{"id":388,"date":"2025-06-03T16:16:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T16:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oakridgedentalsanramon.com\/blog\/?p=388"},"modified":"2025-06-09T19:52:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T19:52:35","slug":"sleeping-in-a-recliner-for-sleep-apnea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oakridgedentalsanramon.com\/blog\/sleeping-in-a-recliner-for-sleep-apnea\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Sleeping in a Recliner May Be Beneficial If You Have Sleep Apnea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sleep apnea<\/a> is an all-too-common sleep disorder that can prevent you from getting quality sleep and leave you feeling exhausted during the day. Luckily, there are multiple steps you can take to manage your sleep-disordered breathing and enjoy more restful nights again. However, some of these steps aren\u2019t as obvious as others. Did you realize that sleeping in a recliner could make a significant difference for your sleep apnea? Here\u2019s a closer look at the reasons why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Causes Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While there\u2019s more than one type of sleep apnea, the most common kind is obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA for short. It occurs when the muscles at the back of your throat relax while you\u2019re asleep, which results in them blocking the airway. This leads to repeated pauses in your breathing that force your brain to wake your body up in an effort to get some air, thus making it very difficult to get a sufficient amount of rest during the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can Sleeping in a Recliner Help with Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the benefits of sleeping in a recliner is that it keeps your head elevated. This makes it less likely that the tissues in your throat will collapse while you\u2019re asleep, therefore lowering the likelihood of a sleep apnea episode occurring. Even a slight tilt can make a difference; research has shown that a 7.5-degree elevation of the head can go a long way toward improving sleep apnea symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can You Make Sleeping in a Recliner Easier?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say, sleeping in a recliner can feel quite strange at first if you\u2019re used to exclusively sleeping in a bed. Luckily, there are several ways to make the adjustment easier:<\/p>\n\n\n\n