Best Mattress For Sleep Apnea According To A 25 Year Mattress Manufacturer
When you consider that more than 20 million Americans have some variation of moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea, and the fact that 80% of those cases are not diagnosed, finding the best mattress for sleep apnea is more important than you might think.
Simply described, sleep apnea is a condition that causes an obstruction in the airway which impacts our ability to breath while we sleep. It can be extremely dangerous if left untreated, and can cause cardiovascular disease, weight gain, memory issues, headaches, even impotence.
Sleep apnea affects job performance, can be the cause of motor vehicle and industrial accidents, and impacts everyone around us. Snoring alone can impact relationships, creating sleep deficits for both partners and even children who are awakened by loud snoring. The best mattress for sleep apnea helps to maintain airways, is not too firm or soft, and reduces tossing and turning.
Best Mattress For Sleep Apnea: Snoring, And Why Sleeping On Your Side Can Help
Sleep position, regarding of what mattress you are using, plays an important role in our ability to secure enough oxygen through the night. Essentially, sleep apnea accompanies snoring, a phenomenon created when turbulent air flow causes the throat and nasal passages to vibrate, creating the often loud and intrusive noise.
Generally, the vibration is worsened by the narrowing of these passages, and by the proximity of the soft palate and that little piece of tissue that hangs down from the roof of our throat, called the uvula. The tongue can also be an element in the obstructive mechanism that creates sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea may be even more severe in individuals who have allergies, nasal congestion, and those who consume alcohol, since alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat. Since snoring causes us to unconsciously breathe through the mouth, and sleeping on our back can cause the airway to collapse, there is an increased likelihood of sudden death in certain individuals, especially obese people, or folks with underlying medical conditions.
Snoring may be worsened in the context of nasal congestion, including with a cold or allergies. Mouth breathing will allow the jaw (and tongue) to shift backward. In addition, alcohol intake can exacerbate the sound. This occurs because alcohol is a muscle relaxant that may affect the muscular tissue lining the throat.
Here are some of my top recommendations for best mattress for sleep apnea, all of which are ideal for side sleepers, but also have features for hot sleepers, anyone with pressure or pain, as well as for those with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues.
The Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers I’ve Personally Reviewed And Tested
THE NOLAH EVOLUTION 15″ HYBRID MATTRESS
I recommend this mattress for couples often, andit is excellent as a best mattress for sleep apnea options- because it offers a cushy top with great support. Frankly, it’s one of my favorite all around mattresses. $1624 in queen, $1754 in king.
It’s loaded with tech, including graphite infused foam that cools while it wicks away heat and moisture, and it’s cozy and immersive enough without feeling like you’re stuck.
Plus, I liked the superb edge support for sitting and getting in and out, and it felt sumptuous and nest like- but not hard underneath.
It’s $1609 in queen size, and the company offers a 120 night no questions asked trial period, free returns and shipping, and it’s 100% made in the USA.
The pillow top section up top is wonderful, inviting, it’s not spongy or too billowy, and it’s available in three firmness option from plush to firm.
For side sleepers specifically, you won’t find wake up digging yourself out in the morning- we tested it for precisely that common problem! Cons: It might be a little tall for some people.
THE DREAMCLOUD PREMIER HYBRID MATTRESS
This mattress, being a bit firmer in feel, is a 14” hybrid mattress with individually pocketed coils, a quilted, silky cashmere top and is a firmer option for couples. $1599 in queen size.
If you deal with sleep apnea, but like a slightly firmer feel, it’s a good option. It’s half the price of comparable big box pillow top innersprings, which are often stuffed with cheap foams near the top, and can feel mushy and spongy. With over, 4,971 reviews, it ranks a solid 4.8 consistently, not easy to achieve- and that’s on Google.
Couples love it for its motion dampening qualities, great edge support, and its comparison to hotel and resort caliber mattress.
As a best mattress for sleep apnea option, it also offer some features. It is embellished with a quilted cashmere top piece (which feels like silk!) and two layers of sink-right-in gel/memory foam. But no bottoming into it, even where you are cuddling in the middle.
For the money, it’s a solid investment, a tad firmer than I like but overall reviews make me a bit more confident about this pocket coil and foam hybrid.
THE AVOCADO ECO-ORGANIC MATTRESS
As a best mattress for sleep apnea option, natural latex offers buoyancy and the sensation that you are on top of the mattress, not trapped inside. It’s made with no petroleum based products.
Avocado uses organic certified latex from tree-tapped sources, 100% GOTS organic certified wool and 100% GOTS organic certified cotton. To you, that means no-off gassing, or ghastly chemical textiles- and side sleeping bliss.
Note that this mattress is a bit more expensive, because it’s made top to bottom with pure latex only-no springs, no polyurethane foam. Queen $1299.
Made in California in their own factories, a purely American company. The latex used is imported from India, collected by hand, and is the silkiest and smoothest botanical latex available. Gets rid of pressure at shoulders and hips.
Note: it’s typical for natural latex to cost more because it’s hand collected and has to be converted to it’s jiggly and elastic solid form.
SAATVA MEMORY FOAM HYBRID MATTRESS
For couples who spoon or snuggle, I recommend this as a best mattress for sleep apnea option because it’s super comfy and not too hard. Thicker, sumptuous “euro” top on a pocket coil layer, with virtually no sinking-without the pressure points at hips and shoulders.
Medium level of support, you will not feel trapped. Turning is effortless. I also like the firmer edge support for sitting, putting on shoes, and transfer in and out. It’s 14.5” tall finished height, you get a 120 night trial period, 15 year warranty, $1,495 in queen. Free shipping.
Saatva uses a springier, more responsive memory foam that is cradling (and it is a higher density 4lb. memory foam, better quality.
As a best mattress for sleep apnea option, it’s comfortable right off the bat and I noticed no “adjustment time”. It has a thicker 4″ top section, and is very body contouring, making it ideal for side sleepers who struggle with sleep apnea.
Plushbeds Botanical Bliss Pure Latex Mattress
For pressure relief, this mattress is one of my favorites for side sleepers. Crafted from multiple, 3″ thick layers of pure botanical latex, you choose from 9″, 10″, or 12″ depending upon your weight and plushness preferences.
For people who sleep on their sides preferably, (and if you struggle with pain) natural latex is highly elastic, buoyant, and doesn’t bottom out.
There are less expensive brands of natural latex mattress that are made with alternating layers of polyurethane foam. This is one of few top to bottom natural latex options that is affordable. Read my in depth review here.
You get a 100 night no questions asked trial period and a hassle free lifetime warranty that covers indentations, and craftsmanship.
The outermost fabric is an elastic stretch knit material that flexes with your body as you change position- not stiff, and not trampoline like.
THE NOLAH NATURAL 11″ HYBRID MATTRESS
I reviewed it, slept on it for weeks, and loved its invigorating, bouncy feel. For a side sleeper option, it’s hard to beat it. Individually pocketed coils for excellent edge support, too. Organic cotton, organic wool, and sustainably sourced pure botanical latex. Ten year warranty, 120 night trial. Two free “squishy” pillows you’ll fight over. $1199 in queen. Consistently rated highly by owners.
NECTAR PREMIER MATTRESS
The Nectar Premier Mattress is a well known brand with a cult like following. Outfitted as a gel/memory foam mattress, it also uses CertiPur® non-toxic ingredients, so there are no toxic fumes.
No odor, no exposure to heavy metals. 365 Day Trial, Forever Warranty. Get $300 off with my link, free sheets, 2 pillows, and a mattress protector! Consistent reviews, this bed’s one of my favorites.
A medium feel, slightly softer and spongier, but excellent on shoulders especially. At 11″ tall with great edge support, it’s the perfect thickness for both couples and solo sleepers. Hip immersion is just right for pressure relief and making it easy to turn.
Nectar seems to be really good at delivering low odor, fragrance free mattress options, too. A strong side sleeper consideration, and a best mattress for sleep apnea candidate.
SAATVA LATEX HYBRID MATTRESS
At 12″ tall, and filled with a 3″ layer of organic latex, this luxury latex hybrid contains a pocketed coil system topped off with a hand tufted Euro top quilted organic cotton cover. Five ergonomic zones, I found the shoulder and hip pressure relief to be outstanding. $1895 in queen.
A great best mattress for sleep apnea option that is hypo-allergenic and free of VOC odors and smelly chemicals.
A 365 day trial, lifetime warranty, and free in home setup service underscores the appeal this option as a best mattress for sleep apnea option.
If you sleep on your back, you’re likely going to be far more predisposed to snoring and sleep apnea than if you slept on your side, because there is no weight in the throat or chest area to compress your airway. Gravity is probably the main force that creates reduction in airway size.
Essentially, the severity of sleep apnea you experience is a function of airway collapse, and the body’s response to inadequate airflow can be gasping, paused breathing, choking, and increased heart rate. These phenomenon can be deadly. In my best mattress for sleep apnea research, I focused on mattresses that promote side sleeping benefits. Take a look:
sleeping on your side can save your life.
My best mattress for sleep apnea tests took a long look at just how important a minor tweak in sleeping position can be at reducing the risk. Studies have shown that sleeping on your side both reduces the amount of time spent snoring as well as well as the intensity, mostly due to the fact that we are changing the position of our throat anatomy in relation to gravity.
Sleeping on your side can open up airways naturally, and there is less likelihood of collapse, paused breathing and the cascade of problems caused by this.
If you’ve ever tried making a change to your sleep position before, such as after surgery, pregnancy, or even because of a new kind of mattress, you may think it’s a tough thing to do.
The reality is, though, that 50% of people who are advised to step on their side can adapt and maintain the position. I have sleep apnea myself, and to get me comfortable with my new position, I instructed family members to check on me if I fell asleep on my back, the trick being to pull the pillow out from under my head and push me over with a nudge and a verbal command.
After a week or two, I started falling asleep much easier on my side. The best mattress for sleep apnea will promote this too, causing you to “settle in” and fall asleep while on your side.
Get into the habit of shutting everything down, like your TV, cell phone, lights, and other distractions just prior to nodding off, and get on your side from the beginning. Once you work on adapting to to side sleeping, you’ll naturally be able to fall asleep that way. According to this report by the NIH, there are factors that you can control to greatly reduce the dangers of sleep apnea.
If you’re stubborn, here’s a trick we heard about, that may be able to help. Get a t-shirt with a pocket and sew a tennis ball into the opening, sealing it in place. Wear the t-shirt in reverse so that the tennis ball is on your back. You may need to trim the collar area if it is snug on your throat up front. When you roll onto your back, you will likely find the tennis ball to be very uncomfortable, and you’ll naturally roll onto your side.
If you are are significantly overweight, you may want to try a fanny pack, or even a back pack. After a few uncomfortable initial nights, you’ll be surprised as to the efficiency of this little trick.
While shopping for the best mattress for sleep apnea, put comfort and support #1, and your ability to adapt to side sleeping as a #2 priority.
The Best Mattress For Sleep Apnea And How An Adjustable Bed Can Greatly Reduce The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea
All of this being said, there’s another way you can optimize your best mattress for sleep apnea choices, too. Buying an adjustable base to go with your mattress is by far the best way to help reduce the effect of gravity and compression on your airway, since it allows you to elevate your head, while still allowing you to sleep on your back.
It is recommended to increase the angle of the head portion of an adjustable base so that it is elevated about 15-20% from flat position to be able to have a therapeutic effect on sleep apnea.
Adjustable bases, which can be purchased online and shipped directly to your home, are equipped with remote controls that allow you to angle your mattress in an infinite number of positions including the foot section as well as the head section. This allows you to find the perfect “sweet spot” to reduce snoring, eliminate airway compression, and also allow for improved circulation and the reduction of back pain.
You can visit our adjustable base page to see the brands that we recommend, and we provide links which get you to Trusted Dealers we have heavily vetted so you get a really great brand and a terrific price.
We also offer a measuring guide, tips and pointers on what to look for in a quality unit, and other information.
We sold a full line of adjustable bases through our own online stores at one point, and many of our customers purchased an adjustable base for the specific purpose of reducing the effects of sleep apnea.
How A Natural Latex Mattress Can Help With Sleep Apnea
Is there a best mattress for sleep apnea that is hypo-allergenic? Turns out there is one particular kind of bed that is ideal. First of all, many sleep apnea sufferers have issues with allergies, chemical and fragrance sensitivities, so buying a mattress made with polyurethane foams or memory foams, which often have an odor, are not the best choice.
Stiffer mattresses like traditional innerspring mattresses, especially if you are using an adjustable base, don’t often have enough sink, which is important so that your body is cradled especially when sleeping on your side. A sumptuous and nest like mattress is the best option, one made without all of the petroleum based compounds found in most beds.
The ideal mattress for sleep apnea, as well as as allergy and asthma sufferers is a natural latex mattress, hands down. Not only does a natural latex mattress offer a chemical free surface since it is made with botanically derived liquid latex rubber that is converted to a highly elastic and super comfortable bed, it is ideal for adjustable beds as it can be folded or bent over on itself with ease, and does not get damaged in the process.
If you are either a back sleeper on an adjustable base, or a side sleeper on a flat base or foundation, natural latex provides buoyant and uplifting support and just enough settling, or sinking in to cradle and support your body while on its side without creating pressure points or feeling like you’ve fallen into a crevice.
Natural latex is anti-microbial, anti-mold and mildew, has virtually no odor, and is not photo-reactive, meaning it won’t slowly begin to pill and turn crusty brown like an old sofa cushion, when you remove the cover.
They are heavier than a lot of conventional “bed in a box” type foam beds you can purchase online, but the quality is far superior to these inexpensive polyurethane foam options.We’ve carefully researched latex mattresses for years,