Sleep Apnea & Bed Risers

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JMJ

I have moderate sleep apnea and snore like the proverbial tank. Nasal strips helped only superficially and I get congested using a cpap machine. A controlled air pressure machine (cpap) is the prescribed treatment for sleep apnea in many cases. After putting off the overnight sleep test for a couple years until I finally did it to get the prescription for the cpap machine. The cpap machine does not help much if one gets too congested to breathe thru the nose or as in my case cannot really fall asleep with the darn thing--I stayed up half the night trying to fall asleep with it & got more frustrated.

My brother's mother in law is a nurse and told me that sleeping on an incline might help-and it does. My chest and torso weight does not block my breathing as much. One can put a cinder block under one side of the bed or go to bed bath & beyond & buy some bed risers (under $20) to put under the wheels on one side of the bed to sleep on an incline (with the head elevated). There are also inclined pillows shaped like ramps or a wedge, which can increase the angle. I sleep longer and breathe somewhat better with the incline and it is easier to roll out f bed in the morning. I even put my sofa on an incline for when I sleep there. Pax Christi.