Here’s why -

More than 50% of obstructive sleep apnea patients amplify the conditions by sleeping on their back. This is called positional sleep apnea.

When you sleep on your back, your airway becomes compressed due to the weight of your neck and the backward movement of your relaxed jaw and tongue. But if you can learn to sleep on your side, studies show many patients with positional sleep apnea can improve their breathing. Simply put, you can get a better night’s rest.

So how do you change a lifestyle habit of sleeping on your back to sleeping on your side?

The answer is what’s called “positional therapy”. It is a simple technique. One example is called “tennis ball therapy” where a tennis ball is dropped into a sock and the sock is sewn into the back of a pajama top. This makes sleeping on your back uncomfortable, even if you’re deep in sleep and roll on your back, you’ll roll back on your side to avoid the discomfort of the tennis ball.

There are other options and products available. One includes a device that produces vibration signals when you are sleeping on your back.

For some patients, positional therapy alone can help enough to reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. In most patients, it is combined with another sleep apnea treatment, such as custom fit mandibular advancement devices, commonly referred to as dental devices.

These dental devices - similar to a mouthguard for people who grind their teeth - help keep your air passages open and help you get a good night’s sleep.

At Sleep Apnea Therapy of Southern New England, our mission is to manage obstructive sleep apnea through the use of these dental devices. We work closely with dentists, physicians, and sleep specialists to provide personalized care for patients suffering from the symptoms of sleep apnea.

To learn more, ask your doctor for a referral, visit our website at www.sleepri.com, email us at info@sleepri.com, or call 401-848-5252.

A healthy sleep means a happy life.