Hi, does anyone have a problems sleeping on the left hand side. For years now I have avoided the left side as I often would wake up at 5 am in AF when on the left.
I have read its the best side though for blood flow etc.
Been to gp today as I have had several flare ups lasting hours not minutes which I often have. He has ordered me a 24 hour holter. I really wanted him to write to Aintree consultant I was under until 18 months ago when he discharged me as I was stable and had been for some time. I have trouble sleeping all the time (insomnia) so having the holter on wont help. Also this gp is a new one and he called my heart a swinging brick which shocked me as I`m 74 and was rather anxious having waited nearly an hour as he was running late. Thankyou for listening. Pat
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ruskin10
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I always sleep on my front but on the right side - every night. I never chance sleeping on my heart side and you do get used to it. I use my leg to balance it out (if that makes sense) and it works for me.
I always sleep on my right side because if I go on to my left it seems to make my heart wobble into mild PAF.
Hi Pat,
Left side is my natural sleeping side and where I get best sleep. That said not anymore due to osteoarthritis and tendon issues in left shoulder. I am trying to sleep on my right side nowadays or on my front. None of it is successful and so my sleep is at best ...... disturbed. That said back in the day, when I've slept left side I have, occasionally, lurched into AF but have always blamed food I'd eaten the previous evening. I have in the past been fitted with a holter monitor but it became detached and the readings were of limited value.
I used to like sleeping on the left side but AF stopped that, now just have 2 pillows there to stop me rolling onto that side. I also have 3 pillows under my head which seems to help. All this means I am left with one comfortable option - sleeping on my back. Not ideal but seems to work.
You mentioned the left side you had read is better for blood flow, do you recall more details or where you read that, as I need to improve my circulation at night?
Maybe you have mild sleep apnoea, following my diagnosis I started using nasal strips and over the last 16 months a mouth strip as well.
Lastly, if you can afford the circa £250 I would pay privately to see your Aintree consultant as it has helped me a lot to see the medic I trust promptly.
I always used to sleep on my left side, not these days though as it makes me aware of my heart beat and triggers AF. Now I sleep on my right side or back. Many members here say the same.
I always thought from reading a book years ago recommended by my son who reads a lot of alternative - not about heart problems but about breathing problems that it was left for lungs and right for heart. So if you had breathing problems lie on your left side and if heart problems lie on your right side. No idea how much truth there is in this but my wife who has a few lung problems has taken to always lying on her left side - not sure its made any difference to her as around about the same time she discovered another lung problem and was put on different medication which has been fantastic for her. If lying on your left side seems to cause problems then lie on your right and see if that makes a difference - it could be that the lack of sleep may also be causing a problem.
I sleep better on the left, but almost always wake up around 3.30am for " a call of nature". The drawback is that sometimes I hear my heart beat through my left ear if it's in the wrong position. I try to get to bed before 10pm.
Hi Ruskin, I always preferred to sleep on my left side but, like others here, found I would either start getting lots of ectopic beats or full blown AF, so now I sleep on my right, or back if my right hip is playing up🙄 With regard to circulation, I did read somewhere that lying on the right side can cause compression of the inferior vena cava, the big vein returning blood to the heart, as that lies more to the right of the body but whether it does or not, I’ve no idea! Maybe that’s where the thought that left side sleeping is better for blood flow comes from. Mind you, I’ve been sleeping on my right for over a year now and not noticed any circulation issues.
I hope you find a sleeping position that works for you.
Btw, in my view, hearts are incredible, complex organs, not “swinging bricks”!!
That’s the trouble, I think. Sometimes these doctors make some throw away remark and don’t realise the impact it can have on those of us of an anxious disposition.I also meant to add to my earlier comment that I was worried about how I was going to sleep with a holter monitor on, 72 hours in my case but in actual fact it was ok - I’ve had worse bedfellows 😂
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Sorry, just having a moan
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