Raise the Head of the Bed
Raising the head of the bed helps to ease sleep apnea by making it easier for air to flow through the airway and preventing the tongue from collapsing into the throat and blocking off the airway. When GERD causes sleep apnea, raising the head of the bed can also help keep stomach acid from flowing back into the throat and aggravating symptoms.
Several benefits come with adjusting the bed’s position to ease sleep apnea. These benefits include easing symptoms like snoring and pauses in breathing, preventing high blood pressure, and improving quality of life by helping an individual get more restful sleep.
No risks are associated with raising the head of the bed to relieve sleep apnea symptoms. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, individuals with a herniated disc may want to avoid raising the head of the bed too much as it could aggravate the condition. Additionally, individuals with glaucoma must be careful about how much they raise the head of the bed as it could affect their intraocular pressure.
