Management of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with proper head and neck posture

The use of neck pillows can be an important source of relief in people suffering from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Snoring is the term we use for obstructive breathing during sleep and affects 60% of men and 40% of women by age 60. Obstructive sleep apnea, where breathing actually stops more than five times per hour of sleep, affects 4-9% of people.

While snoring may involve anything from minor annoyance to disruption of family life, obstructive sleep apnea can be a more serious condition. Obstruction of the upper airway during sleep is a serious medical condition often associated with severe daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and even cardiopulmonary complications.

The sounds of snoring emanate from the collapsible part of the upper airway where there is no rigid support. The use of neck pillows is for obstructive apnea with local airway compromise and not central apnea which is neurological or cardiopulmonary.

Snoring from upper airway obstruction is made worse when the head and neck moves forward (chin towards chest) while sleeping on the back as seen when using a traditional designed pillow. Use of a properly designed neck pillow produces an extension of the head and neck (chin-up) and assists in opening the airway when in the back sleeping position.

Technically, airway obstruction leading to snoring from neck posture involving head and neck flexion results from compression of the tissues in the throat. The structures include the supralaryngeal tissues, as the tongue presses against the posterior pharyngeal wall, as well as laryngeal occlusion as the base of the tongue pushes the base of the epiglottis against the false cords, and inhibition of the genioglossus muscle which performs an important role in maintaining airway patency at the level of the oropharynx.

A typical flat pillow, through head and neck flexion, sets the stage for snoring from this upper-airway obstruction. Proper positioning of the neck often improves airway obstruction, causing the throat to open the airway passage. In susceptible individuals, the head and neck flexion induced by a regular pillow can result in either partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway. A good neck pillow maintains the patency of the upper-airway through re-establishing a physiological curvature (correct structure) in the head and neck region.

It has been known for many years that the head-tilt/chin-lift technique used during cardiopulmonary resusitation (CPR) is an effective way of opening a victim's airway. The head-tilt/chin-lift technique lifts the tongue away from the back of the throat and opens the upper-airway. A properly contoured neck pillow has a similar effect on the airway when sleeping on the back.

Given the beneficial effects of a supportive neck pillow on the upper-airway in the back lying position, it is logical that this type of pillow be considered for chronic upper-airway obstruction (i.e., snoring, upper-airway resistance syndrome and obstructive sleep hypopnea and apnea).

Neck stiffness may prevent extension into the posture necessary to prevent snoring, therefore, it is important to perform some neck exercises and use devices which may help restore normal motion of the joints such as the home neck traction and the headache neck pain release prior to utilizing a neck pillow effectively to open the airway and prevent snoring.

Individuals who must sleep in an orthopneic position (raised head, neck and shoulders), for medical reasons should raise the top of the bed and avoid the use of several pillows. In this way, they too can benefit from snoring relief with a good neck pillow.

Some people may have difficulty lying on their back in order to gain maximum benefit from a contour neck pillow. With practice this can be overcome. However, if the neck pillow prevents back sleeping because of discomfort, this may be beneficial to the snoring sufferer providing he or she can get comfortable in another position (except sleeping on the stomach which is harmful for the head-neck region). Side sleeping is prefered and we have pillows (side sleeping solution) that are specifically designed to help you get comfortable and improve snoring in this position.