How do you treat mild sleep apnea without CPAP?

5 Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
  1. Oral Appliances. Just as there are dental professionals who specialize in orthodontics or dental implants, there are also those who can help with sleep apnea. ...
  2. Oral Surgery. In some cases, genetics can be the cause of sleep apnea. ...
  3. Weight Loss. ...
  4. Positional Therapy. ...
  5. Inspire Therapy.


How do you get rid of mild sleep apnea?

Treatment
  1. Lose weight if you're overweight.
  2. Exercise regularly.
  3. Drink alcohol moderately, if at all. Don't drink in the hours before bedtime.
  4. Quit smoking.
  5. Use a nasal decongestant or allergy medications.
  6. Don't sleep on your back.
  7. Avoid taking sedative medications such as anti-anxiety drugs or sleeping pills.


Can mild sleep apnea be reversed?

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition. Mild cases can be improved with lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, an increase in physical activity, or quitting smoking and drinking. However, in all cases, CPAP therapy remains the gold standard for treatment.


Does mild sleep apnea have to be treated?

“In general, mild sleep apnea should be treated if the patient is symptomatic, i.e., has excessive daytime sleepiness, cognitive dysfunction (memory loss, difficulty concentrating), morning headaches, or snoring”, Paul Schalch Lepe, MD, FACS, a clinical professor of Otolaryngology and Sleep Medicine at UC San Diego ...

Can someone with sleep apnea sleep without CPAP?

Now there is an option for sleep apnea patients who do not want to rely on a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask. Inspire® therapy is an innovative approach that eliminates sleep apnea, improves a patient's quality of sleep and significantly reduces snoring.


Treating Sleep Apnea Without a CPAP



What can I use instead of a CPAP?

For mild sleep apnea, non-CPAP options include lifestyle changes (weight loss and exercise) and fitted mouthpieces that adjust the lower jaw and keep the tongue from blocking the airway. For moderate to severe sleep apnea, these alternatives are rarely successful.

Is mild sleep apnea serious?

But even mild OSA can still affect your life. Untreated mild apnea could cause apneic events, snoring, and grasping while you sleep, which can lead to long-term adverse health effects and problems with daytime sleepiness, both of which are life-altering.

How long can you live with mild sleep apnea?

If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten your life from anywhere between 12-15 years. While there is no permanent cure for obstructive sleep apnea, diagnosis and treatment will alleviate its effects. Proper treatment can ensure that your OSA won't shorten your life.


What is the range for mild sleep apnea?

Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour) Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15.

Is CPAP worth it for mild apnea?

The results found that in patients with mild OSA, treatment with CPAP improved their quality of life, based on a validated questionnaire. This study supports a comprehensive approach to evaluation and treatment of mild OSA.

Do doctors treat mild sleep apnea?

For milder cases of sleep apnea, your health care provider may recommend only lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. You may need to change the position in which you sleep. If you have nasal allergies, your provider may recommend treatment for your allergies.


What are the side effects of mild sleep apnea?

Symptoms
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness.
  • Loud snoring.
  • Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.
  • Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking.
  • Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat.
  • Morning headache.
  • Difficulty concentrating during the day.
  • Mood changes, such as depression or irritability.


What is the newest treatment for sleep apnea?

For years, the most common treatment for millions of people with sleep apnea involved wearing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask. That is, until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new, maskless treatment option -- the Inspire upper airway stimulation device.

What is mild sleep apnea main cause?

In adults, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with the soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked.


How do you beat sleep apnea naturally?

The following are examples of some natural remedies that a person can use at home, usually to treat mild obstructive sleep apnea.
  1. Weight loss techniques. ...
  2. Healthful lifestyle changes. ...
  3. Side sleeping position. ...
  4. Raise the head of the bed. ...
  5. Didgeridoo playing. ...
  6. Oral or dental appliances.


Does mild sleep apnea cause heart problems?

Having obstructive sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). Obstructive sleep apnea might also increase your risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation.

Is mild sleep apnea a medical condition?

Sleep apnea is a chronic disorder that is classified as mild, moderate, or severe upon diagnosis. Mild sleep apnea is especially important to treat when it occurs with other conditions, such as high blood pressure or stroke.


Does sleep apnea get worse with age?

The prevalence of sleep apnoea increases with age, although the severity of the disorder, as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with it, may actually decrease in the elderly. A decline in cognitive functioning in older adults with sleep apnoea may resemble dementia.

How do you get a good night sleep without a CPAP?

Sleep apnea lifestyle remedies
  1. Maintain a healthy weight. Doctors commonly recommend people with sleep apnea to lose weight. ...
  2. Try yoga. Regular exercise can increase your energy level, strengthen your heart, and improve sleep apnea. ...
  3. Alter your sleep position. ...
  4. Use a humidifier. ...
  5. Avoid alcohol and smoking. ...
  6. Use oral appliances.


Does sleeping sitting up help sleep apnea?

"Sleeping with the head as elevated and upright as possible, such as with an adjustable bed or recliner, may be helpful in improving sleep apnea symptoms." Wedge-shaped pillows made of foam rather than a squishier material can help you achieve the right position that keeps the airway more open.


Does mouth taping help sleep apnea?

Conclusions: Mouth-taping during sleep improved snoring and the severity of sleep apnea in mouth-breathers with mild OSA, with AHI and SI being reduced by about half. The higher the level of baseline AHI and SI, the greater the improvement was shown after mouth-taping.

Can anxiety cause sleep apnea?

The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, is caused by physical muscle relaxation in your throat or palate and does not seem to be caused by anxiety. There is no direct link showing that anxiety causes obstructive sleep apnea.

Can Apple Watch detect sleep apnea?

Can an Apple Watch Detect Sleep Apnea? Like Fitbit and other wearables, the Apple Watch can detect certain parameters like heart rate and blood oxygen saturation that may indicate sleep apnea, but it cannot comprehensively detect or diagnose sleep apnea.


Can mild sleep apnea cause weight gain?

So, does having sleep apnea cause you to gain weight? For many, the answer is yes! The relationship between sleep apnea and weight gain is a vicious cycle – gaining weight can contribute to sleep apnea development, and having sleep apnea can cause you to gain weight.

Does sleep apnea cause belly fat?

Those with the sleep disorder can have increased insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and the body storing more fat, especially belly fat. Sleep apnea may cause metabolic dysfunction through a few different pathways.