When to Try a Sleep Apnea Pillow And Why They Work!
As doctors and scientists get a better understanding of sleep apnea and what causes it, there are more and remedies that patients can try to fix this condition.An option might be a sleep apnea pillow as they are becoming more well known.
You may already know that sleep apnea refers to a cessation of breathing when you sleep.There’s different reasons why this can happen but similar to snoring it may happen if a person sleeps on his/her back and his/her mouth falls open. This can cause the tongue to fall over the throat and block the air passages or the fatty tissue in the back of the mouth to do the same. A sleep apnea pillow is designed to keep a person from sleeping on their back so that these conditions don’t occur.
Many patients who snore or who have sleep apnea have been told to put a tennis ball into the back of their pajamas so that when they roll onto their back, this discomfort causes them to go back onto their side. But imagine how uncomfortable and downright painful this is! A sleep apnea pillow on the other hand is a large pillow-like foam piece that cradles your head and your back to stay in place. There are many different varieties from which to choose; some are like regular pillows and wrap around the head and neck to keep it from turning.
Another type of sleep apnea pillow is one that wraps around the midsection and back to keep a person sleeping on their side.It has the same effect as the tennis ball method but it is far more comforting. Ask yourself what you would rather have propping up your back as you sleep, a cold hard tennis ball or a soft and firm sleep apnea pillow.Most people prefer the pillow! It won’t interrupt your sleep and will keep you comfortable all night as well.
There is also another type of sleep apnea pillow that works with a CPAP machine. This pillow has inserts in which you can nestle the hoses for the CPAP machine, making it easier and more comfortable to use. If you use a CPAP machine you may want to consider a sleep apnea pillow with it as well to keep you comfortable and the hoses out of your way.