Sleep apnea is a condition in which there is transient cessation if breathing while sleeping. There are three subtypes that have been identified. They include obstructive, central and complex types. The obstructive subtype is the commonest and is associated with excessive relation of throat muscles. The central type is caused by failure of the brain to send the signals necessary for the respiratory muscles to contract and relax. Several studies on head position in sleep apnea have been carried out.
It has become evident that the dynamics of air movement in the respiratory tract show marked differences when one is in the upright position and when they lie down horizontally. Lying horizontally often causes some of the tissues in the airways particularly the soft palate and the uvula to fall back and cause restriction to the flow of air during respiration. This effect is even more pronounced during sleep due to excessive relaxation of these muscles.
Snoring, a common associated symptom of apnea is the result of vibration of relaxed tissues within the respiratory tract. If the restriction is too much it will result in complete blockage of air movement. It is important to note that not everyone with the condition snores so other signs and symptoms may be used in making the diagnosis. These include, among others, excessive sleepiness during the day, morning headache and difficulty in paying attention.
In a study published in 2017 it was shown that head position while asleep does indeed influence the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, OSA. In the 26 subjects studied, a less severe form of the condition was seen when they switched sleeping positions from supine (face up) to lateral (left or right). The reduction was only demonstrated in non-obese subjects while there was no significant change among those that were obese.
It is not easy to choose a position in which you will spend the entire sleeping time. This is because, adjustments tend to take place in the the night which alters the option selected initially. For one to have a fixed body orientation, a deliberate effort needs to be undertaken. We will look at examples of options that one may consider.
One of the most effective options is to use a contoured (or memory) pillow. Unlike the ordinary pillow, the contoured pillow maintains its shape at all times. This ensures that the initial sleeping orientation is maintained the entire night. The other major benefit of such pillows is that they maintain neck alignment neck and this serves to improve the quality of sleep.
Another solution that may be considered is what is termed the tennis ball T-shirt. This is a simple solution in which an ordinary T-shirt is has a tennis ball sewn at the back into a patch. The T-shirt is worn at night such that it causes discomfort in the wearer when they lie on their back. This makes them to readjust to the lateral orientation making it easier for them to breath and thus reduce the likelihood of apneic attacks.
Changing sleeping position from the supine to the lateral is one of the conservative methods used in managing apnea. However, one must bear in mind that this method is only effective for the obstructive type. The central type often requires proper medication. It is necessary to see a physician so that they can identify the subtype and help in formulating the solutions.
It has become evident that the dynamics of air movement in the respiratory tract show marked differences when one is in the upright position and when they lie down horizontally. Lying horizontally often causes some of the tissues in the airways particularly the soft palate and the uvula to fall back and cause restriction to the flow of air during respiration. This effect is even more pronounced during sleep due to excessive relaxation of these muscles.
Snoring, a common associated symptom of apnea is the result of vibration of relaxed tissues within the respiratory tract. If the restriction is too much it will result in complete blockage of air movement. It is important to note that not everyone with the condition snores so other signs and symptoms may be used in making the diagnosis. These include, among others, excessive sleepiness during the day, morning headache and difficulty in paying attention.
In a study published in 2017 it was shown that head position while asleep does indeed influence the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, OSA. In the 26 subjects studied, a less severe form of the condition was seen when they switched sleeping positions from supine (face up) to lateral (left or right). The reduction was only demonstrated in non-obese subjects while there was no significant change among those that were obese.
It is not easy to choose a position in which you will spend the entire sleeping time. This is because, adjustments tend to take place in the the night which alters the option selected initially. For one to have a fixed body orientation, a deliberate effort needs to be undertaken. We will look at examples of options that one may consider.
One of the most effective options is to use a contoured (or memory) pillow. Unlike the ordinary pillow, the contoured pillow maintains its shape at all times. This ensures that the initial sleeping orientation is maintained the entire night. The other major benefit of such pillows is that they maintain neck alignment neck and this serves to improve the quality of sleep.
Another solution that may be considered is what is termed the tennis ball T-shirt. This is a simple solution in which an ordinary T-shirt is has a tennis ball sewn at the back into a patch. The T-shirt is worn at night such that it causes discomfort in the wearer when they lie on their back. This makes them to readjust to the lateral orientation making it easier for them to breath and thus reduce the likelihood of apneic attacks.
Changing sleeping position from the supine to the lateral is one of the conservative methods used in managing apnea. However, one must bear in mind that this method is only effective for the obstructive type. The central type often requires proper medication. It is necessary to see a physician so that they can identify the subtype and help in formulating the solutions.
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