Is Sleeping on Your Left Side Bad for Your Heart? A Cardiologist Sets the Record Straight
Discover the real nighttime threat to your heart—and the warning signs you need to know
Key Takeaways
- The best sleep position depends on several factors, including how easily you breathe at night.
- When it comes to heart health, sleep apnea poses a far greater risk than sleep position.
- Key sleep apnea symptoms include daytime fatigue, morning headaches and snoring.
When your head hits the pillow, you may be wondering about another part of your body: your ticker. Is sleeping in a certain position, like on your left side, bad for your heart? We asked a leading cardiologist to weigh in on the debate and separate fact from fiction, including the far greater risk to heart health that’s easy to manage with the right strategies.
Why sleep and heart health are so closely connected
We can think of sleep as the housekeeper of the body, helping remove toxins and dial down the stress and inflammation that are at the root of so many chronic diseases.
“Good sleep, especially getting enough deep and REM sleep, is critical for overall cardiovascular health,” confirms Renato A. Apolito, MD, a cardiologist and medical director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “In fact, one of the strongest links between sleep and cardiovascular health is sleep apnea.“
Woman's World Answers
Is sleeping on your left side bad for your heart?
While you may have heard that sleeping on your left side puts more pressure on your heart, especially for people with heart failure, there’s actually no research supporting that claim, says Dr. Apolito.
“In general, we don’t have strong evidence that one sleep position is significantly better than another from a cardiac standpoint,” he explains. “I wouldn’t say one position is universally ‘best.’ It really depends on the individual—your orthopedic needs, comfort and overall body type. People also move a lot during sleep, so they’re not in one position all night anyway.”
The body is fairly resilient in that regard, he adds. “What matters more is whether a position affects your breathing—for example, if it leads to airway obstruction, which can promote sleep apnea, or causes musculoskeletal strain, like sleeping on your stomach, which we don’t recommend.”
The bigger risk to your heart: sleep apnea
Now that you can rest easy about your sleep position in relation to heart conditions, let’s talk about a bigger, often underdiagnosed problem: sleep apnea, which “can contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of atrial fibrillation,” says Dr. Apolito. “It’s more common in people with larger neck circumference or certain body types, though it can affect people of normal weight too. The most important step is getting properly diagnosed.”
A few main obstructive sleep apnea symptoms to watch for:
- Daytime fatigue: You feel exhausted even after a full night’s sleep
- Falling asleep during normal tasks: Nodding off at your computer or even while driving
- Morning headaches: Waking up with unexplained head pain
- Poor sleep quality: Tossing, turning or waking frequently throughout the night
- Snoring or breathing interruptions: If you have a partner, they may notice you snore loudly or stop breathing briefly during sleep
If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, reach out to your doctor. Getting tested is simple, and treatment, often with a CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure) or other therapies, can make a huge difference in your sleep quality and heart health.
The bottom line on the best sleep position for your heart
“Sleep position isn’t a major concern for heart health,” says Dr. Apolito. “Sleep apnea and overall sleep quality are much more important.” The takeaway? Sleep in whatever position feels most comfortable, even if it’s on your left side. What really counts is prioritizing seven to nine hours of quality sleep and staying alert to symptoms of sleep apnea. Those simple steps will do far more for your heart health than any specific sleep position ever could.
Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
