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.

Lying on your back is greatly discouraged especially if you experience snoring. This is due to the fact that gravitational force increases the tendency of the jaw, tongue and soft palate to drop back. This narrows the airways hence causing breathing difficulties. You, therefore, may opt to sleep on your stomach after all. If you choose this posture, twist the head towards the side to maintain normal breathing.

According to research, dozing on a side is ideal especially for individuals who snore since the airways will be stable. However, such a posture may not come naturally to a number of individuals. It is common for you to start dozing on your side and then sleep on your back. The answer to this is making use of the right pillow. A contoured pillow that can hold its shape will help in guiding your body together with holding your head at the right position.

If you suffer from sleeping issues, consider the log sleeping position. It involves resting at a side and leaving the arms to stretch downwards. This is a perfect style for the majority of the people. In addition, when you rest on your side, leaving your back to be straight, dozing issues can be prevented.

A starfish posture is also not recommended. It involves lying at the back with legs spread apart and arms bent up on the side of a head. This posture is important in helping with acid reflux but will lead to snoring. To make it better, you can put pillows underneath your knees before resting.

One of the main factors that lead to bad dozing habits is being overweight. If you are overweight, you may have to shed off extra pounds to avoid snoring. Being overweight will narrow the airways thereby depositing fat below the tongue. The solution is to exercise and maintain a good diet.

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.

Alternatively, you can opt to go for a surgical procedure. There are various surgical options available you may opt for. The operation entails getting rid of the tissues that are in excess at the back of your mouth or throat and around the airways. You can also opt for Tracheostomy which involves doing an incision in front of the windpipe.




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