13 Jun What Position Is The Best For Sleep Apnea?
There are a number of things that you can do to treat the symptoms of your sleep apnea — you can exercise more, lose weight, quit smoking and try CPAP therapy services. If you really want to improve the side-effects of your disorder, one significant change to add to your to-do list is picking the right sleeping position.
- On Your Stomach:
This position is good for discouraging snoring, which you would think is a great solution for sleep apnea, but it should still be avoided. The main reason is that when it comes to what sleeping positions say about your health and wellness, sleeping on your stomach is the option with the most negative side-effects. The position places stress on your spine and your neck, so much that it can cause a herniated disk. It also puts pressure on your nerves, which can make you wake up with the awkward and sometimes painful feeling of pins and needles. The second reason why you should stop sleeping in this position is that you will not be able to comfortably wear any continuous positive airway pressure devices if you are lying down flat on your stomach.
- On Your Back:
Unlike the previous category, sleeping on your back is supposed to provide excellent support for your spine. It is also friendly on the neck because it is resting straight up, instead of contorted to the side. As long as you don’t pile on the pillows, you shouldn’t wake up with any muscle soreness or joint pain. The one problem with sleeping on your back is that it is strongly associated with sleep apnea in comparison to other sleeping positions — lying on your back induces snoring because gravity and relaxation cause the base of the tongue to disrupt the airway. It is possible to combat this issue by getting items from the CPAP store in Toronto like masks, pillows and other accessories so that you can treat your sleep disorder while sleeping supine. You can also find a source for CPAP machines in Richmond Hill and other locations around the province of Ontario like Vaughan, Mississauga, Milton and Barrie. Even though the position is better than sleeping on your stomach, it is still not the ideal choice if you have sleep apnea.
- On Your Side:
The very best position for people living with sleep apnea is on the side, preferably in a fetal position so that it follows the curvature of the spine. When you sleep on your side, you won’t deal with any negative side-effects like joint problems or muscle strain — at worst, you will have a shoulder or arm that has fallen asleep after putting your weight on it. The position has been praised for being comfortable and for easing symptoms of acid reflux — the latter is a common symptom of sleep apnea, so people living with the condition can find some quick relief.
It’s also important that the position works well with any masks that you are using for CPAP therapy services — even a full-face mask can stay in place when you are resting your cheek on top of your pillow. If you are worried about the position putting stress on your neck, PROFMed Healthcare Solutions has contour pillows that will mold to your shape and make your night comfortable. If your body naturally falls into the previous two positions at night, you can train yourself to sleep on your side by using a REMATEE Bumper Belt over your pajamas.
Your sleep position may seem like a small and insignificant detail, but once you make the switch to sleeping on your side, you will immediately notice the difference. In fact, your sleeping position may be the easiest and most cost-effective change that you can make for your condition.