How Your Sleep Position Can Affect Your Sleep Apnea

Whether you realize it or not, you probably have a favorite sleeping position. It might be on your back, side, stomach, or even draped over a pillow. For most people, this is just a personal choice, but for those suffering from chronic sleep issues, such as sleep apnea, choosing the right sleep position could help manage the condition and allow them to finally sleep comfortably throughout the night. So the question is, which position should you sleep in if you have sleep apnea? Today, we’ll discuss how this one little thing can have such a large effect.

Side, Back, or Stomach…Which is Best?

The most common form of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and when a person is suffering from it, they periodically stop breathing throughout the night because their airway has become completely blocked by the soft tissues in their mouth and throat. Of course, this blockage doesn’t just happen instantly. It’s usually preceded by a partial blockage, which manifests as extremely loud, persistent snoring. By choosing the right sleep position, a person can help keep their airway open, reduce their snoring, lessen their sleep apnea symptoms, and therefore get a better night’s rest. The most basic sleep positions are on the side, back, or stomach, so which one is best for someone with sleep apnea?

According to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, people with OSA typically sleep better on their side. The study looked at 30 male sleep apnea patients and discovered they had twice as many apnea events (occasions of blocked breathing) when they slept on their backs versus their sides.

This can mostly be attributed to gravity. When a person falls asleep on their side, the tissues in their mouth and throat can’t relax into their airway as when they are on their back. Side sleeping has also been shown to help reduce neck and back pain as well as acid reflux. In the end, if you’re dealing with OSA, it’s always a good idea to try and fall asleep on your side.

What Else You Can Do

Of course, choosing the right sleep position alone won’t help solve your sleep apnea problem. For that, you’re going to need treatment, and that all starts with a proper diagnosis. If you’re showing signs of sleep apnea (which you can learn about here), you should first visit your primary care physician and let them know. From there, they may recommend that you undergo a sleep study, and depending on that test’s findings, you can then start getting treatment. Common treatment options include the use of something called a continuous positive airway pressure machine (or CPAP), surgery, or oral appliance therapy. You and your doctor can determine which treatment is best for you.

What to Remember…

While the right sleep position may be able to help your sleep apnea, what matters the most is which position helps you sleep the best. A good night’s rest is the ultimate goal, so if you aren’t experiencing that, try switching up your sleep position, and be sure to seek out sleep apnea treatment if necessary. With all this in mind, you’ll be able to wake up every morning full of energy, ready to take on the day.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a sleep dentist based in Vero Beach, FL. At his practice, he helps treat sleep apnea patients using oral appliance therapy, in which all a person needs to do is wear a small, custom-made mouthpiece in order to fully rest at night. He has been doing so for 20 years and is one of the most well-respected sleep dentists in the country. He currently practices at Florida Dental Sleep Disorders in Vero Beach, and he can be reached via his website or at (772) 882-6800.