Your healthcare provider may prescribe CPAP to treat sleep-related breathing disorders including sleep apnea. CPAP also may treat preterm infants who have underdeveloped lungs.
in order to reduce the space it takes up and clear the airway. Studies show this surgery can be successful for reducing OSA symptoms, especially when paired with other surgical procedures.
Sleep apnea is a condition where the airway closes or becomes blocked during sleep, causing the person to stop breathing.
Some guides and articles feature links to other relevant Sleep Foundation pages. These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the sitio, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information.
Your daily habits and environment can significantly impact the quality of your sleep. Take the Sleep Quiz to help inform your sleep improvement journey.
Some guides and articles feature links to other relevant Sleep Foundation pages. These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information.
Ask about a humidifier: If your CPAP machine does not have a heated humidifier, switching to one that does may reduce the likelihood of dry mouth, nosebleeds, and congestion.
Therapy Treatments for Sleep Apnea Multiple non-invasive treatment options for sleep apnea exist, some of which are more effective than others. Non-surgical options fall into two categories: positive airway pressure (PAP) devices and oral appliances.
The more severe, the more severe the risk. Roughly 1 in 20 adults suffer from sleep apnea, while the rates among children may be even higher. Quality sleep is essential to proper development and living in both children and adults.
A CPAP machine takes in room air, then filters and pressurizes it before delivering it through a tube and into your mask.
Positional therapy. People who sleep on their backs are more prone to apneic episodes. There are devices that encourage you to sleep on your side or stomach, reducing your risk for sleep apnea.
You may notice immediate improvements after starting CPAP treatment, such as better sleep quality, reduction or elimination of snoring, and less daytime sleepiness.
Changing sleep position: Positional therapy can reduce OSA symptom severity in some people. Back sleeping is associated with more severe symptoms for many people with OSA, so positional therapy generally involves trying to train a person to stop sleeping on their back.
A sleep center physician will evaluate the results of your sleep study and discuss treatment options with you read more at your follow-up visit. Your primary care physician will also review your test results.