Sleep Apnea Pillow Helps Keep Airway Open
When a person suffers from sleep apnea, as determined by undergoing a polysomnogram, it is often caused by obstruction of the airway during sleep. There are different treatment options that be discussed by the doctor and the sleep specialist and they will offer the option best suited for each patient. One of the available options is the sleep apnea pillow, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, designed to help keep the airway open during sleep.
Breathing masks, dental devices and other mechanical methods for keeping the airway open during sleep have been developed, but not everyone needs the more restrictive devices to be able to sleep through the night. A sleep apnea pillow may be enough for some patients to achieve the positional change they need to ease their breathing while sleeping. With obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles in the throat and tongue become relaxed while sleeping and fall into the airway. Sometimes a simple repositioning of the head, with a sleep apnea pillow, can alleviate the problem.
Just as when a person is having difficulty breathing, their head is positioned to open the airway as much as possible. Consider when a person is being ventilated and how their head is tilted back to keep the throat open. They may also use nasal strips to help airflow through the sinuses, but without their head being in the right position, like when using a sleep apnea pillow, their throat restricts the amount of air they can breathe in.
With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Gravity Is Not A Friend
Persons suffering from obstructive sleep apnea will especially have trouble sleeping on their back, as their throats may be narrower, restricting their ability to breathe. A sleep apnea pillow is designed to keep their head tilted slightly back, still in a comfortable position, and keep their throat open to breathing regularly. A sleep apnea pillow is not the right treatment for every sleep apnea patient, and only the doctor can determine which treatment method is right for each individual.
Breathing masks that provide continuous positive airway pressure are prescribed for many obstructive sleep apnea sufferers, while losing weight, mechanical devices to keep the airway open and avoiding muscle relaxers such as alcohol to help keep the throat open for breathing. For less restrictive sleep apnea, a sleep apnea pillow may be the only device needed to help the person continue breathing throughout the night. By keeping the head back and the airway open, they may not need a breathing mask or other device.
