An estimated 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. However, few of them have had the problem diagnosed. If sleep apnea is diagnosed, several treatments are available. Mild sleep apnea frequently can be overcome through weight loss or by preventing the person from sleeping on his or her back. Other people may need special devices or surgery to correct the obstruction. People with sleep apnea should never take sedatives or sleeping pills, which can prevent them from awakening enough to breathe.
Behavioral modifications may eliminate OSA. Tobacco, alcohol, and sleeping pills leave the airway more susceptible to collapse during sleep, so they should be avoided. Overweight patients should lose around 10 percent of their body weight, because excess weight due to obesity can also be carried in the throat. For patients who experience sleep apnea while on their backs, using extra pillows to support sleeping on one’s side is recommended.
