If you or your sleeping partner suffers from sleep apnea, you know the discomfort it can cause during the night. Between snoring, breathing disruptions and frequent awakenings, those with sleep apnea often feel drowsy and unrested even after a full night in bed.
The right mattress and bedding accessories can make a big difference in sleep quality for those with sleep apnea. Let’s look at how the best bed mattresses and bed frames provide ergonomic support, pressure relief and airflow to create a sleep environment tailored to the needs of sleep apnea sufferers.
What is Sleep Apnea?
First, a quick overview for the uninitiated. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by pauses or disruptions in breathing throughout the night. These respiratory disruptions prevent restorative REM and deep sleep stages.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea – Caused by blockage of the airway, often due to the tongue or soft tissues in the throat relaxing and collapsing during sleep. This is the most common type of sleep apnea.
- Central sleep apnea – Caused by a miscommunication between the brain and muscles that control breathing.
Sleep apnea disruptions often last 10 or more seconds at a time and can occur dozens or even hundreds of times per night. Frequent drops in oxygen levels lead to frequent micro-awakenings as the body struggles to breathe properly.
The most common sleep apnea symptoms include:
Sleep Apnea’s Impact on Sleep
We all know how much poor sleep quality can throw off the next day. Now imagine dealing with chronic sleep deprivation and constant daytime drowsiness as a result of untreated sleep apnea.
Sleep disruptions caused by sleep apnea can have major impacts on your sleep health and quality of life, including:
- Fatigue, low energy and cognitive fog
- Impaired mood, memory and concentration
- Increased risk of accidents or errors
- High blood pressure, heart disease and other health issues
Those with moderate to severe sleep apnea miss out on the deep, restorative stages of sleep needed to wake up feeling refreshed. As a result, sufferers often deal with chronic sleep debt and constant daytime tiredness.
How the Right Mattress Can Help with Sleep Apnea
While sleep apnea requires medical diagnosis and can’t be cured by a new mattress alone, the right bedding can help minimize nighttime breathing disruptions. The best sleeping position for sleep apnea is side sleeping, so optimizing your sleep setup for this sleep position is ideal.
Certain mattress materials and designs allow for improved spinal alignment, pressure relief and airflow circulation – all important factors for reducing sleep apnea events.
An adjustable bed frame that raises the head also reduces airway obstruction and makes breathing easier throughout the night.
The Role of Adjustable Bed Frames
Adjustable bed frames that raise the head of your mattress can be game changer for sleep apnea sufferers. This elevated position prevents the tongue and soft tissues of the throat from collapsing backward and obstructing breathing.
Do adjustable beds help snoring? You betcha. Inclined bed frames also help reduce snoring and sleep disruptions related to acid reflux, another condition aggravated by lying completely flat.
The Adjustable Base Max from Casper offers a unique sleep experience tailored to individual needs. Some of its standout features include:
- Customizable Features: It provides a full suite of customizable positions for a personalized sleep setup.
- Zero Gravity Position: This position is designed to relax your body, offering balanced comfort.
- Anti-Snore: This feature raises your head and chest to reduce pressure on your airway, ensuring uninterrupted sleep.
- Wall-Aligning Technology: This ensures everything you need is within reach, enhancing convenience.
- Personalized Presets: You can save your favorite positions for easy access.
- Additional Features: The bed comes with under-the-bed lighting for those midnight snack runs and a 4-zone massage feature to help you relax.
Best Types of Mattresses for Sleep Apnea
When shopping for the best mattress for sleep apnea, pay attention to these key features:
- Cushioning comfort – Pressure relief prevents pain at the shoulders and hips, allowing you to fully relax into sleep.
- Spinal support – Proper alignment of the neck, spine and pelvis reduces tension in the airway.
- Breathability – Airflow through the mattress material keeps you cool during warmer months.
- Motion isolation – Minimal transfer of movement lets your partner sleep undisturbed.
With those criteria in mind, these two mattress types tend to work very well for those with sleep apnea:
Memory Foam Mattresses
Memory foam contours closely to the body to provide customized support and pressure point relief. Denser foams provide more support, while softer layers cushion areas like the shoulders and hips.
The cradling sensation of memory foam reduces tension in the neck and throat muscles that can restrict airflow. A memory foam mattress also absorbs movement so you won’t disturb your partner when adjusting sleeping positions or getting in and out of bed with this mattress type.
Hybrid Mattresses
The hybrid mattress type combines the pressure relief of memory foam layers with the stability of pocketed coils. The coils bring welcome airflow to keep you cool while the foam absorbs motion and alleviates tension at the shoulders and hips. The strategic mix of support and cushioning keeps the spine aligned and weight evenly distributed regardless of sleep position.
Top Casper Mattress Recommendations for Sleep Apnea Sufferers
All of our mattresses use premium foams for cooling comfort and pressure relief where you need it most. For sleep apnea relief, we suggest:
- Zoned Support™ Max: The ultimate in pressure relief and support. A firmer center foam core plus a layer of precisely cut channels cradles the natural shape of your body while supporting your hips, waist, and lower back.
- Breathe+ Flex Foam: A soft, ultra-breathable top layer with the perfect bit of bounce keeps you cool and comfortable all night with enhanced airflow.
- A New Hybrid Standard: Flex Coils and carefully layered foam combine for boosted support, reduced motion transfer, and maximum comfort.
- Casper Signature Foam: This medium-soft mattress ensures a responsive feel while relieving pressure and keeping your body aligned.
- Breathe Flex Foam: Enjoy refreshing, ultra-breathable foam technology that enhances airflow while allowing the perfect bit of bounce.
- Zoned Support™: Ergonomic engineering keeps your spine aligned with exceptional support for the hips, waist, and lower back.
- Hybrid Technology: Individually pocketed Flex Coils synergize with layers of Casper Signature Foam to provide the best in comfort and support.
- Unique Feel: This medium-feel mattress is cradling yet responsive and pressure-relieving; perfect for carrying you off to a deeper rest.
- Innovative Snow Cooling System: The cool-to-the-touch Snow Cover combines with enhanced Phase Change Material and abundant HeatDelete™ Bands to offer the ultimate cooling sleep.
- Align+ Memory Foam: A luxurious, unique slow-melt feel keeps you aligned and cozy all night long.
- Zoned Support™ Max: A firmer foam core harmonizes with precisely cut surrounding channels for the ultimate pressure relief and support for your hips, waist, and lower back.
- Cooling Hybrid Technology: This cooling hybrid mattress provides the best of three worlds: instant cooling refreshment, enhanced support from optimized Flex Coils, and layers of Casper Signature Foam for dreamy comfort.
An adjustable base combined with one of these supportive, breathable hybrid mattresses can help sleep apnea sufferers finally get the restorative rest they need.
Reach out to one of our sleep specialists for personalized recommendations based on your sleep habits, challenges and preferences. With free and easy returns and a 100-night, risk-free sleep trial, together, we can find the ideal bedding setup for your best night’s sleep yet.
Sources:
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