Do you snore often at night and frequently wake in the morning feeling more drained than when you dozed off the evening prior? If so, you might have developed sleep apnea. This condition occurs when your breathing repeatedly stops and restarts at night, preventing your body from completing the stages of the sleep cycle needed for true rest and rejuvenation.
It’s natural to wonder if there’s anything you can do, like sleep in your favorite recliner, that might help you enjoy better quality rest. If you’re tired of feeling tired, continue reading to learn more about it!
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
There are two main types of sleep apnea, and each has somewhat different causes. For example, central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when your brain fails to send the proper signals to the autonomic muscles that control your inhalations and exhalations. This can result in more serious health concerns, such as increased risk of heart disease or stroke.
Meanwhile, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the more commonly diagnosed type, occurs when your airways are physically blocked, limiting the amount of oxygen that can enter your system. For instance, if you have excess soft tissue in the back of your throat, it can collapse when you lie down and block your airway, resulting in loud snoring, gasping, or choking at night.
Can Sleeping in a Recliner Reduce Sleep Apnea Symptoms?
If you’ve been researching potential methods to reduce the severity of your condition, you might already know that many sources recommend snoozing at an angle to help improve your quality of sleep. But you’re not alone if you’re wondering whether this can effectively improve your condition.
The truth is that you might indeed get a better night’s rest by drifting off in your favorite recliner or propped up on a pile of pillows. This keeps your head elevated while your body reclines, which prevents blockages to your airways. This helps minimize sleep apnea interruptions, or episodes, so your body is more likely to complete the necessary circadian cycles.
How Does My Dentist Treat Sleep Apnea?
Dozing off at an angle can help prevent sleep apnea episodes, but depending on the severity of your condition, you might require professional treatment, too. Thankfully, many dentists offer services, such as custom-fitted oral appliances that help correct your jaw position to keep your airways open and can potentially reduce the risks associated with sleep apnea.
If you have additional questions about your condition and recommended solutions, you can learn more by scheduling an appointment with your sleep dentist!
Meet the Author
Dr. Jeff Rodgers has 20+ years of experience providing services to help improve his patients’ daily lives by enhancing the quality of their sleep. He has achieved Diplomate status with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, so you can trust that you’re in good hands. Today, he combines a caring approach with advanced technology to deliver customized treatments, like fitted oral appliances, to reduce symptoms of sleep apnea. You can request an appointment on the website or call (770) 394-4310.