If you are having trouble sleeping at night, sleep apnea may be one of the reasons. People use pillows for sleep apnea more often nowadays. We’ll talk about that in this blog.
According to a survey, about 55% of American adult females said that sleep significantly influenced their mood. Sleep apnea may be one of the factors contributing to poor sleep quality. There are two forms of sleep apnea.
- Central sleep apnea is due to the inability to send signals to the respiratory muscles and pillows can’t help with this.
- Obstructive sleep apnea is due to some obstruction in the airways and pillows can help with it.
Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most frequent sleep disorders, affecting 50-70 million US people. The prevalence of sleep apnea is 3–7% in males and 2–5% in women.
Sleep apnea causes changes in breathing patterns, stopping, and starting during sleep. It can be due to obstruction of airways or simply lousy sleeping habits. Whatever the case, it’s necessary to get rid of them.
Before we suggest pillows for sleep apnea, let’s walk you through some of the queries you might have in mind regarding pillows and sleep apnea.
Which type of pillow is most suitable for sleep apnea?
Choosing a sleep apnea pillow that suits your sleeping preferences is necessary since they all come in various designs and materials. For instance, if you often sweat a lot while you sleep, you may want to look for a cooling pillow.
You might pick a different pillow if you already use a CPAP since some are made primarily for comfort while wearing a mask.
Can a tall pillow improve sleep apnea?
You can reduce sleep apnea by elevating the head and adjusting the bed. You can use a sleep wedge pillow to elevate the head In its topmost part, there is a foam ramp that produces height.
Also, combine it with ShutEye to help you stop snoring, especially if you are a pregnant lady. It tracks your daily sleep quality and detects snoring.
Should you invest in CPAP pillows?
Most premium continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) pillows provide great cervical spine support. This is due to its construction and the fact that most CPAP pillows are designed and built of memory foam, offering a softer level of comfort while providing excellent neck support than a regular feather pillow.
Pillows for sleep apnea come in many types, such as:
Wedge pillows have a triangular shape and help in relieving obstructive sleep apnea.
CPAP pillows are designed to fit in the CPAP masks that are very good for helping you with sleep apnea.
Foam pillows have foams to support the neck and head and relieve the contour pressure. They also may have removable foams to make them adjustable for your comfort.
After extensive research on pillows, we have shortlisted five of the best ones below that can help reduce sleep apnea.
1. EnduriMed CPAP Pillow
This can be very effective if your doctor has suggested taking CPAP to solve your sleep apnea. EnuriMed CPAP pillow comes in with an extra foam that you can use if you want to increase the pillow’s height.
People with sleep apnea may require CPAP to help them breathe better. This pillow has perfect contours that comfort people while sleeping and wearing CPAP masks.
The pillow is absolutely appropriate for back, side, and front sleepers. This pillow is so comfortable that it allows moving flexibly while sleeping.
2. TEMPUR-Cloud pillow
If you experience sweating during the night, you might move your body and end up in the wrong position, worsening your sleep apnea.
TEMPUR-Cloud can be an excellent choice to go with in such a situation. It has an extra soft texture and is specifically appropriate for those who sleep on stomachs. However, the users have also found this pillow helpful for sleeping on the side.
Most users say this is very comfortable, helps reduce neck pain, and provides the necessary firmness.
3. Contour CPAPMax Pillow 2.0
This is one of the best choices for those having sleep apnea. It’s made of supportive memory foam and a soft pillow fibre filler. So you can utilize whichever you prefer.
Contour CPAPMax PILLOW 2.0 has a comfortable shape that fits in CPAP masks pretty well during sleep. 2.0 has got some upgrades over the original one.
You can remove extra layers to produce the right height for your comfort. A mesh layer also creates a cooling effect, making it a good choice if you have sweating during the night.
With this pillow, you can comfortably sleep on your back or side.
4. Cushy form bed wedge pillow
This pillow is comfortable and durable because of its memory foam and standard foam material. Therefore, it ideally provides support and comfort for your head and neck.
Another distinctive feature Cushy form bed wedge pillow is its wedge shape, which gives enough height to the head and neck. If you move a lot during the night, it can provide you the space for flexibility.
This pillow is noted for its ability to reduce snoring. That makes it overall a perfect choice for improving your sleep apnea, ultimately improving your sleep quality. The better sleep quality, the better your health.
5. Pure comfort side sleeping pillow
A recent study says that 50% of all obstructive sleep apnea patients sleep on their back. Therefore, sleeping on the side can massively reduce sleep apnea.
Pure comfort side sleeping pillow provides a comfortable shape that is perfect for sleeping on the side. Especially if you sleep on your back often.
The distinctive features of this pillow are the ear cutouts, which tend to relieve the pressure on your face.
One more feature is the height inserts (filling material). They could be used to increase the height as needed.
Conclusion
Sleep apnea can be really disturbing for you. It may even require a physician’s help. But you can avoid its complications with suitable pillows for sleep apnea. Simply pick any of the abovementioned pillows and enjoy a snoring-free, quality sleep throughout the night.