How many of us monitor our sleep posture? We have a favorite position; we fall asleep and that’s generally as far as it goes. Yet, sleep position can have profound implications not only for the quality of sleep but also for long-term health. Indeed, in the worst-case scenarios, a bad sleep posture may be slowly k:illing you.

Preferred Posture

In spite of the impact sleep posture can have on conditions such as dementia and heart disease, research is limited and tends to focus on aches and pains. Yet back pain is just one implication of an unsuitable sleep position.

Chartered physiotherapist, sleep expert and author of The Good Sleep Guide, Sammy Margo, explains: “Sleep positions can significantly affect your overall health, comfort, and the quality of your sleep. Each position has its pros and cons and understanding them can help you make adjustments for better sleep and health outcomes”.

Dr. Kat Lederle, a sleep scientist and author of Sleep Sense, points out that lifestyle factors during the day are usually the cause of postural problems at night. “What you do in the day generally triggers the pain and discomfort that is felt when you sleep in certain positions. One of the most common contributing factors to this is a sedentary lifestyle, so it is important to move regularly during the day”.

The Risks of Side Sleeping

Though side sleeping is the most common position, there are health implications depending on whether you lie on your left or right side.

Pregnant women and people with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are advised to sleep on their left side. “This is because the stomach is lower than your oesophagus,” explains Margo. Conversely, people with heart conditions should try sleeping on their right side to alleviate pressure on the heart.

Sleep position may also affect brain health. While we sleep, the brain’s glymphatic system “washes” waste toxins away from the brain. There is evidence that suggests this process works better when we sleep on our right side, which could be of interest to people at risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Additionally, side sleeping can lead to wrinkles and breast sagging due to the skin on the face being pressed against bedding and gravity pulling breast tissue.