According to data from the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, approximately 41 percent of people surveyed slept on their side. But while how you sleep may seem like a matter of personal preference, it turns out that sleeping on one’s side may offer unexpected benefits that other sleeping positions do not.
Consider, for instance, those who suffer from sleep apnea, a condition in which the airways become periodically blocked during sleep. Side sleeping, according to experts, provides better circulation to the airways, reducing pressure, and lessening the risk of an attack. Likewise, others have linked side sleeping to improvements in spinal alignment, suggesting that sleeping on one’s side helps to reduce pressure on the hips, pelvis, and shoulders.