Did you know that the right sleep posture could solve your sleep apnea problems? Find out pillows that can help you improve your sleep apnea condition.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder associated with interruption of the regular breathing pattern. Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, dry mouth in the morning, headache, and daily sleepiness.
Sleep Apnea occurs when you are asleep. Therefore, you can only know you have it if a roommate or your partner complains about your loud snoring.
The obstruction of air flowing through the airway reduces the amount of oxygen going to the brain and the rest of the body. Sleep apnea may cause chronic insomnia, a lapse in concentration, and depression.
One of the solutions for improving sleep apnea is the correct sleep posture. A quality pillow can help you achieve that goal. We are going to look into different Sleep apnea pillows in this article.
Sleep Apnea
There are two types of sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax. These are the same muscles that support the tongue, tonsils, soft palates, and the wall of the throat. When these muscles relax, the airway becomes narrower or is blocked.
When this happens, enough oxygen does not get to the brain and the whole body. When the brain senses the shortage, it sends signals for the airway muscles to stiffen. The airway opens up for air passes to the lungs.
The cycle continues until you wake up in the morning. The number of times the airway is blocked determines how chronic your sleep apnea is.
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain forgets to send a signal to the muscle responsible for breathing. It mostly happens when one has a disease that affects the brain stem.
When the brain fails to send signals to the muscle, you make no effort to breathe at all. The shortness of breath may cause you to wake up.
Sleep apnea causes include old age, obesity, genetics, and medical conditions, alcohol, and smoking.
Sleeping on the back is the worst position when it comes to sleep apnea. The gravitational force causes the tongue, throat, and soft palates to relax. This narrows or completely blocks the airway and causes an interruption in breathing.
Sleeping on Your Belly
Sleeping on the belly is not a good position. The pillow blocks the nose and the mouth from taking in air. You may need to tilt the head to the side to breathe. It does not help with clearing the airway.
Sleeping on the Sides
Sleeping on the sides helps to solve the sleep apnea problem. At this sleeping posture, the airway is stable. The airway is less likely to cave in during sleep.
It is hard to sleep on the sides when you are accustomed to sleeping on your back or the belly. Some pillows can guide you in achieving that.
The Therapeutica orthopedic pillow was designed by an ergonomic designer and a chiropractic. It weighs about 1.3 pounds. It is 25 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 4.74 inches high. It is firm. Your body needs time to adjust using this type of pillow. The company recommends little use during the adjustment period to avoid neck pain.
The material that makes the pillow is molded foam. It is non-allergenic and it does not contain any toxins. It is perfect for back and side sleepers. Its objective is to restore the natural curve of the neck.
This pillow has a cradled headrest cavity and a neck ridge that has contours. Additionally, The back wedge cushions the spine. The zipped cover makes it easy to remove for washing.
The Lunderg CPAP Pillow has two levels and two sides. It is thick to offer comfort to the neck and head. It comes with an extra pillowcase to use while washing the other one. The package comes with an extra layer of memory foam to adjust the thickness.
The company warns the users that it may take time to get used to these types of pillows. It is perfect to use with any mask. It has a return policy if it does not satisfy you.
It is made purely from bamboo-derived rayon. It weighs around 1.15 pounds. The pillow is 24 inches long, 14 inches wide and 5 inches high.
The Royal therapy pillows are designed to contour according to the shape of your head and neck. It exerts equal pressure on the head and the neck. It is suitable for both side and back sleepers.
It is comfortable enough to prevent tossing and turning during sleep. It also promotes sleep alignment. The pillow is hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant. The bamboo cover allows proper air circulation. It does not allow heat to build up.
Its design makes it more durable than other pillows. It retains its shape for a long time. It contours when you place your head and neck.
The Contour CPAP max pillow is made from memory foam. It is designed specifically for the CPAP masks. It prevents the mask from moving while you are asleep.
One side of the pillow is the 3D memory foam side. The other side is the plush traditional pillow surface.
The pillow gives maximum comfort. The top part contours to the shape of your head. The middle part supports your neck and shoulders. The bottom layer has charcoal that removes any odor. It is also durable.
The Relax home life pillow fabric is composed of 60% polyester and 40% bamboo. It is 25 inches long, 26 inches wide and 7.5 inches high. The fill material used is the memory foam.
The company values feedback from its customers. They use the feedback they get to make improvements to their product.
The triangular wedge design conforms to the shape of the face and neck. The bottom layer is firm. It offers enough support needed to keep the upper body elevated.
The bamboo cover keeps it well aerated. It maintains cool temperatures throughout the night. The casing is removable and machine-washable. It is hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant.
The company offers a lifetime warranty policy. They guarantee that their product is qualitative.
PROS:
It is hypoallergenic
It is comfortable
It is well aerated.
It is machine washable
CONS:
It may be uncomfortable to use in the beginning.
Conclusion
Sleep posture plays a huge role in improving sleep apnea. Sleep deprivation due to sleep apnea is fatal to the human body. It affects both the body and the brain. Sleeplessness may lead to obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
One of the ways to combat sleep apnea is to improve sleeping posture. Investing in a quality sleep apnea pillow can help the situation. They generally increase comfort when one sleeps in a less preferred position.
Sleep apnea pillows are designed for use alongside a CPAP mask. It is the continuous positive airway pressure. Some of the pillows that can improve your sleep apnea disorder are the Therapeutica orthopedic Sleeping Pillow, Lundberg CPAP Pillow for Side Sleepers, Royal Therapy Queen Memory Foam Pillow, Contour CPAPMax 2.0 Pillow, and the Relax Home Life 7.5.
