![]() ![]() The study was small, so more research needs to be done, but nine out of 12 participants were cured of their sleep apnea and a further two participants saw huge improvements in their conditions. The amount of time spent sleeping with low oxygen levels and the amount of time spent snoring also dropped. Their respiratory-disturbance index (a measure of how many times breathing stops, is shallow, or is difficult enough to wake someone up) dropped from about 39 times an hour when back sleeping to about 8 times an hour when side sleeping. One study found when sleep apnea patients wore a vest with hard foam on the back, making back sleeping uncomfortable, they switched to sleeping on their sides. ![]() Stretching out when side sleeping, rather than curling up in a tight fetal position, can help increase lung capacity while sleeping, too. When you sleep on your side, your airways are less likely to collapse and your tongue and soft tissue are less likely to get in the way and stop you from breathing during the night. Side Sleeping Can Keep Airways Open and Reduce Sleep Apnea Symptoms Why is back sleeping so bad? When you sleep on your back, it’s easier for your tongue to fall back and cover your airways and for gravity to pull soft tissue into your airways, obstructing them. Research shows the number of sleep apnea episodes can double when sleeping on your back (also known as the supine position) compared to sleeping on your side.įor some, sleep apnea can even be completely eradicated by avoiding back sleeping, and for others, it can significantly improve their symptoms.īoth the frequency of apneas (times when breathing stops) and the duration of these episodes can be decreased by sleeping in the correct position. Back Sleeping Can Make Sleep Apnea WorseĪbout 56% of patients have position-dependent sleep apnea, meaning their apnea index (the measure of how severe sleep apnea is) improves by 50% or more when they sleep in a position that isn’t on their back. Side sleeping is considered the best position for sleep apnea for a few reasons. What Sleep Position is Best for Sleep Apnea? You can learn more about how to know if you have sleep apnea here.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |