Wednesday, February 27, 2019

The Appropriate Head Position In Sleep Apnea

By Sharon Mitchell


When it comes to sleeping, you probably have a preference whether it is sleeping on your stomach, side or back. Even though it is your personal choice, it can have an effect on sleep quality especially when you suffer from breathing abnormalities. Snoring may occur when muscles in airway relax, forcing air to become restricted through the throat or nose. This article discusses the best head position in sleep apnea that may help you.

Most specialists discourage individuals from resting at the back more so for those who snore. When resting on your back, gravitational force will elevate the tendency of the soft palate, tongue or jaw to drop backward. As a result, the airways will be narrowed leading to breathing issues. Some people, therefore, consider sleeping on their stomach. If this is the best choice for you, your head ought to be twisted towards either side for normal breathing to be maintained.

According to research done, resting on your side is a good position to prevent snoring since it makes the airways stable. However, many people find it hard to naturally stick to this position throughout the entire night. One can start dozing at the side and advancing to the back after some time. If this is your habit, look for the most appropriate pillow such as the contoured pillows that can maintain shape and can hold the head at the required posture.

The log sleeping posture is the best option when suffering from such a condition. It entails resting on your side while the arms are down. Most people find resting at such a posture perfect. Resting on your side while the back is in a straight position assists in preventing problems. It also prevents any neck and back pain as it ensures the spine is aligned correctly.

It is not a good choice to adopt a starfish posture. It entails dozing on your back when the legs are spread out and the arms are bent up towards your heads side. It is important in helping with acid reflux. In spite of this, you will still snore and to prevent this, you should place pillows underneath your knees prior to resting.

Being overweight is one of the major factors that cause poor sleeping habits. Consider shedding a few pounds if this is the case so as to correct the issue. Extra weight narrows your airways and deposits fat at the base of your tongue making it collapse. A healthy diet and exercising may be the solution for you.

Consider speaking to your doctor who can recommend the best oral appliances which can help in correcting your anatomical problems. These oral appliances are fitted at a dentists office and can be worn at night when sleeping. It can successfully treat moderate or mild dozing conditions for a number of individuals. If you have a shorter jaw, this mandibular advancement device can move things to a good posture.

A surgical procedure can also be an option for you. Your doctor should guide you on the best procedures to decide on. A majority of the surgeries include removing all the tissues around the throat and at the back of the mouth which are in excess. Tracheostomy is also an option to eliminate this problem.




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