Your decision to sleep on the left or right could significantly impact your health, doctor explains

The way you sleep can impact your health largely and one specific position is proven to be more beneficial than the others.

While we told you sleeping on your side doesn’t cause your face to become asymmetrical, it can help your stomach and brain stay healthy.

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Why doctor recommends sleeping on your left side

As much as possible, try to sleep on your left side, as it’s believed to be beneficial for your brain and gut health, according to Dr. Karan Rajan.

Dr. Karan Rajan is a certified NHS surgeon from London with over seven years of experience. After graduating from Imperial College London, he’s currently serving as a lecturer at Sunderland University.

He is best known for his TikTok videos related to health and medicine which he uses to educate his followers. He identifies himself as a ‘speaker’ and ‘educator’ with millions of followers across social media, which he has gained by combining his expertise with entertainment.

His TikTok channel features a video detailing the worst and best sleeping positions. Dr. Karan recommends sleeping on your left side as it’s useful for people suffering from acid reflux. In the suggested position, the esophagus is in a higher position than the stomach.

And due to gravity, you’re less likely to experience acid reflux as opposed to sleeping on your right side. He further claims, that sleeping on your left side may help the lymphatic system in the brain flush out the toxins.

Best and worst sleeping positions

Sleeping on your front is among the worst positions causing a lot of strain on your spine. This can result in pain in the neck and lower back.

People who snore a lot or suffer from sleep apnea should avoid sleeping on their back as it can cause the airway to collapse.

Pregnant women should sleep on their side in a more bump-friendly position to make sure the blood flows to the heart and the fetus.