Is sitting upright to Sleep a Solution for Sleep Apnea?

One of the more commonly asked questions sleep apnea experts answer is “Does sleeping sitting upright help with sleep apnea?” We already know that when a person with sleep apnea sleeps on their back, gravity closes or significantly narrows their airway (the space formed at the back of the mouth and upper throat areas).  At the same time, the amount of air that enters their lungs decreases along with the amount of air they exhale.

Statistics from sleep studies have shown that sleeping on one’s side or in an upright position can reverse gravity’s effect when you sleep.  While roughly half of American individuals with sleep apnea benefit from sleeping on their side or upright, about 20% to 30% of them only have symptoms of someone who sleeps on their back.  This is often referred to as POSA or positional obstructive sleep apnea.

Although definitions of the condition often vary, most experts agree that sleeping in a supine position (on your back) can double the AHI or apnea-hypopnea index when compared to sleeping on your side or any other position.  Furthermore, for roughly half of the individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), their symptoms can get better or get worse based on their sleeping position. Additionally, people with POSA are able to breathe more easily when sleeping sitting upright.