Anti Snore Pillow – Do They Work & Why?

This specially designed anti snore pillow has been tested and confirmed for treating sleep apnea of a mild nature, as well as helping in the reduction and cessation of snoring.

Designed by specialists, this Sona pillow orthopedically positions one in a side position with correct anatomical alignment that increases airway flow, assisting easier breathing. The anti-snore pillow enables comfortable sleeping on either side as well as maintaining the healthy posture through the entire night by affording the arm to be placed under and through the pillow, aiding in maintenance in the side sleeping posture.

Watch the promotional video. Listen carefully. Is the science sound? Are the claims real? We will discuss this below, what happened to the pillow and why.

Another benefit is the unique middle portion, creating added support about the shoulder blades, improving general comfort, getting an improved and deeper sleep. The Anti Snore Pillow by Sona measures: 12″ by 27″ by 10″

The pillow is utilized on the left or right side, with the stripes facing the bottom end of the bed. Just place your arm inside and out the opening underneath the pillow, therefore, your head is an angled posture. After your head is correctly placed, you will be pointed mildly down and looking to the mattress on the angled surface of the pillow. The arm should remain in this position during sleep. The head remains angled, facing towards your arm.

Using a specially designed body pillow may assist in maintaining a healthy side-sleeping posture and can be used in conjunction with the anti snore pillow.

The Anti Snore Pillow promotes relaxing of the jaw by a gentle forward pull, stopping the jaw from being forced back. This additionally assists the opening of airways and may even help with TMJ Disorders. Sleep apnea conditions, as well as snoring occur more frequently in the back sleeping position.

It does have a “breaking in period”, allowing it to conform to your anatomy over time. Fluff the pillow up should be done pressing in the side of the pillow that is not stripped. It is recommended using the nightly, therefore, with good results, it may need to be replaced about once per year.

The anti snore pillow uses a 100% cotton pillow cover using a distinctive striped pattern and a quality, comfortable fiber filling with a design clinically proven to position the upper body in the maximal position for reducing snoring as well as mild sleep apnea.

Anyone can benefit from the pillow as it promotes a healthy side sleeping position and promotes a more sound and peaceful sleeping experience. The pillow is proven for effectiveness for managing mild levels of sleep apnea in medical literature.

You may experience a noticeable difference the first night, however, it may take some time adjusting and allowing the pillow to become sensitized to your personal weight and contours. With ongoing use, the anti snore pillow will promote healthier sleeping habits. The face should be directed down and you may change sides. The blue lines should be towards the shoulder with the zippered part of the case should directed away from the shoulder, taking note of this as you put on the pillowcase.

What Happened To The Sona Anti Snore Pillow?

Some years back it was found that the manufacturer claimed it was FDA Certified (video and on packaging). That was a lie. It was not. Since this fact was discovered, the manufacturer stopped making the claim, changing the packaging which clearly stated “FDA Certified”. They were charging $130.00 for the pillow. Gradually, the price fell dramatically as did the sales.

That is not to say the pillow did not help individual cases, however, the manufacturer claimed it would “STOP SNORING”. The basic idea of positional therapy for snoring is valid, so I’m not sure why they had to make false claims to begin with, however, there is more.

The manufacturer claims it’s anti snore pillow was “clinically proven”. Investigation found there was a study that found improvement in 19 patients. Now, they were patients and I have no doubt that it may have helped, however, the study was performed by a doctor who invented the pillow. Well, there is nothing inherently wrong with this, as long as the study indicates the potential “bias” or “conflict of interest” in the publication.

The Truth About Anti Snore Pillows

The truth is there is really no “anti-snore pillow”. What does that mean anyway? A pillow that is against snoring? A pillow that does not like snoring? A pillow that stops snoring? So, it is a marketing strategy. Since snoring has many causes, there is no way to guarantee a pillow will stop snoring.

From a positional standpoint, it is possible that a pillow based on sound principles may help to reduce snoring if it positionally related. Basically, any well designed pillow has the potential to help with snoring. The claims by the manufacturer are correct in that side sleeping is better to reduce snoring than back sleeping. In their video, they show how back sleeping can cause snoring, but only when the head is pushed forward, as when the pillow is too high or when using 2 pillows.

So, a pillow that keeps the head neither too far forward, nor too far backward, may help to reduce snoring in those individuals that snore while back sleeping with the head too far forward or backward. If you sleep on your back and your pillow is too high or you use 2 pillows – fix it and see if it helps.

I believe the manufacturer is also correct that the angle forward side sleeping can relax the jaw; thereby helping to reduce snoring and perhaps alleviating TMJ pain. So, we get some emails asking about the pillow. Yes, I believe it was a reasonable alternative for some people. We sold it at half the price mentioned above and it always had some activity. It may have been good for either a full time pillow or a part time therapeutic pillow. It is no longer available and that is not good. But these things happen.

We had one person emailing us stating it was very bad (my emphasis on putting it nicely) that we had the page and did not have the pillow. Well, there are some lessons to be learned. 1) Don’t make false claims. 2) Be reasonable in discerning advertising and avoid the temptation to buy in haste. 3) Learn some of the factors that lead a pillow to help with snoring without unreasonable expectations. 3) Read.

Are There Any Alternatives?

Well first, sleeping with your arm underneath a pillow usually indicates the pillow lacks proper support or is not the right height (too low). This can also manifest itself when there is cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve), due to a disc herniation or spinal degenerative problem. Sometimes, a pinched nerve will be relieved when the arm is held above the head. It is not very common, but does occur. It can also be the case in some neurological or vascular conditions as well. Perhaps this would have been a good use for the Sona pillow; some being a transient situation, intermittent or chronic. Since this is more often not the case than is, it would not be a very good “marketing strategy”, although for purposes here, pretty relevant.

In any event, there are some alternatives for positional snoring. One that allows an angled position to relax the jaw is also good for stomach sleepers. It has relative positioning for back, side and stomach sleeping. The cervical support pillow may be a good option. For back and side sleepers, a functional pillow like the therapeutic or latex orthopedic pillow may be a good option. And for dedicated side sleepers, the side sleeper pillow is a reasonable option. Additionally, with a good pillow, there are some body pillows that can help prevent back sleeping and/or place you in a better position.

There are some pillows that are designed with a space for the arm, should you desire to sleep in this position. Lets call them “arm tunnel pillows” instead of anti snore pillows. From what we have learned here, you should be able to make an informed decision.