Caution: If You Sleep on Your Right Side
Many people choose their sleeping position based on comfort, habit, or convenience—but not all positions are created equal when it comes to health. If you’re someone who regularly sleeps on your right side, you may want to reconsider. While it might seem harmless, consistently sleeping on your right side can have subtle but important effects on your body, especially over time.
One of the main concerns is related to digestive health. The human stomach is naturally positioned on the left side of the body. Sleeping on your right can cause stomach acid to flow more easily into the esophagus, potentially leading to acid reflux or heartburn, particularly after eating late at night. Over time, this can increase your risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Cardiologists also point out that right-side sleeping may affect heart function. While research is still evolving, some studies suggest that right-side sleeping can compress the vena cava—a large vein that returns blood to the heart—potentially reducing circulation. This may not be a major issue for healthy individuals, but for those with existing heart conditions, left-side sleeping is generally recommended.
In addition, pregnant women are advised to sleep on their left side, as it improves blood flow to the fetus and vital organs. Right-side sleeping in late pregnancy can increase pressure on the liver and decrease circulation.
This doesn’t mean you should panic if you occasionally roll onto your right side. But if it’s your default position, try gradually training your body to shift left. Using a body pillow or adjusting your mattress support can help. Small changes in sleep habits may lead to significant long-term benefits.
Your body does a lot of healing while you sleep—make sure you’re giving it the best position to do so.
Sleeping on your right side can worsen heartburn and acid reflux by allowing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, especially in people with GERD or pregnancy. It may also increase heart strain as the heart works harder against gravity, and impair digestion and lymphatic drainage. Sleeping on the left side is generally healthier for heart and digestive function.