Sleep apnea is a condition in which there is transient cessation if breathing while sleeping. There are three subtypes that have been identified. They include obstructive, central and complex types. The obstructive subtype is the commonest and is associated with excessive relation of throat muscles. The central type is caused by failure of the brain to send the signals necessary for the respiratory muscles to contract and relax. Several studies on head position in sleep apnea have been carried out.
It has become evident that the dynamics of air movement in the respiratory tract show marked differences when one is in the upright position and when they lie down horizontally. Lying horizontally often causes some of the tissues in the airways particularly the soft palate and the uvula to fall back and cause restriction to the flow of air during respiration. This effect is even more pronounced during sleep due to excessive relaxation of these muscles.
Snoring is a common symptom of apnea. It has been identified as resulting from the vibration of relaxed tissues in the respiratory tract. If the restriction to air is too much, there complete cessation of breathing and one has to wake up to restore their breathing pattern. It is worth noting that snoring is not always present and so a diagnosis of the condition will be based on other signs and symptoms. Such include difficulties in paying attention when one is awake, morning headaches and increased sleepiness.
A study carried out in 2017 yielded findings that strongly suggested that the head position during sleep has an effect on the severity of symptoms. It was demonstrated that there is a significant reduction in number of episodes of apnea when the subjects in this study changed their sleeping position from supine to lateral. The changes were, however, not seen among obese subjects.
Sleeping position is not always easy to determine. While one may decide on a particular orientation, there is a tendency to vary in the night as the body adjusts to get to the most comfortable position. There are a number of ways that can be used to ensure that this choice is deliberate. We will look at some of them.
One of the solutions that have been proposed in maintaining sleeping position is the memory or contoured pillow. Such a pillow maintains its shape throughout the course of sleep thus also maintains the orientation of the body . This is in contrast to ordinary pillows that tend to change shape from time to time. Contoured pillows also assist with keeping the neck and spine in place.
Another solution that may be considered is what is termed the tennis ball T-shirt. This is a simple solution in which an ordinary T-shirt is has a tennis ball sewn at the back into a patch. The T-shirt is worn at night such that it causes discomfort in the wearer when they lie on their back. This makes them to readjust to the lateral orientation making it easier for them to breath and thus reduce the likelihood of apneic attacks.
The adoption of an appropriate sleeping position has been suggested as one of the strategies that can be used in controlling the symptoms of sleep apnea. It may be used as a standalone intervention or alongside other forms of managing the condition. One must bear in mind that this option only works for the obstructive and not the central and mixed types. If you have features suggestive of the condition, you need to see a doctor so that the right classification and appropriate management can be done.
It has become evident that the dynamics of air movement in the respiratory tract show marked differences when one is in the upright position and when they lie down horizontally. Lying horizontally often causes some of the tissues in the airways particularly the soft palate and the uvula to fall back and cause restriction to the flow of air during respiration. This effect is even more pronounced during sleep due to excessive relaxation of these muscles.
Snoring is a common symptom of apnea. It has been identified as resulting from the vibration of relaxed tissues in the respiratory tract. If the restriction to air is too much, there complete cessation of breathing and one has to wake up to restore their breathing pattern. It is worth noting that snoring is not always present and so a diagnosis of the condition will be based on other signs and symptoms. Such include difficulties in paying attention when one is awake, morning headaches and increased sleepiness.
A study carried out in 2017 yielded findings that strongly suggested that the head position during sleep has an effect on the severity of symptoms. It was demonstrated that there is a significant reduction in number of episodes of apnea when the subjects in this study changed their sleeping position from supine to lateral. The changes were, however, not seen among obese subjects.
Sleeping position is not always easy to determine. While one may decide on a particular orientation, there is a tendency to vary in the night as the body adjusts to get to the most comfortable position. There are a number of ways that can be used to ensure that this choice is deliberate. We will look at some of them.
One of the solutions that have been proposed in maintaining sleeping position is the memory or contoured pillow. Such a pillow maintains its shape throughout the course of sleep thus also maintains the orientation of the body . This is in contrast to ordinary pillows that tend to change shape from time to time. Contoured pillows also assist with keeping the neck and spine in place.
Another solution that may be considered is what is termed the tennis ball T-shirt. This is a simple solution in which an ordinary T-shirt is has a tennis ball sewn at the back into a patch. The T-shirt is worn at night such that it causes discomfort in the wearer when they lie on their back. This makes them to readjust to the lateral orientation making it easier for them to breath and thus reduce the likelihood of apneic attacks.
The adoption of an appropriate sleeping position has been suggested as one of the strategies that can be used in controlling the symptoms of sleep apnea. It may be used as a standalone intervention or alongside other forms of managing the condition. One must bear in mind that this option only works for the obstructive and not the central and mixed types. If you have features suggestive of the condition, you need to see a doctor so that the right classification and appropriate management can be done.
About the Author:
When you are searching for information about the head position in sleep apnea, come to our web pages today. More details are available at http://www.sleepsystems-llc.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment