Treatments depend on the type and severity of sleep apnea. For milder cases, your health care provider may only suggest lifestyle changes, like losing weight or quitting smoking. Or they may prescribe a positive airway pressure (PAP) machine, which blows air through a tube and mask you wear while you sleep. This is a mainstay of treatment for people with obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Other options include surgery, oral appliances, and medications.

Sleep apnea treatments have been linked to problems with memory and mood, as well as a higher risk for heart disease. Sudden drops in oxygen levels increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system, raising the risk for a heart attack or stroke. It also increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias.

Exploring the Best Sleep Apnea Treatments for Better Sleep

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your upper airway becomes partially or completely blocked while you sleep, reducing or stopping the flow of oxygen to your brain. Things that can narrow your airway include being overweight, having large tonsils or going through menopause. Taking certain medicines, including sedatives and tranquilizers, can raise your risk. Using alcohol or smoking can worsen symptoms.

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn’t send the right signals to control your breathing and chest muscles. Health conditions that affect how your brain controls your airway and chest muscles, such as diabetes or congestive heart failure, can lead to central sleep apnea. Medications that reduce fluid retention and lower blood pressure can help with central sleep apnea, as can weight loss, moving to a smaller bed or using a CPAP device. A newer treatment, called adaptive servo-ventilation or ASV, delivers air pressure that adjusts in real time to anticipate and respond to central apneic events.