Can you cure sleep apnea without using a CPAP machine?
Oct.18, 2010 Categories: Sleep Apnea Machine
Question by ABC123: Can you cure sleep apnea without using a CPAP machine?
Like if I quit drinking, ate healthy and exercised.. might I not have sleep apnea anymore?
Best answer:
Answer by Brucebuys
From what I understand all those things could help.
Losing weight especially, and try sleeping only on your side, never on your back.
October 18th, 2010 on 12:14 pm
Depends on what is causing your sleep apnea. Some people, it has some thing to do with their tongue blocking the airway & to do without the CPAP machine, they require surgery
October 18th, 2010 on 12:37 pm
Many cases of sleep apnea (though not all) are caused by being overweight. This is especially true in older adults, as the excess tissue around the throat pushes on the trachea (windpipe) when they lay down, causing difficulty breathing during sleep. For these cases, weight loss is the definitive treatment (CPAP only keeps the airway open when they sleep – it doesn’t ‘cure’ the illness). Losing weight is the only way to shed the problem.
For those cases of sleep apnea not caused by being overweight (e.g., those related to medication, an obstruction in the nose/throat, etc.), then again, treating the underlying cause is the only way to fix the problem. CPAP is a very important management tool, but the only way to get rid of the problem is to fix what’s causing it.
October 18th, 2010 on 12:38 pm
I don’t know about “cure” but those ideas you mentioned have helped my sleep apnea quite a bit. I still need the machine but can go nights without it and am told sleep well.
October 18th, 2010 on 1:17 pm
I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine. It has made a world of difference in my rest. I think mine is because I gained weight, because I used to be thinner and didn’t have this problem. In some cases I believe you can have some kind of surgery that may or may not help. Check with a specialist if you haven’t already. The machine is an inconvenience but you can learn to deal with it. I did.
October 18th, 2010 on 1:19 pm
I did by getting weight off as directed by doctor.
October 18th, 2010 on 1:22 pm
Losing weight IS the definitive therapy.
October 18th, 2010 on 2:09 pm
It depends on what the underlying cause of the sleep apnea is. If it is because the person is overweight then yes, exercise and eat sensibly. Not matter what the cause, people with sleep apnea should not drink heavily as alcohol is a depressant to the central nervous system and will as such depress the respiratory drive. Unfortunately if the person has central sleep apnea losing weight won’t ‘cure’ the apnea, however it will let them be on a lower level of pressure making it easier to ventilate them and keep them oxygenated. Let’s face it if you did as you’ve proposed you will have made some good life style changes.
October 18th, 2010 on 2:09 pm
yeah , it worked for me. i felt the results in about a month . but ya gotta stick with it.