What is the best sleeping position for someone with sleep apnea?

Side sleeping with your back mostly straight is the best position for sleep apnea sufferers according to the Sleep Better Council. Research shows that sleeping on the left side reduces sleep apnea even more than sleeping on the right.

Does sleeping with head elevated help sleep apnea?

Head-of-bed elevation (HOBE) has been shown to effectively reduce OSA severity in small studies [13, 14].

What position makes sleep apnea worse?

Your Sleep Position

Sleeping on your back can make your sleep apnea worse— this is because your tongue can fall back towards your throat and press against your airway. Any extra weight or pressure, such as body fat, around your airway can block it while you're on your back also. Instead, try sleeping on your side.

What is the best position to sleep in if you have sleep apnea?

Snoring and sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea causes the airways to collapse during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. It often goes hand-in-hand with snoring. Positioning yourself on your side or stomach can help the airways stay open to reduce snoring and alleviate mild apnea, Salas says.

Is sleeping on your stomach good for sleep apnea?

Sleeping on your stomach is bad for multiple reasons, especially for sleep apnea sufferers. Stomach sleeping is bad for your spine, with your neck elevated and pressure on your lower back. Sleeping on your stomach also constricts your airways as your neck is twisted.

The Best Sleeping Position For Sleep Apnea & Snoring

What worsens sleep apnea?

Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers.

These substances relax the muscles in your throat, which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.

Is it better to sleep with or without a pillow for sleep apnea?

Pillows may be helpful for people with conditions such as heartburn or obstructive sleep apnea. They also help many sleepers maintain a healthier sleep posture and reduce back and neck pain.

How can I sleep with sleep apnea naturally?

How do you get a deep sleep with sleep apnea?

How can I strengthen my sleep apnea?

By toning the muscles in your mouth and face you can prevent loose muscles in the night and prevent snoring. Open and Close: start by closing your mouth tightly and pursing your lips. Then open your mouth and let the muscles around your jaw and mouth relax completely. Repeat 5 to 10 times.

How high should you elevate your bed for sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea and snoring

The researchers noted that tilting people 7.5 degrees in bed reduced OSA severity by 31.8% on average. This incline level also helped reduce shallow breathing and improve sleep efficiency. Research from 2020 studied the effect of different bed inclines on people who snored regularly.

Does a neck pillow help with sleep apnea?

Do cervical pillows help with sleep apnea? Cervical pillows can help with neck pain, but they're not specifically designed to help people with sleep apnea. If you have neck pain and sleep apnea and tend to sleep on your back, you may find a cervical pillow comfortable.

How do I keep my airways open at night?

Sleep on your side.

Lying on your side, on the other hand, helps keep your airway open. If you find side sleeping uncomfortable or you tend to roll on to your back after you're asleep, countered side pillows or body pillows may help.

How many pillows should you sleep with if you have sleep apnea?

If you don't have a wedge pillow and want to elevate your head, you could try using several pillows to achieve a similar effect. However, if you don't get the angle right you could end up constricting your airways further! We usually recommend sleeping with one pillow that is suited to your sleeping position and needs.

Do breathe right strips work for sleep apnea?

Side Effects of Breathe Right Strips

Though nasal dilator strips may improve snoring, they do not treat sleep apnea. Using the strips to reduce symptoms may give a false sense of confidence in the effectiveness of the therapy.

What is the newest treatment for sleep apnea?

For years, the most common treatment for millions of people with sleep apnea involved wearing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask. That is, until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new, maskless treatment option -- the Inspire upper airway stimulation device.

How do you fix sleep apnea without a machine?

Can you self cure sleep apnea?

Treatment options for sleep apnea will vary according to the severity of your symptoms. If you have mild symptoms, you may get relief from natural remedies like losing weight or changing your sleep position. In cases of moderate to severe sleep apnea, you may need advanced treatment.

What is the main cause of sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow normal breathing. These muscles support structures including the back of the roof of your mouth (soft palate), the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils and the tongue.

What should I avoid if I have sleep apnea?

Burgers, steak, pork, bacon, lamb, and sausage are all meats that are high in saturated fats. Eating too much of these items can cause inflammation throughout your body, which can lead to cardiovascular problems. This is a big risk factor if you have sleep apnea, so it's best to avoid consuming these products.

What organ causes sleep apnea?

Central sleep apnea happens when your brain does not send the signals needed to breathe. Health conditions that affect how your brain controls your airway and chest muscles can cause central sleep apnea.

How can I relax with sleep apnea?

Exercise. Regular exercise can help ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea even without weight loss. Try to get 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk walk, most days of the week. Avoid alcohol and certain medicines such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills.

What position opens your airways?

Lie on your side with a pillow between your legs and your head elevated with pillows. Keep your back straight. Lie on your back with your head elevated and your knees bent, with a pillow under your knees.

What position helps open airways?

Side lying with leg on the floor bent at knee

Slightly bend the knee of the leg you are lying on, with your top leg straight. Having your legs apart may also help. This position can help when you're breathless when you're resting, such as when your symptoms flare up.

What helps open breathing airways?