If you always sleep on your right side, it is common to experience a few specific physical effects, depending on your setup and health history. While side sleeping in general is great for reducing snoring and keeping your airway open, sleeping exclusively on the right side has unique pros and cons:
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Heart health benefits: Some cardiologists note that sleeping on the right side can place less pressure on the heart because the heart is positioned more toward the left side of the chest, keeping it from shifting or feeling restricted.
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Potential for increased heartburn: Unlike the left side—which keeps the junction between your stomach and esophagus above the level of gastric acid—sleeping on the right side can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, sometimes triggering acid reflux or heartburn.
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Shoulder and hip pressure: Consistently sleeping on the same side concentrates your body weight onto a single shoulder and hip joint, which can lead to morning stiffness, soreness, or shoulder impingement if your mattress is too firm (or not supportive enough).
To keep right-side sleeping comfortable, many sleepers benefit from placing a supportive pillow between their knees to keep their spine and hips aligned, as well as ensuring their head pillow fills the gap between their ear and the mattress so their neck isn’t crunched.
