On your side. Sleeping laterally is the most common sleep position. Studies have found that right-side sleepers experienced more positive dreams and fewer nightmares than left-side sleepers. For people with heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), doctors say the left side is best.
Different Sleeping Positions May Affect Your Dreams
One study found that people who sleep on their left side are more likely to have nightmares. In another, stomach sleepers were more likely to report vivid dreams, including erotic dreams and nightmares.
Try to eliminate bad dreams by: Setting a regular sleep schedule. It should include enough sleep at night so you don't feel the urge to take afternoon or evening naps. Cutting out caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes (especially late in the day).
Nightmares can arise for a number of reasons—stress, anxiety, irregular sleep, medications, mental health disorders—but perhaps the most studied cause is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Nightmares can be triggered by many factors, including: Stress or anxiety. Sometimes the ordinary stresses of daily life, such as a problem at home or school, trigger nightmares. A major change, such as a move or the death of a loved one, can have the same effect.
The results of the study found that nightmares were more frequent for those who slept on their left side. For the subjects who slept on their right side, they reported dreams with the feeling of relief and safety. They also had better quality sleep than those who slept on their left.
One study found that people who sleep on their left side were more likely to have nightmares. View Source , and another found that vivid dreams, including some nightmares and erotic dreams, were more common in stomach sleepers.
Specifically, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these sleep positions, it's easier to keep your spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure on the spine and enables your muscles to relax and recover.
“Sleeping on the left side can increase circulation and is often recommended for those with heart disease or high blood pressure. This position allows for better oxygenation of the body, which may help improve cardiovascular health,” Seeley said.
No matter how your body moves when you sleep, your neck should maintain a neutral position, with your shoulders just below the pillow.
Women who share a bed tend to sleep on the left side for safety and security. They also are more likely to sleep closer to the radiator.
Reflux and heartburn: If you suffer from heartburn, sleeping on your right side can make symptoms worse, Salas says. That's true for people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and for people who have heartburn for other reasons, such as pregnant women.
Distract your mind. If you can't fall asleep within a few minutes of waking from a nightmare or the images continue to disturb, do something to distract your mind. You may want to get out of bed for a bit or do another activity, which could help relax you enough to eventually become drowsy enough to fall back asleep.
Both sides have valuable benefits, but depending on your specific issues, one side may work better than the other. Folks with digestive issues, obstructive sleep apnea, and high blood pressure may benefit from sleeping on the left side.
"If you wake from a nightmare and have difficulty falling back asleep, get out of bed, do something soothing like a few yoga poses or find a place to sit, close your eyes, and try a breathing technique or relaxation exercise."
"For many people, the adrenaline and excitement experienced upon realizing that they are dreaming is enough to wake them," Backe said. "However, if this is not the case and you are 'stuck' in a bad dream, doing something particularly jarring — for example, jumping off of a cliff in your dream should do the trick."
Calcium-rich foods: Calcium has been found to have a calming effect on the body, so consuming foods that are rich in calcium before bed can help to reduce the risk of nightmares. Good sources of calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese, and leafy greens like spinach and kale.
On your back. Yes, your sleep posture can also have an impact on how well you sleep when you have anxiety. It turns out that lying on your back when you sleep reduces anxiety the most. According to health professionals, sleeping on your back is the most balanced position for your backbone.
Sleeping without a pillow may help some people who sleep on their front. It can help keep the spine and the neck in alignment during sleep, easing neck and back pain. It is not a good idea for everyone, though. People who sleep on their back or side might find that sleeping without a pillow causes neck or back pain.
Sleeping on the left side isn't a problem if you don't have underlying heart issues. But for people with congestive heart failure and other heart issues, it can cause discomfort and even breathing difficulties. If that sounds familiar, try turning to your right when you hit the sheets.
Overall, more Americans sleep on the right side of the bed than the left (while lying down), with more men than women preferring this side (58% vs. 50%) Right side sleeping males feel relaxed instead of stressed most of the time when compared to men sleeping on the left (71% vs. 60%)
You are likely to feel the least amount of sinkage by sleeping on your side. Those who are overweight are also at an increased risk of developing sleep apnea, and a side sleeping position should help open the airways.
Instead, try: Sleeping on your left side to make it easier for blood to flow in and around your heart.
What is the best sleeping position for neck pain? Two sleeping positions are easiest on the neck: on your side or on your back. If you sleep on your back, choose a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck, with a flatter pillow cushioning your head.