- Treating Sleep Apnea at Home
In mild cases of sleep apnea, you may be able to treat it by changing your behavior, such as:
- Losing weight
- Avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills
- Changing sleep positions to improve breathing
- Stopping smoking. Smoking can increase the swelling in the upper airway, which may worsen both snoring and apnea.
- Avoiding sleeping on your back
- CPAP
Continuous positive airway pressure -- also called CPAP -- is a treatment in which a mask is worn over the nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The mask is hooked up to a machine that delivers a continuous flow of air into the nose. This air flow helps keep the airways open so that breathing is regular. CPAP is considered by many experts to be the most effective treatment for sleep apnea.
- Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances
Sleep apnea oral appliances can be made that help keep the airway open during sleep. Such devices can be specifically designed by dentists with special expertise in treating sleep apnea.
