As all of our patient's can attest, Dr. Callender feels very strongly about the need for his sleep apnea patients to sleep on their side. A recent article from the National Sleep Foundation highlighted the "Best Sleep Positions for Sleep Apnea Sufferers". Here is what they had to say:

Side Sleeping

Rest on one side, slightly curled with your knees bent. Use a supportive pillow for your head that keeps your spine in alignment. Side sleeping can be made better by placing a pillow between your knees.

To help you do this, you can sew a pocket or pin a sock on the back of your pajamas and place an object like a tennis ball (we recommend a whiffle ball) into it. You'll detect an attempt to lie flat on your back during the night and you can adjust back to a side sleeping position. This may also mean that it's time to check out a new mattress - a worn-out mattress is often uncomfortable for side sleeping.

Upright sleeping

Elevate your head significantly while you sleep to improve your breathing. You can use multiple pillows or even try a specially designed wedge pillow to achieve this position. Some beds offer moveable support that allows you to raise the mattress to help accommodate upright sleeping.