高质量的睡眠对于人体健康至关重要。它有助于消除疲劳，恢复体力和精力，并增强人的免疫力和抗病能力。孩子的生长发育也离不开充足高效的睡眠。睡姿是睡眠过程中的肢体语言，是决定睡眠质量的重要因素之一。基本的睡姿有3种，仰睡、侧睡和俯睡。据统计，60%的人习惯仰睡，35%选择侧睡，而5%经常俯睡。那么，一般而言哪种睡姿对健康最好呢？

 

为什么要向左侧睡？

If you're a snorer, pregnant or just want to show your body some love, try sleeping on your left tonight. 

如果你睡觉打呼，或者怀着宝宝，或者只想对自己身体好点，那今晚就试着向左侧睡吧。

 

There's bad news for those of us who do it on our backs, on our tummies, on our right-hand side, spooning - or even hanging upside down. We are, of course, talking about sleeping. 

这对那些喜欢仰躺，俯卧，右侧卧，搂抱，甚至倒挂的人来说就不是什么好消息了。我们说的……当然是睡觉姿势。

 

The position we sleep in may not be the sort of thing worth paying much attention to, but it can have a huge impact on our health. 

睡觉姿势或许并不值得这么大惊小怪，但它确实对我们的身体健康产生巨大影响。

 

Sleep in general, and 'getting it right' is a source fascination, prompting studies and research into its effects. 

“平常睡姿”和“正确睡姿”是个很有趣的话题，让人不禁想要对其影响研究调查一番。

 

We want to know how best to fall asleep during a heatwave. We want to know why we wake up when we do. And of course we want to know how best to get our children to sleep. 

我们想知道在酷热环境下如何最快进入睡眠，想知道为什么会突然醒来，还想知道哄孩子睡觉的最好方式。

 

And we should be sleeping on our left 

我们应该向左侧睡

 

As the Daily Record reports, sleeping on your left side is the least harmful position for your spine. 

据《每日纪事报》报道，向左侧睡是对脊柱伤害最小的睡觉姿势。

 

If you lie on your back, there is a danger you'll end up putting too much pressure on your hips and upper back. 

仰着睡有可能会压迫到髋骨和上背部。

 

If you prefer to sleep on your front, then this can lead to neck and lower back strain. 

趴着睡可能会压迫到我们的颈部和下背部。

 

Whereas sleeping on your left-hand side can do you the world of good. The body is able to take the pressure off lymph drainage from the heart and spleen, which is crucial for encouraging the natural flow of lymph fluid and preventing lymphatic congestion. 

但向左侧睡却对身体大有好处。这种姿势能够缓解心脏和脾脏的淋巴引流压力，对促进淋巴液自然循环及防止淋巴堵塞具有非常重要的意义。

 

As positions go, it's also better for your breathing - especially if you find yourself congested of a nighttime. 

尤其当我们夜间气息堵塞、喘不过气时，向左侧睡更有助于呼吸顺畅。

 

By encouraging them to lie on their left, the volume and frequency of their snoring will be reduced. 

睡觉打呼的朋友向左侧睡能够降低他们打呼的音量和频率。

 

That's because lying on your side gives optimum air flow to your lungs and prevents the base of your tongue from lolling into the back of your throat, obstructing breathing. 

那是因为向左侧躺既可促进空气进入肺部畅通无阻，又能防止舌根挡住咽喉后部阻碍呼吸。

 

If you suffer from heartburn, sleeping on your left can reduce the uncomfortable symptoms and reduce acid reflux. 

对胃灼热患者，向左侧睡还能够缓解胃酸反流等不适症状。

 

 

Women expecting a baby are advised to adopt this position when falling asleep to encourage healthy blood flow. 

怀宝宝的妈妈向左侧睡能够促进良好的血液循环。

 

And on a more toilet-related topic , adopting the left-hand side will allow your body to process waste quicker, which in turn helps guard you against constipation. 

从如厕的角度来说，向左侧睡有助于快速清理体内的废物残渣，不容易便秘。

 

Because of the route the intestines take, lying on the left means food is able to travel easier towards your colon. 

根据肠道所在人体位置，向左侧躺能够加快食物进入结肠，促进消化。

 

So, remember. When it comes to sleep, go left. 

因此，记得睡觉时要向左侧躺哦。

 

注意事项：尽管以上列出的所有因素都让你觉得靠左侧睡觉是件迫不及待的事。然而，值得注意的是，有些人——包括患有睡眠呼吸暂停、青光眼和腕管综合症的患者——可能并不适合靠左侧睡觉。如果你不确定哪种姿势对你来说最合适，不妨咨询一下医学专家。

 

英文来源：镜报，中国日报网 

译者：张金瑶（中国日报网爱新闻iNews译者）

编审：yaning