Avoid Risks, This Is A Good Sleep Position For Heart Patients

JAKARTA - Sleep is a basic human need, but for people with heart disease, sleeping position can be an important factor that affects comfort and even heart health itself. Some studies show that certain positions can help relieve symptoms, while other positions have the potential to make conditions feel more severe.

1. Sleep Tilts to the Left

Sleep tilted to the left is known to be beneficial for people who often experience stomach acid or GERD. A 2022 study found that this position could accelerate the cleansing of concavity from acid and reduce exposure to stomach acid compared to right tilted sleep.

However, for people with heart disease, this position is still in debate. Since 1997, researchers have found that sleep tilted to the left affecting the electrocardiogram recording (ECG). The results of further research in 2018 also showed that the heart slightly shifts when a person sleeps tilted to the left.

"The tilted back to the left does change the position of the heart, but this change is more related to how the device detects activity, not disorders in the heart function," the researchers explained in the study, quoted from the Healthline page.

Even so, people with heart disease should be careful and consult a doctor if they feel uncomfortable sleeping in this position.

2. Sleep Tilts to the Right

In contrast to the tilted to the left position, the right side sleep is actually considered safer for people with heart disease. Research in 2018 found that people with dilation cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle) preferred to sleep tilted to the right because they felt more comfortable.

In fact, there is no strong evidence that it is tilted to the right sleep is dangerous for people with heart disease.

"Stiding on the right can help the heart be more stable because it is restrained by the mediastinum, a thin layer of tissue between the lungs," the researchers said.

In addition, pregnant women who have a risk at heart also do not need to worry too much. A 2019 study said there was no significant difference in the health of the mother or fetus regarding right or left oblique sleep.

3. Sleep Telentang or Tengkurap

For people with heart disease who do not have sleep apnea or respiratory problems, sleeping on their back can be an option. However, for those who often snoring or have sleep apnea, this position can worsen the condition.

Sleeping on your stomach can indeed help reduce snoring, but this position risks causing neck and back pain.

Practical Tips For Heart Patients

1. Try to sleep tilted to the right if you feel tight or uncomfortable on the left side.

2. Use an additional pillow or half-sit position if you are often crowded while lying down.

3. If you use a pacemaker (ICD), it is usually more comfortable to sleep on the opposite side of the device installed.

4. Consult with your doctor if you are often awakened due to shortness of breath or difficulty breathing while sleeping.