Positional Therapy for Mild Sleep Apnea: Does It Work?

Sleep apnea is a pretty common sleep disorder. You’re not alone if your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night. It can cause loud (and partner frustration-inducing) snoring, frequent awakenings, and daytime fatigue, often leaving both you and your household exhausted. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapies are considered the “gold standard.” But many people in Dallas, TX, with mild sleep apnea prefer more comfortable, low-maintenance alternatives. One such approach is positional therapy for sleep apnea.

Causes of Mild Sleep Apnea

Mild sleep apnea most often occurs when you are sleeping on your back and your tongue and other soft tissues in your throat fall backward, blocking your airway. Sleep apnea is considered “mild” when you have between 5 and 15 apnea events per hour. To diagnose if someone has sleep apnea and to what severity, a sleep study is needed. Once your results are evaluated, your provider can recommend mild sleep apnea solutions that best fit your needs and lifestyle.

What Is Positional Therapy?

Positional therapy is a non-invasive treatment for sleep apnea that focuses on adjusting a person’s sleeping position to reduce apnea events. If you experience mild sleep apnea, most of your apnea events likely happen when you lie on your back. Changing your sleeping position can help keep your airway open and reduce episodes of snoring and apnea.

Common positional aids we recommend include:

• Pillows designed to keep you on your side
• Wearable devices that vibrate when you roll onto your back
• Backpack-like supports or wedges that make it less comfortable to roll onto your back

Mild Sleep Apnea Can Lead to Bigger Issues

Mild sleep apnea is often overlooked and often mistaken for loud snoring or an inconvenience for family members sleeping nearby. 

If sleep apnea continues untreated and worsens, it can lead to:

• Severe daytime drowsiness
• Irritability
• Depression
• Attention issues at work and at home
• Morning headaches
• A chronic sore throat and dry mouth

Finding effective mild sleep apnea solutions early on, including positional therapy in Dallas, TX, can help. Positional therapy is non-invasive and doesn’t require you to wear a mask or use a machine. It’s easier to commit to than a CPAP device, and reducing apnea episodes will greatly improve your sleep quality.

Sleep Better in Texas with Crosspointe Sleep Solutions

At Crosspointe Sleep Solutions, we help patients discover personalized ways to get better rest and breathe easier. Our team offers at-home sleep testing, advanced diagnostic tools, and a variety of CPAP alternatives, including positional therapy for sleep apnea in Dallas, TX, and airway-focused orthodontic options.

Contact us to schedule your first appointment, or start by taking our Sleep Quality Quiz to see if sleep apnea may be your problem.