Sleep Apnea Treatments

When you have sleep apnea treatments apnea, your breathing stops frequently while you’re asleep. That deprives your body of oxygen, and it can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. It can also cause problems with your memory and mood. Other symptoms include snoring, trouble staying awake during the day, and feeling tired or irritable.

Lifestyle changes can help. They include losing weight (if you’re overweight), avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills, and sleeping on your side instead of on your back. These can reduce snoring and improve your ability to breathe while you’re asleep.

Top Sleep Apnea Treatments to Help You Sleep Better

Other treatments can keep your airway open, including a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and other devices that supply varying levels of air pressure. A mouthpiece that brings your tongue forward can prevent it from falling into your throat and blocking your airway. You can get these from dentists who specialize in treating sleep apnea.

Surgery to remove excess tissue in your nose or throat can open up your airway, but this isn’t an option for everyone. A uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) removes the teardrop-shaped soft tissue hanging at the back of your throat, and it can also reduce enlarged tonsils or adenoids.

A pacemaker-like device called upper airway stimulation — which is a newer treatment approved for people who can’t tolerate CPAP or other devices — sends small electric pulses to your tongue muscle. It can keep your airway open and may reduce snoring, but more research is needed.