Can Sleep Apnea Be Cured?

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person experiences multiple periods of stopped or shallow breathing while they sleep  There are two main causes of sleep apnea. Most often, sleep apnea arises due to physical blockage of the windpipe, in which is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)  Another type of sleep apnea, called central sleep apnea (CSA), occurs when the brain fails to properly control breathing.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

During sleep, muscles in the upper airway relax, and the airway becomes narrower as a result  Obstructive sleep apnea arises when the airway repeatedly collapses to slow or block breathing, which lowers oxygen levels and causes sleep interruptions 

The chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea depend in part on how much space is occupied by soft tissues in the airway Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . Someone may be more likely to experience OSA if they have:

• A lower jaw that is set back relative to the rest of the face 
• A large tongue 
• More soft tissue near the airway due to genetics or obesity 
• Enlarged tonsils, which is particularly common in children 

Various other individual risk factors can also contribute to the narrowing of the upper airway. For example, sleeping on one’s back, using alcohol or sedatives, having nasal congestion, or having lower lung volume related to obesity may affect how well the upper airway stays open during sleep. 

Central Sleep Apnea

In the most common form of central sleep apnea (CSA), a sleeper breathes more deeply or quickly than usual Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source , which prompts the brain to briefly stop sending signals to continue breathing  This causes carbon dioxide levels to rise, leading the sleeper to take more deep or rapid breaths, triggering a recurring cycle of disrupted respiratory patterns and periods of stopped breathing 

Central sleep apnea is not as common as obstructive sleep apnea  The condition tends to occur in connection with other health conditions, such as stroke, heart failure, or opioid drug use  CSA occurs more frequently in older adults and people of male sex  Some people may also experience short-term CSA symptoms when they ascend to high altitudes Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source .

Does Sleep Apnea Go Away Naturally? 

It is extremely rare for sleep apnea in adults to resolve on its own  Without taking active steps to improve breathing during sleep Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source , OSA can be expected to continue, leading to poor sleep and potentially serious health complications  Similarly, central sleep apnea will not usually get better unless the underlying issues that cause it are addressed  

In rare cases, certain treatments, such as surgery to modify tissues near the airway or significant weight loss, may fully address the airway blockages that cause OSA. In some cases, treating an underlying condition can stop breathing disruptions from central sleep apnea 

In this way, sleep apnea does not go away naturally, but various approaches can decrease its impact. While this sometimes resolves the condition entirely, in most adults sleep apnea symptoms need to be managed on an ongoing basis  

In children, treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is more likely to lead to a long-term elimination of the condition Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . 

Sleep Apnea in Young Children

Obstructive sleep apnea in young children can sometimes be resolved with surgical procedures and orthodontics  Two techniques called adenotonsillectomy and rapid maxillary expansion often result in significant improvement to OSA symptoms, especially when both procedures are performed 

• Adenotonsillectomy: This surgery removes the tonsils at the back of the throat and the adenoids that sit behind the nasal cavity  Adenotonsillectomy may be appropriate for children with larger-than-usual adenoids and tonsils or for children with risk factors for OSA  For many children, adenotonsillectomy eliminates OSA, although it is possible for symptoms to reappear if the adenoids and tonsils grow back or if body changes from puberty or weight gain cause narrowing of the upper airway 
• Rapid maxillary expansion: Certain children who have not gone through puberty may be treated with an orthodontic procedure called rapid maxillary expansion  This procedure widens the nasal passages and the roof of the mouth, which is called the palate  To achieve this, a dental appliance is attached to the top of the mouth and the back teeth  Rapid maxillary expansion is most effective for children who have a narrow palate and whose OSA is not caused by enlarged adenoids or tonsils  
• Other surgeries: For some children, OSA occurs due to a combination of factors that affect more than one part of the airway  These children may need multiple surgical procedures to clear obstructions 

For young children with mild to moderate sleep apnea, some experts recommend waiting for a few months to see if obstructive sleep apnea clears up on its own before performing surgery  In the meantime, lifestyle changes to reduce congestion and improve sleep habits can help manage symptoms 

How to Reduce Your Risk of Sleep Apnea

One way to reduce the risk of developing sleep apnea or to manage sleep apnea symptoms is to address factors that contribute to disrupted breathing during sleep. 

• Lose weight: For people with overweight or obesity, losing weight can help control sleep apnea symptoms, although it usually does not cure the condition completely Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . A doctor can suggest the best way to lose weight at a healthy rate and may recommend drug therapy or bariatric surgery for weight loss  
• Avoid back sleeping: OSA symptoms are generally worse when back sleeping, especially for people with few other risk factors  As part of a larger treatment plan, sleeping on one’s side may contribute to better breathing during sleep  
• Raise the head of the bed: Experts sometimes recommend raising the head of the bed or using a large wedge pillow to prop up the upper body because these may help keep the airway open 
• Treat allergies: Allergens, tobacco smoke, and other environmental pollutants can cause nasal congestion that exacerbates symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea  Taking steps to reduce allergens in the bedroom may help  When these substances are difficult to avoid, using a saline spray or medications may decrease congestion 
• Quit smoking: Research suggests that people who smoke are up to three times more likely to have symptoms Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source of obstructive sleep apnea  Even for those who do not smoke, being around tobacco smoke can aggravate inflammation and increase symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea 
• Avoid alcohol before bed: Alcohol, sedatives, and certain other medications can dampen activity in the central nervous system, which may increase the risk of OSA symptoms  Limiting use of these substances before bedtime may reduce their impact on breathing during sleep 

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Sleep apnea treatment aims to eliminate breathing disruptions during sleep and improve sleep quality. For people with obstructive sleep apnea, this means keeping the airway open. For people with central sleep apnea, this means addressing underlying causes of irregular breathing patterns or using treatments to better control breathing.

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Therapy

In positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, users wear a mask over the nose or the nose and mouth  The mask is connected to a PAP machine and delivers a stream of pressurized air to the upper airway  

For people with OSA, the air pressure helps hold the airway open, and consistent use of a PAP device has been shown to effectively reduce breathing disruptions, enhance sleep, and improve quality of life  PAP therapy provides the most benefits for people with severe OSA  

Although there is less research on PAP therapy for central sleep apnea, studies suggest that PAP machines are effective in encouraging more stable respiration with fewer lapses in breathing 

PAP therapy does not cure sleep apnea, and it only works when the sleeper uses the device  However, some people find using a PAP machine or wearing the mask to be uncomfortable  In fact, as many as 50% of people stop using their PAP device, causing symptoms to come back  A doctor can usually suggest practical steps to make using a PAP device more comfortable.

Types of PAP devices include:

• CPAP: With continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, the mask is set to blow air at a steady rate to keep the airway open 
• BiPAP: Bilevel PAP, also known as BiPAP or BPAP, delivers air at one pressure level when breathing in and another when breathing out 
• APAP: In auto-titrating PAP (APAP), the machine detects changes in breathing and adjusts air pressure accordingly 
• ASV: Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) is a less commonly used form of PAP therapy that dynamically modifies air pressure levels during inhalation to offer breathing assistance that matches an individual’s needs. ASV may be used for certain types of central sleep apnea 

Oral Appliances

Oral appliances are worn during sleep to keep the airway open  The two most common types are mandibular advancement devices, which bring the jaw forward, and tongue retaining devices, which prevent the tongue from slipping back Trusted Source Merck Manual First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. View Source and blocking the airway  Oral appliances are custom-fitted to a person’s mouth by a dentist, and while they can reduce OSA symptoms, they are generally less effective than PAP therapy 

Mouth and Throat Exercises

Mouth and throat exercises aim to strengthen muscles so they are less likely to fall into a position that blocks the airway during sleep  Studies suggest these exercises may help reduce mouth breathing and marginally improve sleep apnea symptoms, but more research is needed to fully validate the extent of their benefits 

Surgery

Sleep apnea surgery for adults is most likely to work in people who have a clear anatomical reason for their OSA, such as large tonsils or a jaw that is set back significantly  OSA surgery has varying rates of success, and even when surgery is initially effective, sleep apnea can sometimes recur in the future 

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation 

People whose symptoms do not get better with PAP therapy may elect to have hypoglossal nerve surgery in which doctors implant a device that activates the nerves running to the tongue Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . The goal of this treatment is to stimulate the tissue so that it does not fall back and block the airway, and evidence suggests it can reduce symptoms in certain people with OSA 

Phrenic Nerve Stimulation

To treat central sleep apnea, doctors may implant a device to stimulate the phrenic nerve, which causes the diaphragm to contract as required for breathing  This type of treatment may offer benefits by compensating for the brain’s irregular control of breathing in people with CSA. 

Medication

Medication is not the first choice for treating sleep apnea as there is limited research on its effectiveness and it may carry side effects  However, some people with central sleep apnea may be prescribed medicine to aid breathing if other types of treatment are not effective