Sleep Apnea Remedies

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is estimated that up to 20 million Americans alone have some form of it. It is also one of the most under-reported disorders as approximately 95% of sufferers go undiagnosed. The most common solution is for sufferers to be prescribed a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device. However, these machines are cumbersome, expensive, and downright uncomfortable to use. Most sufferers look to alternative treatments at some point for lasting relief. Here are a few remedies that might help:

Sleep on your side. Bed partners of sleep apnea sufferers already know that sleeping on ones back leads to the louder, more bothersome snoring. Sleeping on ones side will help alleviate the noise as well as better open up the airways in some people.

Use a sleep apnea pillow. Sleep apnea pillows are designed to help align the neck and spine to maximize the airflow in the upper respiratory system. They're not the cheapest solution, but compared to using a CPAP, they might be worth the price.

Improve consistency and amount of sleep. Going to bed at widely varying times as well as cutting yourself short on hours of sleep wreaks havoc on your body. Try getting yourself in a routine that works well for you on weekdays as well as the weekend and chances are you'll see some positive results.

Avoid drugs, alcohol, and caffeine before bed. Any substance that acts as a depressant (i.e. alcohol, sedatives,) or as a stimulant will only worsen your condition. If you must, make sure you imbibe at least 4 hours before bedtime to give your body a chance to work through it.

Eliminate allergies in your bedroom. Allergies have a pesky habit of narrowing down our airways. As a result their elimination or reduction is a necessity. A small investment in an allergen reducing device could help your sleep immensely.

Lose some weight. This is the biggest thing you can do to lesson or altogether eliminate your sleep apnea. As our body gains weight, the airways are one of the areas that are naturally affected as fat accumulates around the neck, soft palate, and tongue. Losing even a few pounds can make a huge improvement to your condition. (not to mention an overall healthier lifestyle!)

Looking For Pillows to Have a Comfortable Night's Sleep?

If you want to have a comfortable night's sleep then you will probably want to get the right pillow for you. Everyone likes to sleep in different positions so which pillow to get will be different for each person. Here I will go over some of the most popular pillows to help you get comfortable at night.

Basic Cotton Pillow - These are normally 20x26 inches and are filled with cotton fibers. These are usually the cheapest type of pillows and many people find they are not comfortable or the loose their comfort after a couple months.

Gel-Filled Pillow - These come in many sizes. They also may have a varying amount of gel in them, some containing 100% while others containing 50-90% and being filled the rest with cotton or down. Most people say these pillows are very comfortable and form to the neck to provide proper support.

Down-Filled Pillow - These are filled with down, or goose feathers. Like the gel-filled pillows these will come 100% down filled or filled with something as well. When my mother received whip-lash her chiropractor told her to get a down filled pillow that had a gel or cotton core.

Body Pillow - These come in so many different shapes and sizes. These are especially comfortable if you are used to someone sleeping next to you. You can get just a normal straight one, or they sell them in the shape of females and/or males.

Memory-Foam Pillows - These pillows are made with foam, which contours to the shape of your neck for support no matter how you sleep.

Cooling Pillow - These pillows are made from foam or gel normally and have a place to put a cold pack to keep you cool during the night.