Sleep Apnea Treatments

Written by Alyson Powell Key
Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on April 28, 2025
10 min read

Sleep apnea is when your breathing starts and stops while you sleep.

Many people who have sleep apnea don't know they have it. Often, your bed partner is the first to notice your breathing pauses or loud snoring. But you may have sleep apnea even if you don't snore much or at all.

Sleep apnea is a common disorder. With treatment and lifestyle changes, it may be possible to manage it or even reverse it.

There isn't a cure for it, especially for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — the common form where air can't flow or has trouble flowing through your throat. Studies show that certain lifestyle changes can help reverse or make your sleep apnea less severe. Other treatment or surgical options can also reverse the condition.

The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea. People who use CPAP the right way often sleep better, stop or reduce snoring, and feel less tired during the day. Some studies show a link between long-term CPAP use and a small amount of weight gain in people with OSA. But the research is mixed, and experts still debate it.

Weight loss can improve sleep apnea symptoms. Some studies show that a 10% weight loss can lead to a 20%-30% drop in the severity of the condition.

You may be able to treat mild symptoms with some lifestyle changes. These small steps can sometimes ease symptoms without the need for machines or medical devices. For sleep apnea treatment at home, try the following:

Lose weight. About half of the people with sleep apnea are overweight. If you have some extra pounds, you might also have extra tissue in your throat that makes it harder to breathe.

Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills. They relax the muscles in your throat too much and can block your airflow.

Try a different sleep position. You may breathe better if you don't sleep on your back. Here's a simple trick to help — put two tennis balls in a sock and pin it to the back of your pajamas to stop yourself from rolling over.

Quit smoking. It can cause swelling in your upper airway and worsen snoring and apnea.

Treat allergies. Nasal allergies cause the tissues in your airways to swell, making them narrower, so it's harder to breathe.

If lifestyle changes aren't enough, your doctor may recommend a machine to help you breathe better at night. Different types of machines keep your airway open in different ways based on what your body needs.

CPAP

With CPAP, you wear a mask over your nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask is hooked up to a machine that delivers a constant flow of air into your nose. This airflow keeps your throat open so you can breathe the way you should.

Masks come in different sizes. A good fit helps your machine work the way it should. A sleep specialist or breathing expert can help you find the mask that fits you best.

Consider comfort. You should choose the mask that will work best with the shape of your face. Another key piece of mask choice is whether you breathe through your nose, your mouth, or both at night. Some machines are louder than others. Some take up more space than others. Consider how the machine you choose will work with your lifestyle.

Explore accessories. CPAP machines not only come with masks, tubing, and filters, but they also have add-ons you can get to make your machine more comfortable and easier to use. For example, pads can help soften the feel of the straps, and heated hoses can moisten the air as it enters your nose.

Find out who can fix your machine. If something goes wrong, it helps to know where to go for repairs.

Check your coverage. Most private health insurance policies cover CPAP machines and equipment, such as tubing, filters, masks, and headgear. The level of coverage will depend on your specific plan. Your plan may require you to rent your machine instead of buying one. You need a prescription to get a CPAP machine, so talk to your primary doctor or a sleep specialist who can review your sleep test.

Using a CPAP for the first time is also a whole new experience in general, so give yourself time to adjust.

BiPAP

BiPAP stands for bilevel positive airway pressure. BiPAP works like a CPAP machine, but the airflow changes when you breathe in and out. You'll wear a mask, which will connect the BiPAP machine to you. It'll use pressure to put air into your lungs. When you breathe normally, your diaphragm is pushed down so your lungs can fill with air. If you have sleep apnea, the BiPAP can help you breathe this way during sleep.

BiPAP is most often used for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is usually safe, but it isn't right for everyone. If you can't breathe well, swallow easily, or stay conscious while you use it, see your doctor. They may be able to change your treatment.

APAP

APAP stands for automatic positive airway pressure. If a CPAP machine causes problems or doesn't help, your doctor may prescribe an APAP. Unlike a CPAP machine, an APAP changes the air pressure while you sleep to match what your body needs. It props your airway open while you sleep so that nothing can block it.

Oral appliances are low-tech devices that can help keep your airway open while you sleep.They are often recommended for people with mild to moderate OSA, especially if you have trouble using a CPAP machine.These devices can also be a first step before trying more complex treatments.

"The most common one is a mandibular advancement oral appliance," says Daniel Rifkin, MD, a sleep medicine specialist and neurologist with Ognomy Sleep in New York.

"If you ever watch people play sports, it's a mouthguard, but there's an upper and lower mouthguard. It's a small device that advances the lower jaw forward, brings the base of the tongue away from the back of the throat, and opens up the throat."

They are also useful for those who experience breathing problems, mainly when lying on their back. But they are not typically recommended for individuals with severe OSA.

You might need surgery for sleep apnea if CPAP and oral appliances have not helped or if you have a medical condition that makes your throat too narrow. These conditions include enlarged tonsils, a small lower jaw with an overbite, or a deviated nasal septum (when the wall between your nostrils is off-center).

The most common types of surgery for sleep apnea include:

Nasal surgery. This fixes nasal problems such as a deviated septum.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). This takes out soft tissue from the back of your throat and palate, making your airway wider at the opening of your throat.

Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery. This fixes certain facial problems or throat blockages that play a role in sleep apnea.

Tongue base reduction. Your tongue can block your airway during sleep and cause sleep apnea. Surgery can help make your tongue firmer or remove tissue to make it smaller.

Implants (hypoglossal nerve stimulation). In this treatment, doctors place a small device under the skin in your chest. It connects to a nerve that helps move your tongue and keeps your airway open while you sleep.

Surgery to reposition the jaw. Your doctor moves your jaws forward to help open your airway and make breathing easier.

Tracheostomy. This is an operation for severe sleep apnea. Doctors make a small opening in your neck and windpipe to place a tube that helps you breathe better. A valve keeps the tube closed when you're awake.

Your doctor may do several tests to figure out what type of surgery (or surgeries) you may need. These tests may include endoscopic procedures, where flexible tubes with cameras are put into your nose and throat while you sleep to search for blockages. Your doctor may also use scans such as X-ray, CT, or MRI to look for blockages.

New treatments for sleep apnea offer more options beyond CPAP machines. Your doctor can suggest a minor procedure, an implantable device, or medicine based on what you need.

Somnoplasty. This treatment in your doctor's office shrinks and firms up the soft tissue in your palate.

Upper airway stimulation (UAS). If you can't use a CPAP, you might get a device called Inspire. It's an upper airway stimulator. Your doctor puts a small pulse generator under the skin on your upper chest. A wire that goes to your lungdetects your natural breathing pattern. Another wire up to your neck sends signals to the nerves that control your throat muscles, keeping them open. You can use a handheld remote control to turn it on before bed and turn it off after you wake up.

Medication. Drugs such as solriamfetol (Sunosi) can treat the sleepiness that often comes with sleep apnea.

Zepbound. It is a medicine for adults with obesity and moderate to severe OSA. It targets hormones in your gut that control hunger and helps you shed extra pounds. Studies show that losing weight can improve sleep apnea.

"Weight loss alone has been shown to improve obstructive sleep apnea in a large number of patients," says Rifkin. Besides medication, you should be working on weight loss through nutritional changes or physical exercise. "These are all great ways to approach treatment for obstructive sleep apnea."

With sleep apnea, your self-care is important. You can add certain steps to your routine to better care for yourself:

Try mouth exercises. Oropharyngeal exercises are mouth, tongue, and facial muscle exercises. A study found that they can help improve your daytime sleepiness, snoring, oxygen intake, quality of sleep, and other symptoms of sleep apnea.

Use a humidifier. Studies show that it works best to help prevent CPAP failure.

Check your prescriptions. Some prescription medications can worsen your sleep apnea. Muscle relaxers and painkillers (especially opioids) are most likely to do this. Ask your doctor about all the medications you're on to be sure they don't worsen your condition.

Meditation. Certain yoga breathing exercises and meditation can help improve factors related to sleep apnea. But experts need to do more studies to fully understand this link.

Sleep hygiene. Simple changes at home and better sleep habits can lower your risk of sleep apnea. Good sleep habits include:

  • Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day
  • Taking at least an hour to relax before bedtime
  • Turning off electronics
  • Keeping your room cool with dim lights
  • Picking a comfortable pillow and mattress

Treating sleep apnea can make a big difference in your daily life. It can help you sleep better at night, feel more awake and alert during the day, and lower your risk for serious health problems.

Treating your sleep apnea can:

  • Ease daytime tiredness
  • Reduce the risk of accidents
  • Lessen snoring
  • Improve headaches
  • Boost your mood
  • Make high blood pressure easier to treat
  • Help lessen swelling in your legs and feet

It is also believed that treating sleep apnea reduces the risk of complications such as:

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes

Sleep apnea is when you stop and restart breathing during your sleep. It's a common chronic condition, meaning that many people live with it for a long time. But you can manage or even reverse sleep apnea by using breathing masks, losing extra weight, and having surgery or other treatments.

What is the pill for sleep apnea?

Sunosi (solriamfetol) is the first FDA-approved medicine that helps you feel more awake during the day if you have sleep apnea or narcolepsy. It's not the kind of medicine that simply keeps you awake. It boosts two natural chemicals in your brain, dopamine and norepinephrine, that help you stay alert. 

Is there a pillow for sleep apnea?

There isn't a pillow that treats sleep apnea by itself, but picking one that fits your sleep position can make you more comfortable when using a CPAP. Side sleepers might use a pillow that's shaped to support the curve of the neck and shoulder. Stomach sleepers should use a thin pillow so the head and neck stay low. Back sleepers might try a wedge pillow to help lift the neck.

Can an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist help with snoring?

Yes. An ENT specialist treats problems of the ears, nose, and throat. They can find the cause of your snoring and suggest the best treatment.

What is the highest score on snoring?

Your snore score measures how loud and long you snore. In some cases, it can go higher than 100, and some people even score over 300. The snore score comes from apps like SnoreLab, but it is not the same as the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) score that doctors use to check how severe sleep apnea is.