Struggling with sleep? Sleep apnea might be the cause. Discover the rising trend of using pillows for sleep apnea relief.
A survey revealed that 55% of American adult females experience mood changes significantly influenced by their sleep.
Sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, has two forms:
- Central sleep apnea: Resulting from issues with respiratory muscle signals.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: Caused by airway obstructions. It affects 50-70 million people in the US. Prevalence: 3-7% in males and 2-5% in females.
Sleep apnea causes breathing pauses during sleep that deprives the brain of getting enough oxygen supply during sleep. It’s a common condition, and over 100 million people are affected throughout the world.
While pillows may not help with central sleep apnea, they can be beneficial for managing obstructive sleep apnea by addressing airway obstructions.
Understanding these aspects will guide us in recommending suitable pillows for better sleep and managing sleep apnea effectively.
There are pillows specifically designed to remedy sleep apnea. If you’re looking for the best pillow for sleep apnea, then rest assured, that you’ve come to the right place.
The Best Pillows for Sleep Apnea- Reviewed
Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Pillow Overview
The Snuggle-Pedic ultra-luxury pillow offers amazing orthopedic support. When you sleep, its unique combination of resilience and fluffiness will adjust to each position. It’s one of the highest-rated pillows on Amazon and the company website.
Material
It has a luxurious Kool-Flow micro-vented bamboo cover. The cover is made with 43 percent Viscose bamboo, 56.4 percent Polyester, and .6 percent Lycra to keep you cool all night long. Also, the pillow is made using eco-friendly bio green, and Certi-PUR-US certified foam.
Size
It comes in three sizes. However, the queen size is the most popular selling size. The dimensions are listed below to give you a reasonably accurate idea.
- Standard size- 26 x 19 inches cut size
- Queen size- 28 x 20 inches cut size
- King size- 35 x 20 inches cut size
Washing Method
You can always air out and fluff up the pillow by simply placing it in the dryer for 20 minutes in a high heat setting. Also, there are instructions given on the back of the pillow, which will give you a perfect idea of the washing method.
Pros
- Machine washable
- Dust-mite resistant
- Easy adjustment
Cons
- Difficult to dry properly
Who Should Purchase This Pillow?
- Suitable for side, back, stomach, and pregnant sleepers
- Those who suffer from feather allergies
CPAP Pillow Overview
The CPAP Pillow by EnduriMed helps you to get a good night’s rest finally. This uniquely contoured pillow is designed to have maximized comfort to your face and head no matter what your sleeping position is.
Material
This pillow is made with top-quality memory foam. The use of memory foam helps to support the head and neck of the sleep apnea sufferer all through the night.
Size
The dimensions of the pillow are 22.4 x 14.6 x 4.5 inches, with a weight of 2 pounds. It comes in only one size that fits all. It uses a patent-pending design to accommodate both large and small body types.
Washing Method
The pillow is machine washable. The cover comes with a pillow and has a zipper. So, remove the cover only to wash it. It’s also essential to clean your equipment as specified in your product instructions. You can clean it in warm soapy water, then rinse and air dry.
Video – How to Change the Thickness of EnduriMed CPAP Pillows?
Pros
- Dual-sided with different loft settings
- Sleep airflow support
- Washable cover
Cons
- Not supportive enough for slide sleepers
Who should purchase this pillow?
- Perfect for side, back, and stomach sleepers
- For sleepers with fluctuating thickness preferences
CPAP Max 2.0 Pillow Overview
The CPAPAMAX 2.0 pillow helps you to sleep comfortably with its unique features and innovative design. It’s created to improve your nighttime PAP therapy comfort no matter if you’re a side, back, or stomach sleeper.
Material
The pillow is made from three removable foam layers. The dense foam layer provides firm support. Also, there’s a charcoal-infused high-resiliency foam layer to minimize odor and a plush memory layer for contouring comfort.
Size
The dimensions of the pillow are 20.4 x 12.5 x 5.75 inches to help keep you properly positioned and supported while you sleep. Also, it has a unique adjustable height feature to remove layers based on your sleeping preference.
Washing Method
You can wash the pillow cover, but the foam layers shouldn’t be cleaned with any liquid, as this could cause the foam to degrade. Also, the foam is tough to dry. We suggest a machine or hand wash with mild detergent to wash the cover.
Video – Enhance Your CPAP Journey with the Contour CPAPMax Pillow
Pros
- Custom cut-outs to minimize mask shifting
- Three layers of comfort
- Ergonomic design
Cons
- Too small for side to side sleeper
Who should purchase this pillow?
- Perfect for back and side sleepers
- Those who like to customize their pillows
Coisum Back Sleeper Cervical Pillow Overview
The Coisum Cervical Pillow not only helps you feel better during the night but also plays an essential role in maintaining good health. It keeps your neck correctly aligned with the rest of your body. Though the shape of the pillow looks weird, you’ll love this pillow.
Material
The pillow is made of 60-density high-quality memory foam to keep it firm. Moreover, it is made without using any harmful substances like formaldehyde, mercury, and other heavy metals.
Size
This pillow has a dimension of 21.6 x 15.8 x 4.3 inches. The standard size of the pillow meets the needs of most people with sleep apnea.
Washing Method
You can wash the pillowcase with warm water. However, you can’t wash the pillow core or expose it in the sun as exposure or water can hamper the structure of the memory foam and influence the hardness of this pillow. Though the pillowcase is removable and machine washable, we suggest you wash it by hand.
Pros
- Breathable pillowcase
- Slow-rebound memory foam
- Easy cleaning method
Cons
- Feel uncomfortable during the first few days
Who should purchase this pillow?
- Mainly for back sleepers and smaller size side sleepers
- Perfect for the elderly, office workers, and people who sit all day
- Those who have a chronic vertebra issue and suffer from sleep loss
VISCO LOVE Silver Sleep Therapeutic Wellness Pillow
The Visco Love ergonomically contoured pillow ensures correct posture and support. It helps with neck and shoulder pain by adjusting the head in the best position for sleep.
Material
It features a silver sleep cover that forms perfectly to the contours of the shoulder, neck, and head. The pillow is made of 100 percent soft and resilient visco-elastic memory foam to eliminate the causes of pain.
Size
The dimensions of the pillow are 27.6 x 12 x 5.3 inches, with a weight of 3.3 pounds. It’s about the size of a queen pillow or perhaps a bit bigger.
Washing Method
It has a removable cover that makes it easy to wash by hand or by washing machine. However, you shouldn’t put the memory foam in a washing machine as the heat and added weight from washing would distort the foam and ruin the contour.
Video – Celliant Sleep Therapeutic Wellness Memory Foam Pillow
Pros
- Silver yarns discharge negative electrostatic energy
- Works with CPAP masks
- 100 percent visco-elastic memory foam
- Dust repellent fabric
Cons
- Only available in one size
Who should purchase this pillow?
- Work for both back and side sleepers
- Those who want to reduce snoring
What is a Sleep Apnea Pillow?
The sleep apnea pillows are designed to aid those who suffer from sleep apnea. The innovative shape of the pillows helps to conform to the contours of the body. This helps to keep the airways open and breathe without any discomfort.
Types of Sleep Apnea Pillow
There are different types and designs of pillows to relieve sleep apnea. These pillows are designed to be used with or without the CPAP machine.
Cervical/Contour Pillows
The primary goal of a cervical pillow is to retain the head and neck in perfect alignment. They also help to relieve back pain and shoulder aches. These pillows have a lower loft in the middle. Cervical pillows are an excellent choice for stomach sleepers.
Wedge Pillows
The wedge-shaped pillows work splendidly for back sleepers. The elevated shape of the pillow aids gravity to keep the airways open and helps the natural breathing process.
CPAP Pillows
If you use the CPAP machine, then you’re well aware of how uncomfortable it feels to use the machine with a regular-shaped pillow. CPAP pillows are designed specially to accommodate the CPAP machine for all sleeping positions.
Essential Features of a Sleep Apnea Pillow
Material
The material of the sleep apnea pillow is a prime consideration to purchase the best sleep apnea pillows out there. Memory foam is an essential material used in many sleep apnea pillows. They’re known to provide excellent support as well as comfort.
Bamboo is another popular material for sleep apnea pillows. The bamboo material is more breathable compared to memory foam. Go for hypoallergenic pillows if you have issues with allergy or asthma.
Support
One of the primary purposes of a sleep apnea pillow is to support your head and neck. It will refrain the tongue from falling back to the throat. Thus, leaving the airways open and supplying enough oxygen to the brain.
Comfort
While providing support, the pillow needs to provide comfort, as well. An uncomfortable pillow will not help you rest well through the night. Make sure the pillow you choose lets you have sound sleep through the night.
Shape
It’s essential to choose the right shape of the pillow for your preferred sleeping position. Wedge-shaped pillows are a perfect choice for a back sleeper. On the other hand, cervical pillows are best known to relieve sleep apnea for side sleepers.
CPAP pillows have a cut-out design. The unique cut-out shape of the pillow provides space for the CPAP mask and the hose. These pillows are suitable for back, side, and stomach sleepers.
Benefits of Using a Sleep Apnea Pillow?
Provides Optimum Support to Head and Neck
Sleep apnea sufferers tend to wake up fatigued even after a full night’s sleep. Therefore, it’s crucial to have proper support over the head and neck to have a peaceful sleeping session.
Standard pillows aren’t designed to provide enough support to keep your airways open through the night. The best sleep apnea pillows are designed to support the head and spine alignment. The unique shape of the pillow ensures that your airways are open for all sleeping positions.
Reduces Facial Pressure
The sleeping position varies from person to person. Regular pillows tend to exert extra pressure on the facial muscles. These pillows have been proven to reduce facial pressure. Therefore, helping the sleeper to breathe well naturally.
Provides Comfort to Back and Side Sleepers
Studies show that back and side sleepers face greater sleep apnea episodes compared to other sleeping positions. Sleep apnea pillows are designed to provide comfort irrespective of your sleeping position.
Drawbacks of a Sleep Apnea Pillow
There are certain demerits that one should consider while shopping for a sleep apnea pillow.
Comfort Level
The sleep apnea pillows are designed differently than regular pillows. Choose a pillow that contours to the natural shape of your body. Some brands offer trial runs to ensure the pillow works well enough for you.
Temperature Fluctuation
The pillows are made with a variety of different materials. Some of the materials, especially memory foam, tend to increase the temperature level over time. This may become an issue for those who prefer a cooler sleeping environment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ques: How do I wash the sleep apnea pillows?
Ans: Cleaning the sleep apnea pillows requires more time and energy compared to regular pillows. The pillows need to be handled with care as they are designed to remedy a medical condition. Proper maintenance is required to obtain the best result from it in the long run. Read the instruction manual thoroughly for further assistance.
Ques: What is a CPAP machine?
Ans: A CPAP machine features a mask that provides the optimum air pressure to keep the airways open while sleeping.
Ques: Which pillow shape is most suitable for back sleepers?
Ans: Wedge-shaped pillows are a perfect match for stomach sleepers. The elevated shape of the pillow prevents the tongue from falling back to the throat and keeps the airways open.
Ques: What is Obstructive sleep apnea?
Ans: Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. Here, the soft tissues on the back of a person’s throat block the airways and cause respiratory issues.
Conclusion
Ignoring the signs of sleep apnea may lead to grave consequences. We have accumulated the best sleep apnea pillows on the market. However, one pillow may not suffice for everyone’s needs. Give this article a thorough read to choose your best match.
Say bye-bye to fatigued sleep and get ready to sleep like a baby through the night.
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