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

Sleeping on the left side

It's by far the most effective sleep position to help control sleep apnea. It's considered to encourage blood flow, reduce snoring and calm sleep apnea. In fact, research points out that left side-sleepers experience less severe sleep apnea occurrences.

What sleeping position helps with sleep apnea?

“Side sleeping with your back mostly straight is the best sleep position as it reduces apnea severity and snoring,” Dr. Knobbe said. It can also help keep your spine in proper alignment, although it can put additional strain on your shoulders, hips and spine.

Does sleeping with head elevated help sleep apnea?

"Sleeping with the head as elevated and upright as possible, such as with an adjustable bed or in a recliner, may be helpful in improving sleep apnea symptoms." Wedge-shaped pillows made of foam (rather than a squishier material) can help you achieve the right position that keeps the airway more open.

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.

Does sleeping position affect sleep apnea?

Irrespective of your sleeping position, the position of your head is also a factor that actively affects your sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is worse when sleeping on your back (supine position) because of the effects of gravity on the body.

How Sleep Position Affects Your Airway

Does sleeping without a pillow help sleep apnea?

While a pillow on its own won't cure your sleep apnea, it can potentially lessen the number of apneas you experience or make it more comfortable to wear your treatment through the night, greatly improving sleep quality and how you feel the next day.

What helps sleep apnea without a machine?

What worsens sleep apnea?

Congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease are some of the conditions that may increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal disorders, prior stroke and chronic lung diseases such as asthma also can increase risk.

What foods make sleep apnea worse?

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.

Where do I put my arms when sleeping on my side?

First, make sure that your arms are down by your side. Sleeping with your arms overhead, perhaps around your pillow, can pinch your lower shoulder. Instead, sleep with your arms down by your side.

What is the newest treatment for sleep apnea?

The new treatment - known as Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy - offers the first implantable device for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The therapy works from inside the body and with the patient's natural breathing process.

Are there pillows that help with sleep apnea?

Wedge pillows.

These triangular-shaped pillows can elevate your body position and provide relief from obstructive sleep apnea and other conditions, like acid reflux.

Can too many pillows cause sleep apnea?

Pillows can derail CPAP

For people who have sleep apnea — a condition in which you stop breathing periodically during sleep — pillows can interfere with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment.

Can you sleep on your side with a sleep apnea machine?

Sleeping on your side is one of the best positions for sleep apnea treatment, since it prevents gravity from impacting your airway the way it does when sleeping on your back or stomach.

Which vitamin is good for sleep apnea?

For sleep apnea…

Studies have shown that vitamin E, in combination with vitamin C and other antioxidants, can improve nighttime breathing and sleep quality in people with obstructive sleep apnea.

How I cured my sleep apnea?

Do bananas help sleep?

Bananas are rich in sleep-promoting nutrients like magnesium, tryptophan, vitamin B6, carbs, and potassium, all of which have been linked to improved sleep.

What is the main cause of sleep apnea?

In adults, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with the soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked.

Does sleep apnea shorten your lifespan?

Risks of obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is dangerous because if untreated, it leads to high blood pressure and is associated with an increased chance of heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. Studies have shown that sleep apnea can decrease life expectancy by several years.

Does melatonin help sleep apnea?

Brief Summary: The investigators have previously shown that 1 week of 10mg Melatonin improves sleep consolidation in untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.

How do I open my sleep airway?

Elevate the head of your bed by four to six inches, or elevate your body from the waist up by using a foam wedge or special cervical pillow. Open your nasal passages at night by using a nasal dilator, saline spray, breathing strips, or a nasal irrigation system (neti pot).

Do Breathe Right strips help 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.

Does caffeine affect sleep apnea?

A couple of studies have looked at the potential connections between caffeine use and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). One study showed that caffeinated soda use may be associated with more severe sleep-disordered breathing, such as OSA .

Can sleep apnea cause a stroke?

Sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke for middle-aged and older men and also increases the stroke risk in middle-aged and older women. “Sleep apnea is a common but under recognized risk factor for stroke.

Should shoulders be on pillow when sleeping?

It should only be thick enough to create a straight line from your head and neck down through your spine. Your shoulders should not be on the pillow.