Obstructive sleep apnoea is a severe snoring condition that can have deadly complications. While CPAP treatment has been the traditional method of treatment, many patients report discomfort and struggle to stick to using them. Researchers have found that positional therapy, using devices to ensure patients sleep on their side, can be a comparable and better-tolerated alternative. The improved ease of use could make this a useful discovery for many patients.
Getting patients to sleep on their side could be the most effective form of treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea - a severe snoring condition that can have deadly complications.
The condition occurs when the walls of the throat relax during sleep, blocking the airways. The majority of patients - about 75 per cent - have positional sleep apnoea, which is triggered by sleeping on their back. Now researchers have found that using a positional therapy device, which ensures patients sleep on their side, is an effective long-term treatment for the condition, which can trigger a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
The findings were presented at the 2026 American Thoracic Society International Conference last week. Researchers found that the treatment leads to long-term improvement for patients, even after active treatment is stopped. After six months of using a positional device, more than two-thirds of patients continued to sleep on their sides and were able to control their sleep apnoea without treatment. This effect remained even a year later.
There are positional devices available for sale already - for example, a belt that vibrates when the user rolls on to their back, prompting them to switch position, or a vest with a ball sewn into the back. Obstructive sleep apnoea is a severe snoring condition that can have deadly complications.
Currently there is no drug licensed for sleep apnoea, and patients are often prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - a machine that delivers air through a mask, worn at night, to keep the airways open. But as many as half of patients struggle to stick to using CPAP masks due to discomfort. Experts say the latest findings could provide a simple solution for those patients.
‘We observed that positional therapy was not only effective - comparable to CPAP - but also better tolerated,’ said Dr Irene Cano-Pumarega, head of the sleep unit at Madrid’s Ramon y Cajal Hospital and one of the scientists behind the research
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Positonal Therapy CPAP Researchers Sleep Apnoea Heart Disease Stroke
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
EXCLUSIVE: True Beauty Ventures Invests in Sleep or DieTrue Beauty Ventures backs Sleep or Die with $1M, supporting innovative sleep solutions like mouth tape and strips to disrupt the sleep industry.
Read more »
David Haye Launches AI Therapy to Help People Quit SmokingDavid Haye, a former boxer and cigar-lover, has launched a surprising new career creating a brand of AI therapy to help people quit smoking. He calls his method the "Combustion Reduction Programme" and aims to help people gradually reduce their smoking over a few months.
Read more »
David Haye Launches AI Therapy to Help People Quit SmokingDavid Haye, a former boxer and cigar-lover, has launched a surprising new career creating a brand of AI therapy to help people quit smoking. He calls his method the "Combustion Reduction Programme" and aims to help people gradually reduce their smoking over a few months.
Read more »
Sleep Tourism and the Impact of Dreams on Sleep QualityThis article discusses the growing trend of sleep tourism, where travelers seek out sleep-focused stays with smart beds, blackout rooms, spa treatments and personalized wellness programs. It also highlights a new study that found more immersive dreaming during NREM2 sleep was linked to a preserved sense of sleep depth, and the importance of recurring bad dreams as a potential indicator of sleep issues. Additionally, the article mentions how Ozempic, a drug used for weight loss, may be changing how doctors treat sleep apnea.
Read more »