But when sleep apnea is part of the picture, no amount of bedtime “hacks” can fully compensate for what’s happening once your head hits the pillow. If you’ve been diagnosed with — or suspect you have — sleep apnea, the issue isn’t how quickly you fall asleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes repeated pauses or reductions in breathing throughout the night, triggering drops in blood oxygen and frequent mini-arousals that sabotage quality sleep. Positional Pillows“Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are often much worse when people are sleeping on their backs. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to treating sleep apnea.