For individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the journey to restful, rejuvenating sleep can feel like an uphill battle. OSA is characterised by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, which can lead to frequent awakenings, reduced oxygen levels, and long-term health risks, including cardiovascular disease and chronic unrefreshing sleep with daytime sleepiness..
While Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy remains a cornerstone of treatment, experts are increasingly emphasising the importance of sleep posture in managing OSA symptoms, particularly for patients who snore or who have sleep apnoea predominantly confined to supine sleep. Enter the DrRest Mattress, an innovative solution meticulously designed to support side sleeping and spinal alignment, two critical factors in aiding non-supine sleep, therefore reducing sleep apnoea symptoms and obtaining a restful sleep .
In this piece, we’ll explore how the DrRest Mattress can transform sleep for supine OSA sufferers and those experiencing musculoskeletal pain.
The Osteopathy Australia endorsed DrRest mattress, was designed in consultation with a team of healthcare experts who undertook exhaustive medical literature research and combined it with their retrospective clinical experience to create an unparalleled mattress that adapts to unique body types and supports side sleeping.
Dr Nick Antoniades: DrRest Supporting Sleep Apnoea Patients
This product is medically reviewed by Dr. Nick Antoniades, a leading respiratory and sleep specialist and his colleagues of health experts, Dr. George Michael (Osteopath), Dr. Gerald Quan (Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon) and Dr. Peter Liodakis (Urologist) who launched DrRest in Australia.
Sleep Apnoea: Understanding the Challenge
Sleep apnoea is a condition that affects millions worldwide, yet many cases remain undiagnosed or untreated which is where a sunrise sleep test may be an option to consider. Dr. Antoniades explains that sleep apnoea often causes fragmented sleep due to frequent breathing interruptions, leaving individuals feeling unrefreshed, exhausted and sleepy despite spending a full night in bed. Beyond the immediate impact on daily life, untreated OSA can increase the risk of:
- Heart disease and high blood pressure.
- Impaired glucose tolerance
- Stroke
- Mental health issues, including anxiety and depression
- Nocturia – going to the toilet at night
A significant finding in sleep research highlights that sleeping position plays a crucial role in managing supine sleep apnoea. Back sleeping often worsens symptoms as the tongue and soft tissues in the throat collapse backward, obstructing the airway. Conversely, side sleeping can help keep the airway open, reducing apnoea episodes and improving overall sleep quality. This is where the DrRest Mattress comes into play.
Dr. Nick Antoniades on How the DrRest Mattress Supports Sleep Apnoea Patients
Respiratory and sleep specialist, Dr. Nick Antoniades, has shared the immense value of a mattress that customises to the individual, such as DrRest, in helping those who suffer from supine obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring achieve a restful nights sleep.
How Side Sleeping Can Alleviate Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea can cause significant health issues, especially when left untreated or undiagnosed, impacting the quality of one’s life. Dr. Antoniades explains that for many patients, frequent interruptions to breathing during sleep cause a decrease in oxygen levels and sleep fragmentation leading to chronic sleep deprivation resulting in unrefreshing sleep and excessive daytime somnolence.
Untreated severe obstructive sleep apnoea can also be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease including cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, stroke and contribute to anxiety and depression. Snoring can also be a concern for partners leading to sleep deprivation.
In some patients snoring and sleep apnoea are predominantly confined to supine sleep and using a positional modification device can resolve the issue. A comfortable mattress that facilitates side sleeping is important in these situations, as some people find it hard to sleep on their side due to neck, shoulder and hip pain. This is where the DrRest sleep system excels.
The DrRest mattress’s enhanced spinal alignment feature relieves pressure on the spine and shoulders, helping patients to experience restorative sleep without the pain patients may experience with side-sleeping on traditional mattresses (including some memory foam mattresses).
Dr. Antoniades notes that patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring can experience worse symptoms when sleeping on their back and in some patients their issue is predominantly confined to sleeping on their back, improving or resolving when they are on their side.
If a patient has symptoms of sleep apnoea they will have a sleep study and as part of this positional data will be obtained detailing the amount of sleep apnoea both on their back and side. For patients who have sleep apnoea predominantly confined to supine sleep, a positional modification device is used to help prevent them going on their back.
He explains, “A proportion of my patients won’t be able to maintain non-supine sleep because of shoulder, neck, or hip pain, so for me, a comfortable mattress that allows people to sleep on their side was essential.”
This is where side-sleeping can make a difference in getting a good night’s sleep as it can reduce or resolve obstructive sleep apnoea in these patients by helping to keep their airways open.
Key Features of the DrRest Mattress:
- Unique Shoulder Zone with Technogel© for sleeping
The DrRest Mattress incorporates a specialized shoulder zone with Technogel©, a three-dimensional, biocompatible gel originally used in surgical settings to prevent pressure sores. This gel allows the shoulder to sink into the mattress, relieving pressure and maintaining proper spinal alignment.
- Self-Levelling Support System
Unlike conventional mattresses, the DrRest features a self-leveling support system that adapts to different body types and sleeping positions. This minimises side bending and ensures consistent support throughout the night.
- Enhanced Spinal Alignment
Proper spinal alignment is crucial for restorative sleep. The DrRest Mattress relieves pressure on the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine, reducing the risk of pain-related awakenings and improving overall sleep quality.
- Cooling Mattress Technology
Many individuals with sleep disorders struggle with overheating during the night, which can disrupt sleep. The DrRest Mattress uses Technogel©, which has been shown to reduce core body temperature by increasing conductive body heat loss from the body to the mattress. Decreasing core body temperature has been shown to increase the amount of slow wave, deep sleep, a critical stage of sleep involved in restorative sleep and physical recovery.
The Role of Mattresses in Sleep Apnoea Treatment
DrRest’s goal was to create a mattress that supports those who suffer from supine sleep apnoea, supine snoring and those who, throughout the night, suffer from persistent pain in their lower back, neck, hip and shoulder. Their company’s mission was to create a mattress that supports restful, comfortable sleep but particularly helps side sleepers to improve sleep quality.
Using sleep alignment technology, DrRest’s mattresses are customisable to unique body shapes and sizes, thus enhancing support during sleep, reducing pain, and alleviating pressure points. DrRest created a self-levelling design which adapts to each body shape, minimising bending of the spine.
As shown in the image above, the DrRest mattress allows individuals to sleep on their side and maintain spinal alignment, enabling a restful sleep. Unlike a conventional foam mattress, this helps ease pain commonly experienced with side sleeping whilst reducing the impact of supine obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring with the aid of a positional modification device.
Sleep Aponea Mattress has Clinical Backing and Expert Insights
The development of the DrRest Mattress was guided by reviewing extensive clinical research. Trials conducted by Dr. Michael and his team in a clinical setting showed significant improvements in spinal alignment in people who lay on a DrRest versus the same mattress without the DrRest design.
Orthopaedic spinal surgeon Dr. Gerald Quan adds, “One of the key differentiators of whether someone needs surgery or has pain severe enough for surgery is whether they have pain at night keeping them awake. The DrRest Mattress may address this issue by promoting sleep comfort and reducing pain.”
Why DrRest is the Ideal Choice for OSA Patients
The DrRest Mattress represents a breakthrough in sleep technology. Its design reflects a deep understanding of the connection between sleep posture, spinal alignment, and supine sleep apnoea management. For those seeking a solution to their restless nights, this mattress offers:
- Reduced apnoea episodes and snoring in patients who suffer from predominantly supine sleep apnoea and snoring through aiding side sleeping when a positional modification device is used.
- Improved spinal alignment which may lead to less pain and sleep interruption.
- Materials that have been shown to reduce core body temperature and support deeper sleep.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed with supine OSA or snoring or seeking to optimize your sleep with CPAP therapy, the DrRest Mattress is a vital addition to your sleep routine.
The Impact of Spinal Alignment and pain on Sleep Architecture
Dr. Antoniades emphasises that pain can lead to sleep restriction through frequent wakings and time spent awake with pain can reduce total sleep time. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea and chronic musculoskeletal pain sleep not only significantly less but also with inferior sleep quality1.
Proper spinal alignment takes pressure off your lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine. DrRest created pressure relief by looking at the pressure points that the mattress exerts on the patient when laying on it. Through this research, now, when laying on a DrRest mattress, individuals can feel an optimal interface pressure.
Technogel© Technology for Better Sleep Outcomes
Dr. Antoniades’ also highlights the importance of Technogel© in the DrRest mattresses. He refers to a study conducted at the University of Basel and the University of Torino on Technogel© versus foam mattresses. (referenced below)
The study showed a significant decrease in core body and back surface temperature during sleep with a Technogel© mattress, thereby resulting in an increase in slow-wave sleep. “The Technogel© component decreases core body temperature by up to 0.3 degrees, which can result in an increase in slow-wave sleep – the most restorative stage of sleep.”
A unique aspect of DrRest is the use of Technogel© specifically in the shoulder/back area. This type of Technogel© is used in operative surgery for pressure care, helping prevent nerve damage and pressure sores during prolonged surgeries.
For those who suffer from supine obstructive sleep apnoea or snoring using a positional device or musculoskeletal pain, the DrRest mattress may be the difference between a restful night’s sleep and a night filled with pain and frustration.
Feel the Difference in Your Sleep – Try a DrRest Mattress today!
