Sleep on side to beat snoring
Sleeping on your side may be the key to beating dangerous snoring and sleep apnea, new research suggests.
For many people with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition linked to heart disease and stroke, simply changing sleep position can be as effective as traditional treatments, experts say.
This disorder occurs when the muscles in the throat relax too much during sleep, temporarily obstructing the airway and causing loud snoring and repeated pauses in breathing.
Researchers found that approximately 75 percent of patients suffered from positional sleep apnea, where symptoms are triggered by lying on their back.
Scientists now believe that side sleeping therapy may offer a simple and long-term solution.
The findings, presented last week at the 2026 American Thoracic Society International Conference, showed that patients using positional therapy devices experienced major improvements and that the benefits persisted long after treatment was stopped.
These devices are designed to prevent sleepers from rolling onto their backs, and include vibrating straps that allow users to change positions or specially designed vests with balls sewn into the back.
After six months of treatment, more than two-thirds of patients continued to sleep on their side and were able to control their sleep apnea without the need for devices. The researchers found that the improvements were still present a year later.
Current treatment for obstructive sleep apnea usually involves a CPAP machine, which pumps air through a face mask throughout the night to keep the airways open.
But many patients struggle with the equipment.
Studies show that CPAP use is stopped in half due to discomfort, and experts are looking for alternatives.
D., head of the sleep unit at Ramon y Cajal Hospital in Madrid and one of the study investigators. “We observed that position therapy was not only comparably effective to CPAP, but also better tolerated,” said Irene Cano-Pumarega.
There is currently no licensed medication for sleep apnea.
Doctors warn that untreated sleep apnea can do more than disrupt a partner’s sleep, it can increase the risk of serious complications such as heart disease, stroke and extreme daytime fatigue.
Recent findings suggest that for many patients, the answer may be as simple as surrender.
