If you struggle with sleep apnea, you already know how frustrating it can be to wake up feeling tired even after a full night in bed. This condition causes repeated pauses in breathing while you sleep, which can interrupt your rest and negatively affect your overall health. While professional treatment is always important, small changes to your nightly routine may also make a meaningful difference in your symptoms. For some people with obstructive sleep apnea, sleeping in a recliner can be a surprisingly simple way to encourage better breathing!
Why an Elevated Position Can Help
Obstructive sleep apnea, often called OSA, occurs when the soft tissues in the mouth and throat relax too much during sleep. As those tissues shift, they can narrow or block the airway. Your brain then has to briefly wake your body so breathing can restart. You might not remember these awakenings, but they can happen many times per hour and prevent you from reaching the deeper, more restorative stages of sleep.
Sleeping flat on your back can make this problem worse because gravity may pull relaxed tissues toward the airway. A recliner changes that angle. By keeping your head and upper body raised, it may reduce the likelihood that tissues will collapse in a way that fully blocks breathing. Some studies even indicate that just a slight elevation of 7.5 degrees can have benefits. Sleeping at an incline can also reduce symptoms of GERD, which is an additional problem that many people with OSA experience.
How to Sleep More Comfortably in a Recliner
Would you like to try sleeping at an incline? These tips might help:
- You do not have to use a recliner. An adjustable bed, wedge pillow, or supportive pillow arrangement may provide a similar elevated position.
- Choose supportive seating. If you do use a recliner, make sure it holds its position throughout the night and supports your neck, back, and legs comfortably.
- Do not replace professional treatment. A better sleep position may lessen symptoms, but it cannot diagnose or fully treat sleep apnea. You may still need an oral appliance or CPAP machine to breathe properly throughout the night.
Your recliner might be more than a cozy place to watch television. Try sleeping in it to find out if it can ease your sleep apnea symptoms.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Pamela West is an experienced sleep dentist and a proud member of prestigious organizations like the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and more. Under her leadership, our team offers specialized oral appliance therapy for individuals with OSA. To learn how we may be able to serve you, contact our Las Vegas office at 702-602-2000.