Sleeping
On The Right Side

MULIA: When we are preparing ourselves to sleep, we have several options to choose regarding the body position, namely: (1) lying down on our back,(2) on the abdomen, (3) turn to the left side of our body, or (4) the reverse that is the right side of the body. Which of these positions is the best for the functioning of the organs?

TEGUH: Let us ponder the pro and con for each position. Position No.1, i.e. lying on the back. The mouth will opens up when lying on back as the inferior jaw relaxes. It causes the respiration to be through the mouth. Respiration through the mouth makes the person prone to gum dryness and its resulting inflammation. So these positions the jaw and uvula oppose the wideness of nose and prevents current of breath. So snoring will increase. Moreover, in this case, the person wakes up with an abnormal white layer covering his tongue and an undesirable mouth odour.

AKHTAR: It should be the nose which is the one prepared for respiration, as it contains hairs and mucous that act to purify the air entering during inspiration and as it has dense blood vessels that make the entering air warmer.

FAEZ: Position No. 2, that is when lying on the abdomen. A person will feel, after a while, short of breath as the backbones’ mass prevents the chest from contracting and then relaxing during inhalation and exhalation. The resulting respiratory crisis results in brain and heart fatigue as well.

AKHTAR: Unconfirmed statistics show the increase in the likelihood of babies’ sudden death when they sleep on their stomach compared to those who sleep on one of the sides.

MULIA: Position No. 3, sleeping on the left side. This position is not favoured either, as the heart would be then under the pressure of the right lung, the biggest of the two lungs, and this would affect its contraction especially if the person is old. The full stomach which itself is under the pressure of the heaviest organ in the digestive tract, the liver, which delays its emptying, would also impose a pressure on the heart.

TEGUH: The passage of food from the stomach to the intestines takes from 5 to 8 hours if a person is sleeping on the left side whereas its takes 2.5 to 4.5 hours if he is sleeping on the right side.

FAEZ: Thus, sleeping on the right side is the correct position as the left lung is smaller than the right one and the pressure on the heart would therefore be less, the liver would not be suspended, and the stomach would be on it and so emptying its contents would be quicker. Moreover sleeping on the right side is one of the best medical interventions to facilitate the excretion of the mucous secretions of the left respiratory bronchioles.

MULIA: Good Night.