotta have skin](http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiGOTTASKN.html)!

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280/5 "2003-10-29T21:21:48Z")

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Actually, my wife’s ob/gyn insists that she sleep on her LEFT side during pregnancy. Sleeping in the right side restricts blood flow (via the vena cava) back to the heart.

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**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280/6 "2003-10-29T22:09:27Z")

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I just read that those who have acid reflux (“heartburn”) should sleep on their left side. Due to the [shape and position](http://www.bartleby.com/107/pages/page1163.html) of the stomach, stomach acid is less likely to drip into the esophagus when you are lying on your left side.

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**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280/7 "2003-10-29T23:50:04Z")

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It’s better for me if I don’t sleep on my back, because if I do, I snore, and then my wife hits me. Actually, she hits me anyway but that gives her an excuse.

V

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**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-healthier-to-sleep-on-one-particular-side-of-the-body/210280/8 "2003-10-30T02:03:28Z")

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> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by NurseCarmen \*  
> \*\*It’s best to sleep on the _outside_. The inside sticks to the sheets. \*\*

…ew…

😛