The only issue with sleeping on your back that I can think of is that if you have sleep apnea (and often people with afib also have sleep apnea) that it can increase the number of episodes of apnea during the night.

I could sometimes send myself into afib simply by laying on my left side. Then again, sometimes it would happen when I laid on my right side. Come to think of it, afib has a mind of it's own and comes and goes on it's own schedule. But if you find that laying in one particular position sends you into afib - don't do it! :-)

I'm guessing the left-side thing happens because the vagus nerve can be stimulated in that position.

I tend to get PAC's when I roll onto my left side. Then I roll over onto my right side and they tend to go away. Go figure

Interesting that the vagus nerve can be stimulated when lying on the left side. I almost never get away with lying on my left side. And lately I also have arrhythmia when I lie on my right side. Some nights I can't get away with either.

twodrifters: so, stomach or back?

Look up "positional sleep apnea." If a sleep study shows you have it, sleeping on your back is a no no.

Oh I have sleep apnea and use a cpap machine. I've been over this in terms of my apnea. I'm curious about afib though. Probably there's no correlation between position and afib, other than the left side. I was just curious. Googling the subject doesn't get me anywhere.

I have atrial fib in all positions! Permanent for me. Oh well.

It doesn't seem to matter how I sleep....it happens when it happens.

Such a crazy condition!!!!!!!!!

A couple of thoughts... if position matters, it probably has to do with internal parts pressing on each other. That would make me believe that weight would be a factor. The other factor would be what you can feel or hear in your ear because you are pressing your heart side on the bed. I don't think any of this has to do with gravity or magic.

Lying on your back causes you airway to close and is bad for obstructive sleep apnea.

yes but since I use a cpap machine lying on my back is more or less a non-issue. I've checked this with my sleep doctor and with others on the sleep apnea forum I frequent.

That said, I was thinking along petey's lines about the possibility of organs or the weight of muscles pressing against the heart. With that in mind, it occurred to me that sleeping on my back may be best. I"m just learning how to do this; I've slept on my stomach/side all my life. who knows, maybe it's a a non issue! Just curious.