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Our readers are invited to email us with their questions! Q: What are some of the warning signs of sleep deprivation? (Toby L.) A: Hey Toby, generally, if you feel drowsy during the day, you haven't had enough sleep. The same is true if you fall asleep within five minutes of lying down. 'Microsleeps,' or very brief periods of sleep in an otherwise awake person, are also warning signs of sleep deprivation. --------------------------------------------------------------- Q: What are the benefits of sleeping on one side vs the other? (Evelyn N.) A: Evelyn, there is no consistent scientific evidence that sleeping on one side versus the other is better for everyone. However, there is some evidence that with certain medical conditions, sleep on one side or the other may be beneficial. For example, patients who have reflux disease may benefit from sleep on the left side compared to the right, as sleeping on the right side has been shown in one study to relax the connection between the esophagus and the stomach, leading to more acid reflux. In patients with heart conditions, sleeping on the right side may reduce discomfort and shortness of breath, as found in another study. Patients with orthopedic pain may find that sleeping on one side or the other may reduce their pain and thus reduce the disruption in sleep. In general, side sleeping compared to sleeping face up (supine) may reduce the severity of snoring and sleep apnea in some patients. | 
