Effects of Head Elevation by a Bed on Sleep-disordered Breathing

Sleep is known to be a dynamic state of consciousness that is characterized by rapid fluctuations in autonomic activity as well as changes in body postures. Body postures during sleep influence the severity of sleep-disordered breathing because a supine position is associated with an increase in upper airway collapsibility and thus an increase in frequency and duration of snoring and apnea. Use of an adjustable bed to elevate patients' head might improve those conditions. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether use of an automatic adjustable bed is associated with reducing sleep-disordered breathing in patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to upper airway problems.