Henry Carlson
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that causes your breathing to be interrupted while you sleep and may often reduce your sleep quality. People who suffer from this condition will occasionally stop breathing for small stretches of time, especially throughout the night. The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring and insomnia. So, if you suffer from these problems, then you probably have sleep apnea and may find that you need a sleep apnea pillow.
Research shows that over 100 million people around the world suffer from sleep apnea, this includes children as well. The majority of those affected are men who are overweight and over forty years of age but, in reality, it can affect anyone at any age and affects most sleep positions.
Advanced treatment of this breathing problem involves the use of expensive BiPAP and CPAP machines, but, the most effective, affordable and simple treatment method is to ensure you find the best pillow for sleep apnea. The best sleep apnea pillows also offer pain relief, such fewer morning headaches and, with the right pillow use, can relax the throat muscles in certain sleeping positions to help stop snoring.
Comparison Chart of 5 Best Selling Pillows for Sleep Apnea
Top-Rated Pillows for Sleep Apnea Reviews
1. Sleep Innovations Memory Foam Contour Pillow
Sleep Innovations offer you a sleep apnea pillow that will best sort your sleep disorder, and focus especially your snoring and neck pain. Their products respond to your sleep apnea needs and are made using high quality and adaptable foam materials.
Product Overview:
This sleep apnea pillow is designed for therapeutic support, and it will help you wake up refreshed, rejuvenated and energized. This is thanks to the fact that the pillow easily adapts to your head, shoulders and neck – whether you’re a side or back sleeper. Through the memory foam, it provides support that aligns you perfectly. As a result, this helps you sleep better at night, with minimal distractions, especially if you suffer from sleep apnea and other sleep-related disorders.
Contour support You are able to choose between the higher and lower contours, making it a great choice if you’re a side and back sleeper. Choose whichever works best in offering you the support you need. Furthermore, its contoured design helps in the reduction of stiffness and pain, making it one of the best sleep apnea pillows for all-round comfort.
Anti-snoring properties The pillow comes with some anti-snoring properties that will help you snore less at night. It does this through offering your head and face enough support, facilitating oxygen regulation and decreasing the likelihood of you snoring.
Ergonomic support It is ergonomically designed and shaped so it can contour a normal person’s body, and able to support your spinal column, helping prevent pinched nerves.
Made of super temp memory foam This is a memory foam pillow that is designed to resist the build-up of heat on the pillow’s surface. As a result, you will sleep in a cool environment.
The memory foam layers also resist moisture and do not allow the build-up of mildew and mold. In addition, this pillow is allergenic and dust resistant, which helps to create a healthy sleeping atmosphere that is peaceful and reduces breathing problems.
- It is made with the highest quality memory foam
- It is able to perfectly contour your body and offer comfort throughout the night
- It is very firm and holds its shape consistently for long-term use
- It works well with people that suffer from sleep apnea and snoring
- It resists dust and moisture, which ensures you sleep in the perfect conditions all night long
- It comes with anti-snoring properties
- Some customers complained that it is too soft
- The previous version was better than this one
2. Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
This is a bamboo shredded pillow that comes with a zipper removable outer cover and an adjustable fit. It is the kind of pillow that is both comfortable and snuggly. And, on top of all of this, it is one of the best sleep apnea pillows around, thanks to its extra breathable pillow cover made from bamboo viscose which makes the pillow surface soft and cool.
Product Overview:
Snuggle-pedic experience This pillow makes use of low VOC laboratory tested foam and special hypo-allergenic properties to ensure that it is extra soft and fluffy. It is also very light and is more resilient compared to other memory foam pillows, ensuring a great sleeping experience.
This also makes the sleep apnea pillow extra comfortable and conforming, plus, you do not need to keep fluffing it up in order to keep them in shape. They automatically re-shape themselves and remain firm all night long. These pillows are ideal for anyone in any sleep position – whether you’re a stomach, side or back sleeper. Pregnant women can also use them effectively for comfort.
This pillow is comfortable, supportive and won’t go flat. It will contour your shape perfectly all night long and due to its buoyancy, and allow your head to remain in the correct aligned position all night long.
Breathability The bamboo cover is specially designed to circulate air throughout the pillow and offer you a cool environment all night long. It is also hypoallergenic, non-toxic and dust mite resistant this comes in handy for people who have allergies and tend to sneeze a lot during the night. The reason behind this is usually small dust particles in the mattress that tend to cause a blockage.
The pillow resists all of these particles and other allergy-causing antigens, including dust mites, and leaves your bed clean and clear enough to allow for you to have a peaceful sneeze-free night.
- This is a pillow that is ideal for all people back, side, and even stomach sleepers
- It can be used by pregnant women to find comfort
- It is hypoallergenic and ideal for people who have asthma
- It helps with sleep apnea conditions by aligning the spine for a good night’s rest
- The pillow is breathable and circulates air throughout to give you a cool night sleep
- Due to the bamboo, it does have a strong odor that needs to be aired
- It is a little heavy for some users
3. Bed Wedge, FitPlus Premium Wedge Pillow
If you suffer from neck and back problems, or even poor circulation at night plus breathing difficulties and acid reflux, then finding the right sleep position must be difficult and challenging. In addition, these conditions may cause you to always wake up stressed, tired and even depressed.
In looking at various treatment options, you may find that a bed wedge pillow from FitPlus will come in real handy to help you solve this problem. It is designed for people who suffer almost all types of sleep-related disorders, including sleep apnea.
Product Overview:
It has 1.5 inches of memory foam on top, which makes this a most comfortable pillow choice and may earn the title of “Best Wedge Pillow”. Memory foam is one of the softest and most reliable materials when it comes to bed-related products, as well as helping align your spine, head and neck – no matter the sleep position. In addition to the foam, there is also a polyurethane base that provides additional support. The foam quickly molds the contours of your neck, shoulders and head so as to provide a comfortable all-night sleep.
This ability to support your neck and shoulders in an elevated position is what helps to alleviate pain and also get rid of any acid reflux you may be experiencing. You will also be able to find relief from snoring, night allergies and other types of sleep-related breathing issues.
Multi-functional This wedge pillow will not only deal with sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, but it will also help improve your posture. As a result, it will prevent any orthopedic related health issues connected to the spine, shoulders and even the neck.
Now, if you want to get even more out of the wedge pillow, you can position it upright while you watch TV and elevate your feet. This helps to improve your blood circulation and, if you have water retention issues on your legs, it will help rectify the problem.
Easy to clean cover The cover of the wedge pillow is removable and this makes it very easy to clean. It is also soft and breathable and maintains a comfortable cool temperature at night while you sleep. In addition, it is also machine washable, so you can just throw it with your load and you are good to go.
- Excellent for snoring, acid reflux and other types of sleep disorders
- It is very easy to clean and maintain
- It is extremely comfortable and soft
- It is multifunctional and will help with your posture as well
- It is made of high-density memory foam
- It is not ideal for side sleepers
- This wedge pillow is normally compressed and may not roll out well immediately
4. Memory Foam Contour Design CPAP Pillow
This is an innovative and contoured CPAP pillow that is specifically designed to offer a comfortable treatment option for a wide range of sleep-related disorders. It is designed to operate with a CPAP machine, by making sleeping easy for people who must use this machine and who suffer from sleep apnea. It is also ideal for back, stomach and side sleepers, thereby making it one of the best sleep apnea pillows available.
Product Overview:
This CPAP pillow is made of high-quality memory foam and will perfectly contour your body at night thanks to the type of materials it is made of. In addition, memory foam makes it extremely comfortable and breathable.
Patent design It has a new design for ultimate comfort, offering two layers of comfort. Whether you are large or small, this pillow will work for you.
Gets rid of insomnia A reason for you having sleepless nights could be due you having a bad pillow which does not offer you adequate comfort. This CPAP pillow is extremely luxurious and soft so that when you lie down at night, it will facilitate your sleep and help prevent sleep apnea.
As a result, you can say goodbye to mornings filled with headaches, fatigue and bad moods due to lack of sleep, and instead say hello to refreshed, rejuvenated and energized mornings that will definitely make the rest of your day much better.
Ready for use Once you receive your pillow, you do not need to keep fluffing and un-fluffing as it comes ready for you to use.
This pillow will also allow for a gentle sinking and great support. This will help reduce pressure points in the mask and will keep it from constantly falling off and creating air leaks. It also provides less interference with your chosen sleeping position.
- This CPAP pillow helps reduce the pressure from the mask and makes sleeping very easy
- It offers excellent head and neck support
- It can work with multiple types of masks
- It helps people with a variety of sleep disorders
- It is made of high-quality memory foam material
- May not be supportive of side sleepers
- The indentations may not be ideal for all hoses
5. Celliant Sleep Therapeutic Wellness Memory Foam Pillow
This ergonomically designed and therapeutic memory foam pillow offers great comfort to people who suffer from neck and shoulder pain and are looking for pillows for sleep apnea and reduce snoring. It is designed to conform to the exact contours of your neck and shoulder to offer you greater comfort and relief from pain.
It is extremely beneficial to people that have sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea because this pillow comes with an excellent thermal regulation and air channels that ensure a cool airflow all night long. Its design helps keep your airway open allowing you to able to breathe freely.
Product Overview:
This sleep apnea pillow is hypoallergenic that helps to promote the circulation of blood, as well as lymph flows. This makes it easy for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions to sleep better at night as the air is clear and clean. The pillow elevates your shoulders and your neck creating an even environment which helps to decrease pressure and preserves the natural curve of your spine. As a result, it will alleviate muscle pain, neck pains, stress, and fatigue.
The pillow is made of memory foam with open cell visco material that is also elastic and facilitates a peaceful and sound sleep all night long free from any sleep interruptions.
It is able to reshape itself after use because it is made from smart materials that have memory cells that take in the shape of your body, head and neck. Thus, after use, the memory foam layer of this pillow will go back to its natural shape.
This pillow can also be used effectively with a CPAP machine for sleep apnea patients and helps to prevent facial wrinkles when back sleeping as you use the machine at night – and especially useful feature for side sleepers.
- Helps with back and shoulder pains
- Can be used effectively with a CPAP machine to help sleep apnea patients
- It is made of a high-density memory foam that is comfortable and long-lasting
- It reshapes itself after use and you need not keep fluffing it
- Helps to prevent face wrinkles when you sleep on your back
- It may be a bit too warm for some people
- It may be too soft
6. Contour Products, CPAP Max 2.0 Pillow for Sleeping
This is a revolutionary pillow that is designed with multiple layers. Its main purpose is to accommodate any sleeping position, and this makes it one of the best pillows for sleep apnea, including being suitable for use with CPAP machines.
Product Overview:
Pressure-free cutouts The pillow is able to minimize leaks from your CPAP mask thanks to sleep apnea pillow’s cutouts. This also reduces the mask’s interference and prevents the mask from shifting and moving during the night. All of this will facilitate a comfortable night sleep regardless of the mask you use.
Air ventilation The pillow’s ventilated foam helps to promote a healthy air circulation that provides a cool night’s sleep.
Two sides to choose from Even though this pillow may seem simple in its construction, it comes with two sides to choose from. One of the sides is filled with traditional fiber, while the other side is a CPAP pillow that is soft to the touch and has a cool mesh. The construction combination helps ensure continuous positive airway pressure.
Three layers of comfort The pillow has three layers of specialized features that provide you with rest and relaxation. The top layer contains the memory foam cushions that conform to your head and neck, the middle is made of a supportive and high resilience layer, while the bottom layer is made of charcoal which reduces odors.
Ideal for back and side sleepers This sleep apnea pillow is one of the best for side sleepers and back sleepers as well. This is because it has a concave memory foam center that offers excellent support.
Adjustable height The pillow comes with a unique feature that makes it one of the best pillows for sleep apnea, which is the ability to adjust the pillow’s height. In this way, you have the freedom to remove the layers based on the comfort level you are looking for which may help you even further in finding your most comfortable sleep position.
- Best for side and back sleepers
- Works perfectly for people that have to use a CPAP machine
- It has adjustable heights for personal customization
- It is extremely comfortable offering three layers of support
- It is made of high-density memory foam
- It might be a bit too firm for some people
- It may be small for side sleepers
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes a physical block to your airwaves and an interruption of the brain waves that control the muscles that help you breathe. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea are mostly characterized by loud snoring, insomnia, difficulty while sleeping and fatigue when waking up.
Sleep apnea limits the amount of oxygen supply to your body, and it is not yet clear why some people suffer from this condition while others do not.
Sometimes sleep apnea has been connected to an underlying medical condition which is neurological in order, e.g. a brain stem issue such as stroke or an infection of the brain. Other related causes include the use of opioid painkillers and obesity.
The two most common types of sleep apnea are Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA, and Central Sleep Apnea or CSA.
In OSA, the tissues at the back of the throat normally block the airways and prevent normal breathing, while in CSA breathing normally halts temporarily as the brain is unable to send signals to the muscles responsible for breathing. CSA is not as common as OSA, and you may actually find people who suffer from both conditions.
Getting a diagnosis for sleep apnea may scare you, but it shouldn’;t because it is a condition that can be managed effectively, by use of a Positive Air Pressure PAP machine, or a pillow specifically designed for this condition.
What Factors Should You Consider Before Buying the Pillow for Sleep Apnea?
When choosing the best pillow for sleep apnea, whether it’s a wedge pillow, a pillow with cutouts or a foam pillow, there are a few factors that you should consider when selecting your pillow type, so you receive the maximum benefits of having this pillow. Amongst various other factors, the best pillows for you should suit you in terms of the following:
- Size:
Size is extremely important because some pillows may be too small to accommodate you, or too big to offer comfort. The right size pillow should be one that offers you comfort regardless of pillow type and how you sleep on it – whether on your side, back or stomach.
If you are going to be using a CPAP machine, then you will need a pillow that can also accommodate your mask without causing it to move throughout the night. Buy a pillow that will be big enough for you and offer you the right amount of comfort. Some of the best sleep apnea pillows for CPAP masks, come with cut outs, so that stomach sleepers and side sleepers can enjoy a night’s rest free from sleep apnea symptoms.
- Elevation:
In order for the pillow to be effective in controlling your breathing at night, it should be able to elevate your head and shoulders, which is often why sleep apnea pillows have a wedge shape. The severity of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders is reduced by elevation of your head, which helps to open up your pores and make breathing much easier. Make sure to test it out in a sleep trial, so you can be sure that it will help you with your problem.
- Traction:
This is the ability of your pillow to stay in place. If your pillow has weak traction, then it means that it will be moving too much at night, and as a result, it will affect your sleep.
If you are using a CPAP machine while you sleep, you will need a pillow that does not move at all, so it doesn’;t create any pressure points where the mask lies against your face. The best sleep apnea pillows are contour pillows that won’t affect your breathing and help keep the flow of oxygen running through the mask, as well as make sure that everything stays properly aligned.
- Filling:
The pillow’s filling is extremely important as it determines its comfort. Sleep apnea is a common condition for people who are overweight, thereby making memory foam one of the best materials for supporting their weight. The right pillow for you will vary, but most memory foam provides a soft yet supportive feel, plus, it molds itself to your head and contours your neck to offer relief from neck related pains.
Now, a good quality pillow must be firm enough so that it doesn’;t collapse under your weight. In addition, it should be able to easily spring back to its original form. It should also be able to align your spine and your neck while keeping your airways open to prevent you from snoring.
Memory foam pillows with a washable cover are some of the best options for filling material as they are hypoallergenic and they help get rid of the allergens that come to block your breathing at night. They can also help people who suffer from asthma. The washable cover helps maintain and may improve cleanliness.
- Breathability:
Purchasing the right pillow can help you breath better at night. Your sleep apnea pillow should be made of outer breathable and preferably natural materials, such as a bamboo cover, and have inner materials that easily open up your pores and help you to receive the oxygen you require.
You will need a pillow with the ability to support your neck and shoulders in an elevated position, which is what helps alleviate pain and also offer relief from snoring, night allergies, acid reflux and other types of sleep-related breathing issues such as sleep apnea.
Conclusion:
Sleep apnea is a condition that is easy to manage with the right products. Buying the best pillow will go a long way in helping you deal with this condition and the right pillow also offers you soundless sleep at night that is undisturbed – which is what we all want.
One thing you must consider however before buying a pillow is your specific sleeping style. Keep that in mind before looking for other features as this will determine your comfort levels.
The Bed Wedge, FitPlus Premium pillow comes highly recommended because of its excellent features, including its advanced technology, which is why it is the one we highly recommend.
Henry’s first job was in the furniture and mattress industry as a sales associate. From there, he moved up to merchandising specialist for several years and then became an assistant manager. Working in the industry gave him access to a lot of products and also helped him gain in-depth knowledge.
