I hope today finds you happy, healthy and ready to slay dragons! A healthy morning meal, a bit of exercise and a good night’s sleep will help insure you make the most of another day. We take it for granted that we will rise, shine and function well. Hopefully, that is the case. Is there more we can do to facilitate this?
ELUSIVE SLEEP
Many of us find a good night’s sleep to be a challenge. Once we find the conditions right and establish a comfortable sleeping position, we assume a blissful night’s sleep will follow. Not so fast. Studies suggest the position of your body while you sleep may have an impact on your overall health. This didn’t make a lot of sense until I did some research. This is what I found.
FLIP FLOP
Sleeping face up might relieve back pain but exacerbate sleep apnea. While side sleeping may relieve you sleep apnea, you may find it hurts your back. Sleeping on your tummy may alleviate sleep apnea and snoring but can cause neck or back pain. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with in increased risk of heart failure.
RELOCATION?
Get a load of this. If you’re dealing with a heart condition, sleeping on your left side may increase pressure on your heart. It is thought to reposition your heart in your chest and change its electrical activity. It’s not clear if this effect is large enough to be of concern. I’d love to hear cardiologist Dr. Harvey White’s opinion on this one. Feel free to chime in at any time Dr. White!
RIGHT ON
Healthline.com suggests that those who sleep on their right side have their heart held in place by a thin layer of tissue between the lungs called the mediastinum. Some experts think that sleeping on your right side could compress your vena cava which is the vein that feeds into the right side of your heart.
CLEARLY UNCLEAR
A 2018 review of studies published in the Journal of Clinical sleep Medicine found that both poor sleep quality and short sleep duration are associated with a risk of coronary heart disease. It is not clear what is the best sleeping position for your heart health if you don’t already have an underlying heart condition. Seems like getting quality sleep is more important that your sleeping position.
ALL THIS TO SAY…
It remains unclear what the best way to sleep is best for your heart health. Research seems to suggest that not getting enough sleep or poor sleep quality raises your risk of developing heart disease, obviously among other factors. Staying well rested is critical for maintaining optimal heart health no matter how you hit the mattress. Today’s blog didn’t solve the world’s problems, but I believe it gave us something to think about!
HDD
If you have concerns about your heart health, contact your healthcare provider immediately. If they determine diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, we can help. Call us at 505-350-3397.
Buenas noches!