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Memory Pillows & Sleep Apnea

Memory foam is gaining popularity in the treatment of sleep apnea. It is believed that memory foam enables the throat and neck to align into a more natural position when sleeping. This helps to increase the flow of air by positioning the tongue in a proper resting position. The reported benefits include reduced snoring and fewer occurrences of sleep disruption caused by the cessation of breathing.

  1. Sleep Apnea

    • Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleeping disorder. Sufferers experience breathing stoppages that interfere with the ability to get restful sleep. Sufferers of the condition tend to snore loudly and feel fatigued, even after experiencing eight hours of sleep.

      There are two basic forms of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when throat muscles loosen, causing interference with the respiratory process. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles that control respiratory functions. Central sleep apnea is far more serious, because it is a sign that the body does not have the ability to regulate breathing automatically. Additionally, some sufferers exhibit symptoms of both disorders, which is referred to as complex sleep apnea. A physician should be consulted if any form of sleep apnea is suspected. It can often be diagnosed definitively during an overnight stay at a sleep clinic.

    How It Works

    • Composed of polyurethane cells filled with air, memory foam is superficially similar to other types of foam.Traditional foam pillows will compress when weight is placed on them and will snap back into place once the weight has been removed. Memory foam has the unique ability to compress when weight is placed upon it, yet retain the new indented shape indefinitely. This results in a pillow that is customized to the body's dimensions. Memory foam is also temperature sensitive. Radiated body heat further enables the foam to conform to the shape of the user.

    Types

    • There are two basic types of memory pillows. The first is the neck roll, which is a pillow that is shaped like a cylinder. It is generally placed behind the neck to fill the unsupported gap. The second type of is more common in its shape and is used in the same fashion as a traditional bed pillow. Some people find that utilizing one of these can bring some measure of relief from sleep apnea. For others, a combination of the two can result in easing some of the symptoms of sleep apnea.

    Uses

    • Memory foam is commonly utilized to relieve the pain caused by pressure. It can help to alleviate pressure points caused by uncomfortable body positions. If left unchecked, these pressure points can turn into pressure wounds and bedsores.

      For this reason, pillows and mattresses constructed of memory foam are often used in nursing homes and hospitals to prevent injuries in patients that have decreased mobility and an inability to turn or reposition themselves.

    History

    • Memory foam was first commissioned by the National Aeronautic and Space Administration in 1966. Originally called temper foam, it was not available to the general public until the 1980s. The product is occasionally referred to as an egg crate because of its unusual, egg carton-like appearance.

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