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Do you have more nightmares when sleeping on your right side?

Do you have more nightmares when sleeping on your right side?

 

Do you have more nightmares when sleeping on your right side? © Provided by Health Chosun
 

If you keep having nightmares, try changing your sleeping position. The position you sleep in can alter the location of your organs and affect the quality of your sleep.

 

People who find it more comfortable to sleep on their side tend to have a lower probability of experiencing nightmares when sleeping on their right side compared to their left. According to a study published in Sleep and Hypnosis by Professor Mehmet Yücel AĞARGÜN's team at Medipol Mega University Hospital Department of Psychiatry, individuals who sleep on their left side have a 40.9% chance of experiencing nightmares, whereas those who sleep on their right side have only a 14.6% chance of having bad dreams. Additionally, people who turn to sleep on their right side also reported feeling more comfortable and safe in their subjective evaluations.

Although a clear reason has not been identified, a 2018 study proposed the hypothesis that sleeping on one's back affects the heart. The research team observed changes in the heart activity of experimental participants when sleeping on the left side versus the right side, and found that sleeping on the left side slightly compresses the heart, causing some strain. The team speculated that increased stress levels activate the sympathetic nervous system, shifting the body into a flight mode, which could lead to nightmares. Conversely, sleeping on the right side did not cause significant changes in heart activity.

 

However, pregnant women are safest when lying on their left side. This is because the inferior vena cava, which supplies blood to the fetus on the right side, flows through the right side, and lying on the right side can compress the inferior vena cava.

 

If you have sleep apnea where you stop breathing for about 5 seconds while sleeping, it is better to sleep on your side even if it is more comfortable to look at the ceiling, as this can reduce the likelihood of having nightmares. Sleeping on your back can cause the uvula to block the airway, making breathing difficult. As a result, the brain periodically wakes you up, preventing deep sleep. At this time, you are more likely to have dreams centered around anxiety and worry. You may also experience sleep paralysis, commonly called "nightmare paralysis," where you are conscious but unable to move.

 

Sleeping face down also increases the likelihood of having nightmares. A research team from Hong Kong Suyuan University surveyed over 670 adults, dividing their sleep positions into sleeping upright, lying down, and sleeping on the side, to investigate what kind of dreams they have. The results revealed that sleeping face down is often associated with dreams related to abuse and bullying. The research team stated, "Sleeping face down causes a feeling of threat in the body due to insufficient airflow while breathing, which alters the dreams."

 

Meanwhile, to avoid nightmares, it is very important to maintain good sleep hygiene (lifestyle habits for better sleep) as well as sleep position. First, go to bed at the same time and wake up at a set time. Sleep is one of our body's many biological rhythms. If the time you go to bed and wake up each day varies, it becomes difficult to expect deep sleep, such as slow-wave sleep. The sleeping environment should be quiet and dark, and temperature should be regulated so it is not too hot or cold. Lastly, when falling asleep, avoid excessive stress or tension. Activities that stimulate the brain, such as thinking or reading, should be avoided, and it is also best to refrain from drinking beverages containing caffeine.

 

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I sleep straight...

They say that sleeping on the right side can also cause acid reflux.

Try to sleep on your left side whenever possible.

Or cut it straight..

 

Nightmare on the right side..

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  • Profile Image
    숲과 나무
    ㅋㅋㅋ
    전, 참 안좋은 자세로 잔답니다~ㅎㅎ
    엎드려 잔답니다~ㅎㅎ
    아주 오래전에 가로등 불빛이
    너무 밝아서 자던게 지금까지~ㅎㅎ
    잘 안 고쳐지더라구요,
    이젠 한번쯤은 바꾸려고 노력해볼게요^^
    • Profile Image
      하루=즐겁게+행복하게+웃으며✌
      Author
      헐 ... 업드려 자는 자세 정말 안좋다고 하는데
      소화도 잘되나보네요 
      어두운것이 도움이 많이 된다고 해요
      밝은 불빛은 숙면에 방해가 되죠 
  • Profile Image
    인생은 마이웨이
    정말인가요 자세도 중요하군요 나쁜 꿈은 길몽이라 해서 복권산답니다 그냥 긍정적으로 생각합니다
    • Profile Image
      하루=즐겁게+행복하게+웃으며✌
      Author
      길몽이요 ㅎㅎ 복권이요  
      긍정적인 생각도 중요한거죠