For someone with Sleep Apnea, using a CPAP machine to breathe at night can be a struggle. The CPAP tube can get caught or the mask can leak. The mask can also leave painful indentations on the face.
However, all these can be avoided by selecting the right CPAP pillow. The right CPAP pillow will accommodate all the components of your CPAP machine while supporting your neck and head. As a result, you’ll receive a comfortable night’s sleep.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep Apnea is a condition that inhibits your ability to breathe for short periods during the night. Individuals with sleep apnea don’t take sufficient oxygen, which causes them to gasp and often wake up.
In many scenarios, people aren’t aware they’ve stopped breathing and they believe their sleep cycle is regular.
Besides, from leaving you feeling tired in the morning, sleep apnea can cause several health complications. When the condition it’s left untreated, it can:
- Cause memory loss
- Increase your risk of heart failure
- Affect your immune function
- Trigger mental issues
Some common treatment for sleep apnea includes CPAP breathing devices, surgery, and medication. Also, some lifestyle changes can improve your sleep and quality of life.
How do Pillows Help Support CPAP?
Most CPAP users have to survive with leaking or shifting because of facial pressure from regular pillows. However, the cut-out section of a CPAP pillow helps the mask exhalation ports to remain open.
This helps to prevent the seal disturbance, which happens when a CPAP mask gets shifted out of place because it’s being pushed against a regular bed pillow. It will stay intact during the night even if you move around.
The four cut-outs on a CPAP sleeping pillow works with a CPAP machine to allow you to move around throughout the night without having to worry that you’ll cover the ports.
With the use of certain materials, such as memory foam, CPAP pillows are designed to provide additional support to the neck and head of individuals with Sleep Apnea. Also, individuals suffering from spinal or neck issues can benefit from the sturdy support provided by memory foam CPAP pillows.
Most CPAP pillows are manufactured with comfort in mind. These pillows often feature a reversible side offering a varying pillow experience like cool gel vs soft and plush.
Other CPAP pillows also come with hypoallergic covers. For instance, if you find a pillow that features a washable and detachable case, you’ll experience the best results since you can remove and wash the pillowcase.
This means you can keep your CPAP pillow safe and free from bacteria, germs, or dirt. This feature can help to extend the life of your CPAP machine because you maintain a healthier and cleaner sleeping environment.
How to choose an advanced pillow for sleep apnea/CPAP?
Comfort
Select a CPAP pillow with the best material for a quality night’s sleep. A CPAP made from memory foam is an ideal choice since it provides better pressure relief, and support, unlike other fillings and materials.
If you sleep warm, find a pillow designed with a material that promotes breathability, coolness, and is soft to your skin. Such pillows often feature gel-infused foam layers. For pillowcases, find pillows with a cotton cover due to its outstanding coolness, breathability, and softness to the skin.
Support
Poor posture when sleeping contributes to waking up with back pain, joint aches, or fatigue. You need a pillow that supports your body and conforms to your CPAP mask to provide you comfort while sleeping.
Pillows are not just for resting your head; the perfect CPAP pillow will allow pressure relief. This means you will sleep in any position throughout the night with no risk of waking up with a painful joint, aching back, or cramped muscles.
Select a pillow that will support your spine, shoulder, neck, and head for a more relaxed sleeping experience.
Compatibility
Before purchasing a CPAP pillow, check if it’s compatible with your sleeping position. Don’t find something that will force you to adopt a new sleeping position- it won’t be comfortable. The pillow also needs to accommodate and work with the CPAP machine.
Budget
Budget is an important factor to consider when purchasing anything. Although you can’t put a price on sleep, create a budget you can manage and avoid going above it. Be a clever buyer- rather than eyeing the most expensive product, do your research and find the best deal that meets you need. Always seek quality over luxury and don’t get attracted to appearance alone.
Conclusion
Now that you know the factors to consider when finding your go-to CPAP pillow, we hope you can make the right choice. Sleep Apnea shouldn’t prevent you from having a good night’s sleep and quality life.
