Do you have more nightmares if you sleep on your right side?

If you're having persistent nightmares, try changing your sleeping position. Depending on the direction you sleep, your internal organs may shift, affecting the quality of your sleep.

 

People who sleep on their side are less likely to experience nightmares if they sleep on their right side rather than their left. A study by Professor Mehmet Yücel AĞARGÜN and his team from the Department of Psychiatry at Vasilas Medipol Mega University Hospital, published in Sleep and Hypnosis, found that people who sleep on their left side have a 40.9% chance of experiencing nightmares, while those who sleep on their right side only have a 14.6% chance of experiencing bad dreams. Furthermore, many people who sleep on their right side reported having more comfortable and safe dreams, even in subjective assessments.

While the exact reason isn't clear, a 2018 study hypothesized that sleeping on your back affects your heart. The research team observed changes in heart activity in participants when they slept on their left or right sides, and found that sleeping on the left side slightly compressed the heart, putting more strain on it. The team hypothesized that this may be due to increased stress levels, which activates the sympathetic nervous system, putting the body into flight mode and potentially leading to nightmares. Conversely, sleeping on the right side showed no significant change in heart activity.

 

However, it is safer for pregnant women to sleep on their left side. This is because the inferior vena cava, which supplies blood to the fetus, runs on the right side, and sleeping on the right side can compress the inferior vena cava.

 

If you have sleep apnea, which causes you to pause for about five seconds while sleeping, sleeping on your side can reduce the risk of nightmares, even if it's easier to sleep facing the ceiling. Lying flat on your back can cause your Adam's apple to block your airway, making breathing more difficult. Ultimately, your brain will wake up periodically, preventing you from entering a deep sleep. This can lead to dreams filled with anxiety and worry. You may also experience sleep paralysis, a condition commonly known as "sleep paralysis," where you're only conscious.

 

Sleeping face down also increases the likelihood of nightmares. A research team from Hong Kong's Shuyun University surveyed over 670 adults about their dreams while sleeping on their backs, sides, and backs. They found that sleepers on their faces were more likely to have dreams about abuse and bullying. The team explained, "When you sleep face down, you lack air when breathing, which makes your body feel threatened, altering your dreams."

 

Meanwhile, to avoid nightmares, maintaining good sleep hygiene (lifestyle habits for a good night's sleep) is just as important as your sleeping position. First, go to bed and wake up at the same time. Sleep is one of our body's many biological rhythms. If your bedtime and waketime vary each night, it becomes harder to achieve deep, slow-wave sleep. Ensure your sleeping environment is quiet, not too bright, and not too hot or cold. Finally, avoid excessive stress or tension before bed. Avoid stimulating activities like thinking or reading, and avoid caffeinated beverages.

 

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I sleep straight though...

They say that sleeping on your right side can also cause reflux esophagitis.

I try to sleep on my left side as much as possible.

Or just sleep straight.

 

Right nightmare..