If you’re grappling with inconsistent breathing patterns or snoring, you may be showing early symptoms of sleep apnea.

Having dealt with people experiencing this condition for years, I understand how utterly draining it can be. Sleep apnea may cause your breathing to start or stop while you’re asleep. It may also lead to obstructed/strenuous breathing and snoring.

While there are conventional treatments like CPAP machines, and surgery like Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment, minimalistic lifestyle habits like sleeping on a supportive mattress with distinct usability and features can help.

Supportive mattresses improve your sleeping posture, keeping your airways open. Significantly, clear airways reduce snoring and help with sleep apnea symptoms.

So, here, I’ve recommended a selection of the top 10 mattresses for sleep apnea, categorizing each by your sleeping positions.

But first, let’s understand how Snoring and Sleep Apnea are related.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by recurring disruptions in breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is dangerous if left untreated and may sound alarming. However, with an effective treatment plan and the right mattress, many individuals find sleep apnea manageable.

The ideal mattress for sleep apnea offers robust support and promotes unobstructed breathing. It should complement your chosen sleep apnea treatment. Thus, whether it’s a CPAP machine or an alternative, it should leave you feeling rejuvenated, not foggy!

If sleep apnea has left you feeling fatigued and irritable, it’s time to enhance your slumber. In our comprehensive guide on the top mattresses for sleep apnea, we will delve into the essential factors to consider when choosing a mattress tailored to your specific needs.

Does Snoring Cause Sleep Apnea?

Snoring can be more than just an annoying behavior that is disrupting your sleep. It may be a symptom of a more serious health condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, snoring is one of the most common warning signs of this sleep disorder.

Snoring as a Symptom of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is when the muscles in your throat start to relax too much during sleep. This causes the airway to collapse or get obstructed. Following the blockage your breathing can stop for 20 to 30 seconds at a time. This can start to recur every night.

One of the tell-tale signs of OSA is loud, persistent snoring. Snoring can be punctuated by pauses in breathing or you gasping for air.

While snoring itself doesn’t directly cause sleep apnea, it’s a symptom that accompanies the disorder. So, as your snoring gets louder, the likelihood of having sleep apnea increases.

Why Is It Important to Address Snoring and Sleep Apnea?

Untreated sleep apnea is linked to several serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

If you happen to be a noisy sleeper or if your snoring is recently followed by gasping or pauses in breath, you may be experiencing OSA. I’d advise you not to ignore these signs. Early detection and treatment can prevent the development of more severe health issues.

Consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment (I’ve detailed this in the latter half of the blog) to reduce associated and severe health risks.

Supportive Mattresses Help Prevent Sleep Apnea

Proper bedding, including a comfortable and supportive mattress, plays a critical role in improving your sleep posture and eventually in alleviating sleep apnea.

You need to enact certain lifestyle changes and medical interventions are essential too in treating OSA.

And your mattress can significantly impact how well you sleep and how open your airways remain throughout the night.

How Can Mattresses Improve Sleep Posture?

The position in which you sleep greatly influences how your airway functions.

Take for example, if you like sleeping on your back it will likely increase airway obstruction, leading to snoring or sleep apnea episodes.

In such a case you need a supportive mattress that supports your body keeping spinal alignment that reduces pressure on your throat muscles. Thus it minimizes the collapse of airways and leads to wholesome breathing patterns.

Supportive Mattress Benefits

1. Improvement in Body Alignment

A supportive mattress ensures that your spine, neck, and head are properly aligned, which helps prevent airway collapse. This is particularly beneficial for side sleepers, as this position is known to reduce the chances of airway obstruction compared to sleeping on your back.

2. Reduced Pressure Points

A good mattress reduces pressure on the shoulders and hips, which can improve overall comfort and reduce the need for constant position changes during the night. Less movement can result in steadier breathing patterns, reducing the risk of sleep apnea episodes.

3. Better Sleep Posture

By encouraging better sleep posture, a high-quality mattress can keep your head and neck in a position that reduces the likelihood of the airway becoming blocked. Some mattresses are designed to provide enhanced lumbar and neck support, which can keep your airways open throughout the night.

Shopping Guide: 10 Best Mattresses for Sleep Apnea!

Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

1. Avocado Green Mattress – Best Eco-Friendly Mattress for Apnea
2. Helix Dawn Mattress – Supportive Mattress for Sleep Apnea
3. Layla Hybrid Mattress – Flippable Mattress with Zoned Support

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

1. Saatva Classic Mattress – Breathable Hybrid Mattress
2. TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress – Adapts to Your Shape
3. Brooklyn Bedding Signature – Best Soft Mattress for Side Sleeping

Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

1. Purple Restore Plus Hybrid – Best for Core Body Support
2. Brooklyn Bedding Aurora – Best in Cooling
3. iSense Select Mattress – Stable Support for Back Sleeping
4. DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid – Best on Comfort and Lumbar Support

Stomach Sleeping Position

Medical experts advise folks suffering from sleep apnea to try stomach sleeping. Mattresses that are firm and support stomach may be some of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers to control sleep apnea. I am enlisting a few of them.

1. Avocado Green Mattress

Avocado Green Mattress is constructed of certified cotton, wool, and latex, making it environmentally friendly. It’s also been certified as having low volatile organic compound emissions, making it easier to breathe. For stomach sleepers, a relatively firm mattress is appropriate.

There is an optional pillow-top add-on if you desire a plusher feel. After sleeping on the mattress, sleep apnea or snoring can be controlled. The mattress comes in varying sizes: twin vs. full, twin XL, king, queen or Cal king.

Eager to Learn More? Read the detailed Avocado Green Mattress Review!

2. Helix Dawn Mattress

Why I’d suggest Helix Dawn mattress as a great choice for stomach sleepers is because of its firm support, rated at 7.5/10. This level of firmness ensures that your body remains properly aligned, which can help keep airways open and reduce snoring.

Its hybrid design, featuring Helix Dynamic Foam and individually-wrapped coils, provides both stability and breathability. Both these features are important for sleepers prone to overheating. Plus, the mattress offers good motion isolation, minimizing sleep disruptions at night.

For more features head on to our detailed Helix Dawn Mattress Review!

3. Layla Hybrid Mattress

Layers of copper-infused gel memory foam, 6-inch pocketed coils, and breathable foam gives zoned support to Layla’s hybrid mattress. Because it is dual-sided, users can choose between soft and firm support by just flipping the mattress.

The Firmer side of the Layla Hybrid mattress is ideal for stomach sleeping. The sizes offered are: full size vs. queen, king, Cal king, twin XL and twin sizes.

Read on – Detailed Layla Hybrid Mattress Review!

Side Sleeping Position

Sleep apnea sufferers may find some comfort by sleeping on their sides. People with sleep apnea may benefit from a memory foam layer that makes sleeping on one’s side more comfortable. While keeping the spine upright, memory foam helps reduce pressure on joints like the hips and shoulders. You can pick up from the following:

 4. Saatva Classic Mattress

Saatva Classic mattress blends a luxurious foam topper with individually wrapped coils for long-lasting support. A firm memory foam layer is also included in this mattress, which provides additional lumbar support. The mattress is supported by 416 tempered steel support coils, which provide for more airflow, support, and long-term durability.

Soft, luxury hard, and firm are the three firmness levels offered by Saatva. For side sleepers, the soft or luxury hard firmness remains ideal. The mattress sizes range from: full bed vs. queen, twin, twin XL, Cal king and king.

For more information on the Saatva return policy, warranty and trial period, you can read – Saatva Classic Mattress Review!

5. TEMPUR-Adapt Memory Foam

This TEMPUR-Pedic medium-firm memory foam mattress offers a soft layer that cushions and supports the body, as well as a support layer that gives side sleepers stability and pressure relief. The mattress is covered in an antimicrobial knit cover that is cool to the touch and protects against allergens including dust mites, animal fur, and mildew.

Want To Know More About TEMPUR-Adapt? Read Mattress Review!

6. Brooklyn Bedding Signature Mattress

Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is another good bedding investment for side sleepers, particularly if you’re suffer from sleep apnea.

Side sleepers often experience discomfort in the shoulder and hip areas, but Signature’s hybrid design combines pressure relief with proper support. This is due to its responsive TitanFlex foam and individually pocketed coils.

By supporting proper posture during sleep, it can help reduce airway obstruction, making it a good addition to your bedroom for improving sleep quality.

Read more about it – Brooklyn Signature Mattress Review!

Back Sleeping Position – Here’s What To Opt For!

This sleeping style exacerbates apnea symptoms. In this position, the tongue and throat muscles can completely block the airways. Breathing problems worsen, and the patient eventually has to spend sleepless nights. Doctors advise patients in this situation to avoid sleeping in this position.

Use an Adjustable Bed

By allowing one to sleep with the head slightly elevated, an adjustable bed can help alleviate discomfort. This can help with snoring and other problems. Here are a few mattresses that can be put on adjustable beds:

7. Purple Restore Plus Hybrid Mattress

Purple Restore Plus has GelFlex® Grid technology that provides targeted support and pressure relief. This promotes better spinal alignment and reduces airway obstruction during sleep.

This makes it ideal for back sleepers with sleep apnea or snoring issues.  The mattress also features responsive coils for back support and cooling benefits.

All these can help alleviate the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and prevent the recurrence of snoring episodes at night.

 For more information head on to our Purple Restore Plus Mattress Review!

8. Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress makes a good choice for back sleepers. Owing to its hybrid design it provides a balance of support and comfort.

It comes with firm and medium-firm options ideal for keeping your hips elevated. Further, it prevents the sinking that can worsen sleep apnea symptoms.

Additionally, its advanced cooling features help regulate body temperature suiting hot sleepers.

Learn All About the Brooklyn Aurora Luxe – Read Mattress Review!

9. iSense Select Mattress

iSense Select Mattress comes with customizable comfort and support. This bed is unique due to its innovative Comfort Control™ Technology and 40 adjustable firmness levels.

This gives back sleepers the freedom to choose the perfect posture that suits their comfort for a proper spinal alignment. It can help alleviate airway obstruction, a common cause of sleep apnea and snoring.

Read more about iSense Select Mattress from our mattress review.

10. DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress

DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress is a top-tier bedding solution, engineered to deliver a lavish and cozy sleep. Its hybrid design merges the best of both worlds, blending the traditional spring mattress’s support and pressure relief with the contouring comfort of memory foam.

Crafted with multiple layers, it starts with a plush, quilted memory foam surface, followed by cooling gel-infused memory foam for temperature regulation, and further supported by high-density foam for added comfort and durability. This mattress combines luxurious comfort with advanced technology, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a deluxe and restful sleep experience.

Read our detailed Mattress Review on DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress here!

Regardless of sleep apnea, selecting the right mattress is essential for spending a restful night.

What Are the Types of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is a painful sleep disorder that occurs due to breathing difficulties. Breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, causing loud snoring. This sleep deprivation makes one feel tired during the daytime.

Sleep apnea is categorized specifically into 3 types.

Type I

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is more common. It manifests as recurring episodes of total or partial upper airway obstruction during sleeping. The diaphragm and chest muscles work harder to open the airway as the pressure rises.
Breathing is frequently resumed with a loud gasp or movement of the body, followed by snoring. Snoring and sleep apnea are therefore considered synonymous. These episodes can disrupt sleep, limit the delivery of oxygen to essential organs, and cause abnormal heart rhythms.

Type II

Central Sleep Apnea develops when your brain fails to deliver correct signals to the muscles that govern breathing. This is due to a problem with the Central Nervous System’s respiratory control center.

Type III

Complex Sleep Apnea occurs when one suffers from both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. People at times harbor a common belief that snoring is sleep apnea. But there are several other complications associated with apnea.

Snoring, daytime lethargy or sleepiness, sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking, nocturnal sweating, headache, forgetfulness, and irritability are all common symptoms of sleep apnea.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues like high blood pressure, cardiac problems, and more. When you don’t get enough oxygen while sleeping, your brain suffers, which can lead to serious difficulties.

You can, however, do something simple in addition to your doctor’s appointment.

Choosing the right mattress will go a long way toward assisting you. While a mattress will not cure sleep apnea, it can aid in the alignment of the sleeper’s body and provide a better night’s sleep.

What Are the Causes of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea causes differ for the different types of the sleep disorder. These are discussed under.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This happens when the muscles at the back of your throat relax too much during sleep. These muscles normally help keep your airway open. When they relax too much, your airway can get blocked, making it hard to breathe. Thus, when you sleep breathing can stop.

Your brain senses this and briefly wakes you up so you can reopen your airway. This can happen many times in one night, preventing you from getting good sleep.

Centralized Sleep Apnea

This is less common and occurs when your brain doesn’t send the right signals to your breathing muscles while you sleep. This means you might stop breathing for a short time, and it can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.

What Increases Your Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Certain triggers or factors may increase the risk associated with OSA. And as I mentioned before, snoring may be an early indicator.

Key risk factors include:

Excess Weight

Obesity is a major contributor to OSA as fat deposits around the upper airway can obstruct breathing.

Neck Circumference

Individuals with a thicker neck may have narrower airways. Furthermore, tonsillitis can also cause sleep apnea due to a higher risk of airway blockage.

Age and Gender

Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to have OSA than women, though the risk for women increases after menopause. Additionally, older adults are more prone to OSA.

Medical Conditions

Conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and even nasal congestion from allergies can increase the risk of developing OSA.

What Are the Symptoms for Sleep Apnea?

A few common sleep apnea symptoms have been provided below. These obstructive sleep apnea symptoms need to be identified at an early stage so that treatment can be started early on. Untreated sleep apnea can be fatal and an early treatment can help sleep hygiene for a well-rested you.

• Loud snoring
• Episodes where you stop breathing during sleep, often noticed by someone else
• Gasping for air while asleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Trouble staying asleep (insomnia)
• Feeling excessively sleepy during the day (hypersomnia)
• Difficulty focusing and paying attention while awake
• Increased irritability

What Are the Effects Of Sleep Apnea On Your Sleep Cycle?

Sleep Cycle

Understanding how sleep apnea affects sleep requires some knowledge of the human sleep cycle, which consists of several stages:

1. Light Sleep (Stage 1)

This brief initial stage occurs right after falling asleep and constitutes roughly 5% of total sleep time.

2. Deeper Sleep (Stage 2)

This deeper sleep stage comprises about 45% to 50% of total sleep time and may increase with age.

3. Slow Wave Sleep (Stage 3)

This is the deepest sleep stage, making up about 25% of sleep time, but this percentage tends to decrease with age. It is challenging to wake someone from Stage 3 sleep, and waking up from it can lead to “sleep inertia,” characterized by mental fog and slowed thinking.

Parasomnias like sleepwalking and sleep-talking can occur during this stage.

4. REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)

REM sleep is the stage where dreaming occurs. When a person is in REM sleep, you can observe rapid eye movements beneath their closed eyelids.

Sleep Apnea Effects

Your brain keeps a close watch on your body, adjusting things like heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. When you stop breathing during sleep, your blood oxygen levels can drop.

• Apnea: This happens when you completely stop breathing or hardly breathe at all while sleeping. It’s like being “breathless.”
• Hypopnea: This occurs when you’re breathing too little, not enough to keep your blood oxygen levels right. It’s like “under-breathing.”

When your blood oxygen levels drop due to apnea or hypopnea; your brain acts like a safety mechanism. It wakes you up just enough to start breathing again. Afterward, your brain tries to get you back into your sleep rhythm.

What Are the Best Sleep Positions For Sleep Apnea?

Here are the recommended sleep positions for sleep apnea.

Sleeping on Your Left Side

Sleeping on your left side can help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms.

It also reduces the chances of acid reflux, which can trigger sleep apneas.

Sleeping on Your Right Side

Side sleeping, especially on your right side, is a preferred position to ease symptoms. This is one of the best position for sleep apnea.

It can reduce snoring and improve blood flow.

Sleeping on Your Back

Sleeping on your back is the least favorable position for sleep apnea.

It can cause the tongue and soft tissues to relax and obstruct the airway, leading to waking up gasping for air.

Sleeping on Your Stomach

For people with sleep apnea, sleeping on your stomach is a better option.

Gravity helps keep the airway open, and snoring is less likely.

Apart from the above sleep apnea sleep positions, check out a few effective tips to further improve sleep quality to get a well-rested deep sleep.

3 Proven Tips for Deep Sleep

1. Tips for Sleeping on Your Side

In the side sleeping position, try to stretch out your body to maximize lung capacity.

Avoid curling up to prevent issues like acid reflux, which can worsen sleep apnea.

2. Tips for Sleeping on Your Back

Use a firm mattress and place a pillow under your knees to support your spine and reduce the risk of apneas during sleep. Further, a back sleeper pillow can provide the right amount of cushioning and support.

3. Tips for Sleeping on Your Stomach

Another recommended sleep solution is to use a soft pillow. This helps to keep your head in a comfortable position without causing shoulder discomfort.

Sleep with your head down toward the mattress to ensure the airway remains unobstructed.

How Is Sleep Apnea Tested?

You’ll likely receive a referral to a sleep disorder center, where a sleep specialist can assess your need for further evaluation. This evaluation often includes overnight monitoring of your sleep and bodily functions.

Tests for detecting sleep apnea comprise:

1. Nocturnal Polysomnography: During this test, clinicians attach sensors in selected parts of your body. Various sensors monitor your heart, lung, brain activity, breathing patterns, limb movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.
2. Home Sleep Tests: In some cases, your healthcare provider may provide simplified tests for use at home to diagnose sleep apnea. These tests typically measure heart rate, blood oxygen levels, airflow, and breathing patterns. However, polysomnography is usually preferred over a home sleep test if central sleep apnea is suspected.

If your initial results are inconclusive, your provider might consider prescribing therapy without further testing. It’s worth noting that portable monitoring devices can sometimes miss sleep apnea.

So polysomnography is recommended even if your initial results fall within the normal range. Untreated sleep apnea & life expectancy are directly proportional to each other. So, a timely treatment followed by necessary solutions is crucial.

What Is An Implanted Sleep Apnea Device?

Nerve stimulators are often used to treat sleep apnea. A device attached to the hypoglossal nerve (which controls tongue movement) can stimulate it, preventing the tongue from blocking the airway during sleep.

This device, which is implanted under the skin in your chest, can be turned on and off as needed. It provides a gentle electrical current to keep the tongue in the right position. A similar approach is stimulating the phrenic nerves, which control breathing muscles in the diaphragm.

Missing Link: Bedding and Sleep Apnea

If you invest in the right mattress you get to manage OSA symptoms eventually. Proper bedding works in tandem with other interventions, such as CPAP machines or lifestyle adjustments. All these treatment techniques collaborate to minimize the potential risk of airway obstruction and sleep apnea.

In addition to mattresses, consider pillows designed to promote proper neck alignment, which can further aid in keeping the airways clear.

Together, supportive bedding and proper sleeping position can relieve pressure from the airway, leading to minimal sleep disruptions.

Smart-Take!

Choosing the right mattress can ease sleep apnea symptoms. Research suggests that sleeping on your side or stomach is better for sleep apnea than sleeping on your back. An adjustable bed that elevates your upper body can be helpful. Additionally, consider mattress firmness – soft to medium for side sleepers and firmer for back sleepers and stomach sleepers.

Further, good support is essential to maintain proper spine alignment. Hypoallergenic mattresses are resistant to allergens like dust mites, and can also improve sleep apnea by addressing allergies. By selecting a mattress that aligns with these factors, you can potentially find relief from sleep apnea-related restlessness and enjoy a more comfortable sleep.

Smart Mattress Buy stands out as the pioneer in mattress review websites by introducing price alerts and analytics to track the ‘Best Time to Buy a Mattress’. So, choose a Mattress that encourages proper spinal alignment, and meets all your sleep needs without a hassle!

FAQs on Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Q1. What is sleep apnea AHI?

The Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) represents the total average count of apneas and hypopneas happening per hour during sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) classifies AHI into three categories: a) Mild AHI (5 to 15 events per hour of sleep), b) Moderate AHI (15 and 30 events per hour) and c) Severe AHI (exceeding 30 events).

Q2. What are the side effects of sleep apnea treatment?

The potential complications and side effects of treatments can vary widely, influenced by numerous factors, with the treatments themselves being a significant factor. Your healthcare provider is the most reliable source of guidance on how to reduce or prevent these side effects when feasible.

Q3. Does sleep apnea cause declined body energy and weight gain?

Disrupted sleep patterns, lethargy and weight gain are some other effects of sleep apnea. Losing weight can become difficult during sleep apnea as the body metabolism reduces significantly.

Q4. How does sleep apnea affect life expectancy?

Untreated sleep apnea can significantly reduce life expectancy, increasing the risk of death by 17% as per American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Apnea causes short- and long-term health complications such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Q5. How do I know if I have sleep apnea or just snoring?

Occasional snoring is common, but if it’s loud, frequent, and includes gasping, choking, or pauses in breathing, it may indicate sleep apnea.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any sleep or mental health conditions. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your sleep or mental health routine.