While uncommon, a doctor can cure sleep apnea. Identifying the cause can help you seek the right treatment options to eliminate or reduce symptoms.
Sleep apnea occurs when the upper parts of your airway are compressed or collapse when you’re sleeping. This can stop muscles from keeping the throat open, making it hard for air to pass through when you breathe.
There are many possible causes of this condition, so it’s uncommon for a doctor to provide a cure for sleep apnea. But there are several ways you can manage the condition so that the symptoms aren’t disruptive to your sleep or your health.
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that can be difficult to cure. People who have overweight or obesity may find that weight loss can eliminate or reduce symptoms.
Extensive research supports the use of medical treatments and lifestyle changes to reduce the impact of sleep apnea on health and daily life.
A 2021 study found a strong link between an active lifestyle and a reduction in symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The researchers noted that regular exercise helped address some of the main causes of OSA, including:
- increased fat buildup
- inflammation
- insulin resistance linked to type 2 diabetes
- fluid retention throughout the body (edema)
A 2024 study also found the diabetes medication
- reducing body weight
- getting more oxygen while breathing
- reducing inflammatory markers in your blood
- lowering systolic blood pressure
- better reported sleep
Your anatomy is the biggest contributor to sleep apnea. If you have small airways or an unusual formation of your throat tissues, you might be at a higher risk for various causes of sleep apnea.
Some of the most common
- deviated septum
- turbinates (passages that warm and moisten air) in your nose that are larger than usual
- a soft palate that’s too soft or floppy
- a large tongue, tonsils, or adenoids that obstruct your airway
- damage to your airways from snoring
- nerve damage from airway swelling
- having a shorter lower jaw than upper jaw (
retrognathia )
Some of the main triggers of sleep apnea include:
- sleeping position, such as on your side or back
- drinking alcohol right before you sleep
- smoking
- allergies that include nasal congestion
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- stroke
Some of the most successful treatments for sleep apnea include:
- Airway machines: Machines such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), may help improve your airflow.
- Mouthguards: These can help keep your mouth and airways open.
- Medications: Drugs like tirzepatide (Mounjaro) can help treat obesity and type 2 diabetes along with complications like sleep apnea.
- Nerve stimulation implant surgery: This surgery may help trigger nerve responses in your airways to help keep you breathing when you sleep.
- Septoplasty: A procedure to treat a deviated septum that might be blocking your nasal airflow.
- Tongue or soft palate surgeries: Surgeries to help clear space for air to move through your airways.
Here are some lifestyle tips for helping reduce the impact of sleep apnea on your health:
- breathing exercises, such as circular breathing, to tone the muscles that help you breathe
- tongue exercises like myofunctional therapy to strengthen your mouth and throat muscles
- aerobic exercises and resistance training to strengthen your body and improve your lung capacity
- yoga to open your airways and relax your muscles
- a humidifier to help keep your airways moist
Here are some tips for reducing your risk of sleep apnea:
- reducing or quitting smoking, if you smoke, may help prevent airway damage and inflammation
- reducing or quitting drinking alcohol, if you drink, may help prevent the metabolic effects of alcohol on your body and breathing
- following a regular sleep schedule can help train your body to relax before bed
- changing your sleeping position may help you breathe more easily, such as sleeping on your side
While uncommon, a doctor may be able to cure sleep apnea. There are plenty of treatments and management options to help reduce or eliminate the impact of sleep apnea on your life.
If you find that sleep apnea is impacting your day-to-day life, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They can work with you to put together a suitable treatment plan.