The Best Sleep Apnea Pillow?

Some kinds of sleep apnea can be helped enormously by side sleeping. Gravity pulls the tongue down when you sleep on your back and contributes to the blockage of airways.

There are various ways to stop yourself from sleeping on you back. One of the most certain ways is to use a device that holds an object in the middle of the back by a harness. These can be purchased online or in surgical appliance stores.

Another way to reduce the chances of sleep apneas is to use a specially designed pillow. Many studies have shown that sleeping with the upper body raised a little decreases the problem.

If you use a CPAP Machine

For some people side sleeping is simply the most comfortabel way to sleep. This can be difficult if you are using a CPAP machine. There are a range of pillows that make it easier to sleep on your side without the mask leaking air or pressing into the face.

Side Sleeping Pillow

The special memory foam in this pillow reacts to body heat and weight distribution to provide the perfect support without preeure points. The overall design offers maximum support for side sleeping. It keeps the head high to improve air flow in the throat whislt offering support to the shoulders and maintaining an orthopedically correct spinal alignment.

Channels in the surface of the pillow reduce any blockage of the mouth whilst cradling the head comfortably.

Buyer Reviews

Buyer reviews at sites like Amazon and Target are very favorable for this product. One woman said ‘This pillow has eliminated my sleep apnea, the tiredness, dark circles, neck pain and headaches.’

On the downside, some people complain about the heat retention in the pillow. So if you sleep in a very warm room this might be an issue. It is also quite a heavy pillow and if you move about the bed at night it can be hard to move with you.

Despite these issues, this pillow is very popular with the majority of buyers.

Side Solution Pillow

This inexpensive pillow is designed to reduce shoulder and neck discomfort for side sleeping. It is also shaped to allow CPAP users to sleep on their sides without the problem of the mask and air tube being pushed aside.

It has received a remarkable 5 star rating at Target and 4 stars at Amazon with buyers saying that it delivers what it promises..

Cpap Pillow

This is a specially designed, medical-grade foam pillow with hollowed out channels that alleviate CPAP mask pressure and reduces the chance of leaks. It is ideal for side sleepers and supports your head and neck while correctly aligning the spine.

The accessory kit includes a 1” foam insert that offers support for broader shoulders, a built-in tether for hose control, a custom-tailored quilted cover and a 6 foot long zippered hose cover to reduce condensation.

Zzoma Positional Sleeper

A harness holds a large foam block on your back as you sleep. This makes it impossible to sleep on your back and reduces or eliminates apneas in those who suffer from positional sleep apnea.

These devices are slowly growing in popularity as studies show the benefits of side sleeping in sleep apnea. One complaint was that the elastic lost its elasticity after 6 months or so and needed to be secured with safety pin.

• Deigned and developed by board-certified sleep physicians
• Stops supine (back) sleeping,
• Reduces or eliminates snoring completely
• Comfortable, effective and easy to use.

Sleep apnea and Snoring links

The American Sleep Association provides information on all kinds of sleep problems:.

http://www.sleepassociation.org/

Sleep apnea page at wkipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea

Web MD guide to dealing with snoring 

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/five-natural-remedies-to-stop-snoring