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Best mattresses for sleep apnea
When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, one thing that can really get in the way is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be caused by a number of factors, from genetics to unhealthy lifestyle habits, and is a common cause of sleep interruption for nearly 40 million US adults. One way to find relief from sleep apnea symptoms is to invest in the right mattress for the job.
First things first: If you suspect you have sleep apnea, talk with your doctor about a possible diagnosis. Testing for sleep apnea is easy, and once you know what you’re dealing with, you can discuss treatment options and lifestyle adjustments — including whether you need a new mattress.
You should consider how effective your mattress is at giving you a good night’s sleep. Do you wake up feeling sore in certain areas? Are you sinking too deeply into your mattress, regardless of which sleep position you go with? These are signs you may benefit from a new mattress in your home.
We’ve put together a list of the best mattresses for sleepers with sleep apnea below.
Best mattresses for sleep apnea
Shop the best mattresses for sleep apnea from some of your favorite mattress brands including Helix, Nectar, and more.
Find your soon-to-be-favorite mattress from our list below.
Best for back support: Plank Firm
Plank
If sleep apnea is getting between you and a good night’s sleep, a firm mattress may be the thing you’re missing. When it comes to a mattress that helps support proper back alignment, the Plank Firm mattress is our top recommendation.
It’s not just us saying that this to be one of the best mattresses for firm support. This firm mattress is also backed by the American Chiropractic Association. The ACA says the mattress can help reduce spinal stress, improve lumbar support, and alleviate back pain.
This mattress boasts an all-foam design, so even though it’s on the firmer side of things (10 out of 10 on the firmness scale) — there’s no sacrificing comfort.
Best for:
- sleepers struggling with sleep apnea on a mattress with little to no support.
- sleepers on the market for the best mattresses for back pain.
- fans of firm mattresses.
Most comfortable: Helix Midnight Luxe mattress
Helix Sleep
For a medium level of support, sleepers can choose no better than this luxury mattress by Helix. Featuring memory foam for improved targeted relief and a highly breathable top cover, this mattress has a lot to offer sleepers.
Sleeping on your back isn’t for everyone — especially if you deal with sleep apnea every night. If you’re mostly a side sleeper looking for something that isn’t too firm, this might just be the mattress for you.
Best for:
- side sleepers.
- sleepers that toss and turn during the night.
- fans of pressure-point relief (specifically around the hips and shoulders).
- hot sleepers — this mattress comes with a breathable Tencel cover, but shoppers can upgrade to Helix’s patented GlacioTex cooling cover and enjoy maximum heat absorption for an extra $249.
Best memory foam: Nectar Premier
Nectar
The premier mattress sold by Nectar is another top-tier choice for side sleepers. This mattress, featuring layers of memory foam for body-contouring comfort, also offers enhanced pressure relief and cooling features for a blissful night’s sleep.
A memory foam mattress may not be the first choice for back sleepers with obstructive sleep apnea (hint: go with a firmer mattress for good back support), but those soft layers of memory foam can help align the spine and reduce symptoms of sleep apnea for dedicated side sleepers.
Thanks to multiple layers of plush memory foam and therapeutic gel, plus a seven-inch stable base layer for added support, the Nectar Premier is one such mattress.
Best for:
- side sleepers looking for a more budget-friendly mattress.
- sleepers who prefer a great memory foam mattress that offers a mix of plush comfort and proper support.
Best mattress you can flip: Layla Hybrid
Layla
This hybrid mattress by Layla has a lot to offer: layers of memory foam, coil springs, and a 10-year warranty. That makes this a great long-term investment for sleepers with obstructive sleep apnea.
What sets this mattress apart is its dual-layer design that gives sleepers a choice between soft and firm each and every night. The soft, plush side offers an advanced cooling design, while the flip side props up sleepers with a firm build and maximum support.
Best for:
- sleepers that want the best of both worlds when it comes to soft vs. firm mattress types.
- sleepers that switch up their sleep position from time to time.
- anyone looking for one of the best hybrid mattresses on the market today.
How we chose the best mattresses for sleep apnea
Firm support and a comfortable design that contours to your body are important to enjoying a restful night’s sleep when you have sleep apnea, but they’re not the only important details. For a closer look at how we review certain products, here’s everything that went into ranking the best mattresses for sleep apnea relief:
- Lumbar support: Whether it was a memory foam mattress, innerspring coil mattress, or hybrid mattress — we specifically looked for reliable lumbar support.
- Customer reviews: We combed through verified customer reviews — in other words, real buyers — to ensure they were consistently pleased with these brands and models.
- Star rating: All of these products have a four-star rating or higher.
- Your needs: We picked mattresses for a variety of budgets and needs, such as affordability, durability and more.
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Long before comic book characters dominated movie screens, actor Christopher Reeve made the world believes in superheroes with the 1978 classic “Superman.”
Reeve died in 2004, nearly a decade after an accident re-shaped his life. “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” is using interviews with family and friends and never-before-seen home videos to explore his real-life heroism.
Reeve started his career on the stage, studying at the prestigious Juilliard School and living with comedian Robin Williams. The pair had a friendship that was “more like a brotherhood,” said Reeve’s son Matthew. Reeve was in awe of Williams’ energy and versatility, Matthew Reeve said, but audiences quickly clued into Reeve’s own star power when he took on the role of the Man of Steel.
Warner Bros. Pictures / Getty Images
To his children, though, he “was just dad,” Matthew Reeve said. The documentary explores how Matthew Reeve and his sister Alexandra Reeve Givens grew up watching their dad take the stage as Superman. “Super/Man” also reveals their heartbreak over their parents’ breakup and the joy they found when Reeve re-married. He tied the knot with Dana Reeve in 1992, and the pair welcomed another child, William Reeve, later that year.
“Dana was sunshine,” Alexandra Reeve Givens recalled. “She just brought joy with her wherever she was and could find it even in the darkest moments.”
Those dark moments came suddenly, when in 1995, a near-fatal horseback riding accident left Reeve paralyzed from the neck down. The documentary allows viewers to see, for the first time, what went on out of the public’s view. Reeve can be heard talking about how he “ruined (his) life and everybody else’s,” but in a touching moment, old friend Robin Williams is seen visiting him in the hospital.
“Robin showed him ‘Hey, you’re still you,'” Alexandra Reeve Givens said. “‘You still have this foundation of friendship and people around you, who adore you. And you’re going to find those fun moments in life again.'”
That support from friends and family re-ignited Reeve’s legacy of activism. He made appearances at the Democratic National Convention and the 68th Academy Awards in 1996, about a year after the accident. Matthew Reeve said watching his father address his industry peers at the Oscars was “one of (his) most proud moments.”
“It was just a production for him to get out of bed every morning, let alone get across the country and go out in public for the first time,” Matthew Reeve said. “It was a big deal. It was a big deal to him, but it was also a big deal to the entire disability community. We stayed up in London till like three in the morning to watch that live. It’s a fond memory.”
Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images
Reeve also went on to launch what would become the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing research into spiral cord injury and help individuals and families impacted by paralysis. It was his dad’s mission to find a cure, Matthew Reeve said, while his stepmother wanted to focus on improving the lives of paralyzed people and their families. The foundation and Reeve’s platform helped bring unprecedented attention and funding to spinal cord injury research.
Reeve even kept acting and realized his lifelong dream of directing with the 1997 HBO movie “In the Gloaming.” Reeve died in 2004 from heart failure at 52.
“There is a huge amount of great actors and actresses out there, where their filmography might be amazing and what they achieve on a cultural level might be amazing, but have they actually achieved anything really as a human that moves the needle for our society?” said filmmaker Ian Bonhote, who made the documentary with Peter Ettedgui. “And Chris has done both things.”
“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” will open in theaters on Friday, Oct. 11.
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