Sleep apnea is described as a serious sleeping disorder during which breathing stops and starts repeatedly. In case you tend to snore loudly and feel exhausted even after getting a full night’s sleep, you might be a victim of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is distinguished into three categories based on how they occur:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Sleep apnea has been observed to get worse with factors like obesity, age, genetics, smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc. While snoring is one of the more commonly seen symptoms of sleep apnea, there are plenty more like morning headaches, choking in sleep, sore throat, irritability, and dry mouth when you wake up and so on.
In order to overcome sleep apnea, you need to make lifestyle changes in your diet, sleeping habits and also take a closer look at your mattress. Sleep apnea can be controlled by keeping your airways clear. This can be accomplished by sleeping on the right type of mattress. Many people make the mistake of using a mattress for over ten years without realizing how damaging it is to their health.
A mattress needs to be replaced every ten years, even if it is still in excellent condition. Over time, mattresses tend to sag and become lumpy. This prevents your body from finding a comfortable sleeping position, which will affect your airways and eventually lead to sleeping disorders like sleep apnea. Interestingly, studies have shown that sleeping on your back makes you more susceptible to sleep apnea. This is because lying on your back results in your tongue, soft palate, and pharynx in blocking your airways. This is why people suffering from sleep apnea are recommended to sleep on their sides or on their stomachs. They are recommended to place the right-sized pillows between their neck and the mattress to prevent waking up with a neck sprain the next morning.
According to the experts in the industry, people who suffer from sleep apnea will benefit the best from a mattress that is medium-firm. This will prevent them from rolling on to their back and risk blocking their airways. The orthopedic mattress was designed by a group of orthopedic doctors to offer plenty of comforts and ample support to the human body. It is medium form, making it a great choice for people who have sleep apnea. The orthopedic mattress from Wakefit is also a great choice for side sleepers as it offers more support to your shoulders and hips without creating any new pressure points. In fact, medical professionals all over the world recommend using the orthopedic mattress while recovering from major injury or surgery to speed up the healing process.
If you do not have the budget for a new mattress, you can always consider investing in a new mattress protector. They have a layer of memory foam to help support your body better when you sleep on your side. They are also proficient in protecting your mattress from any accidental leaks, spills or stains. In fact, investing in a mattress protector is critical if you have young kids or pets at home. Most mattress protectors come with removable covers that can be easily removed and washed regularly. This helps keep your bed clean of dust, dust mites, and bud begs and any other allergens.
Interestingly, a few studies have shown that using an adjustable bed base and keeping your head elevated can help reduce the effects of sleep apnea. You will need to keep the head elevated above the rest of the body to keep the airways open and eventually help you sleep better. At the end of the day, you need to make some lifestyle changes in order to avoid sleep apnea, as it can be even fatal at times.