Best Pillow for Snoring

Just where does the sound of snoring come from? When air is trying to come through an obstructed airway it creates the sound of snoring. Often if your tongue or throat is relaxed and your head isn’t elevated, that causes an obstruction that leads to the sound of snoring. The noise of the snore is simply muscle vibrations as the air attempts to push through the obstruction.  Of course, that doesn’t sound too bad, unless you are trying to sleep next to it!

You could be snoring because of simple sinus issues or allergies but it could also be a symptom of a condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that could be deemed serious if your breathing repeatedly stops and starts.  If you snore loudly and find yourself feeling tired even after you had a full night’s sleep you may have sleep apnea and you should check in with your doctor.

Best Pillow for Snoring

Here are some common symptoms and signs of sleep apnea:

• Loud snoring
• Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Awakening with a dry mouth
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Difficulty paying attention while awake
• Irritability

You are also more likely to snore if you:

• are overweight
• smoke
• drink excessive amounts of alcohol

For many people, the right pillow can be an effective tool for ending the battle with snoring. How does a pillow help? It all has to do with the position in which you sleep, affecting whether or not you snore.  A pillow that puts your head in a more upright position can open up obstructed airways and reduce or even erase your snoring problem. 

These pillows that help alleviate your snoring will align your head and shoulders for open airways or make sure they keep you sleeping on your side.  These anti-snoring pillows come in various sizes and shapes, some have a lower center, others such as wedge pillows are meant to keep your head at a high angle, while a body pillow will keep you from turning over on to your back. 

Wedge Pillows

When selecting a wedge pillow, one of the main factors you will want to examine is the angle of the wedge.  Most people find that smaller angles are best for back and neck issues while a large angle is better for snoring, especially if caused by sleep apnea. Wedge pillows are larger than a standard sleeping pillow and are heavier too. Most wedge pillows are made from dense memory foam for durability and support. Wedge pillows that put your upper body at about a 45-degree angle work best. Not every pillow will work for everyone. Give yourself a few nights as a test. Before you buy any pillow, see if you’ll be able to return it if it doesn’t help with your snoring. A specialty pillow can cost well over $100. If it doesn’t work and you can’t return it, it can be an expensive experiment.

Body Pillows

A conforming body pillow is a great solution for snores while back sleeping. While sleeping on your back, your airwaves easily constrict causing some fairly vigorous snoring.  While your partner may roll you over it usually doesn’t last and you can end up back on your back.  By using a comfortable and breathable body pillow you will find yourself sleeping comfortably all night on your side.

Snore Stop Pillows

These come in all shapes and sizes with different fillings but all of them set out to keep your airways open and your snoring to a minimum. Many anti-snoring pillows are made with polyurethane or heavy memory foam, both strong enough to keep you in the proper position while providing you neck support for comfort.  You may find some of these pillows designed to make it more comfortable to sleep with a CPAP machine, a device used by some people who have sleep apnea.

Last Words

Snoring happens when there is an obstruction or narrowing of the airway which causes parts of the mouth and throat to vibrate when air attempts to pass through, creating the unique sound of snoring.  While it can be a sign of underlying health problems, a person usually snores because of allergies, sinus issues, alcohol consumption, weight issues or sleeping position. The good news for your sleeping partner is that finding the right pillow can decrease or eliminate snoring by positioning the head and neck in a way that opens the airways, making it easier for air to flow through the throat and into the lungs.

If a pillow doesn’t help, your snoring may be from sleep apnea. The main warning sign of sleep apnea is feeling tired during the day, even after a full night’s sleep. Another telltale clue is if your bed partner tells you that you’re gasping for air many times throughout the night. Sleep apnea can be a bit more serious and you should get checked out by a doctor to see if you fall into this category. It’s more than just loud snoring. It can raise your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke if it’s not treated.