If you have been diagnosed withsleep apnea, the first treatment option offered will likely becontinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), but what if you need alternative treatments for your sleep apnea? There can bemajor hurdlesto tolerating CPAP, and if you can’t overcome these, you aren’t totally out of luck. There are a handful of othertreatment optionsthat might offer relief, ranging from home remedies like weight loss to avoiding alcohol or raising the head of the bed and medical therapy like oral appliances and surgery. Discover what might work best for you.

1Losing WeightJohn Fedele / Blend Images / Getty ImagesBeing obese is often a major contributor to having sleep apnea. If this is the case, shedding a few pounds (often at least 10% of body weight) may correct the situation.Extra weight can narrow your airway, depositing fat at the base of the tongue, and make it more prone to collapse. If this is the case, diet and exercise may be all the treatment that you need. Unfortunately, many people have multiple contributions to having sleep apnea, and maintaining your ideal body weight may not be a complete fix for everyone.How Weight Loss Can Improve Your Sleep

1

Losing WeightJohn Fedele / Blend Images / Getty ImagesBeing obese is often a major contributor to having sleep apnea. If this is the case, shedding a few pounds (often at least 10% of body weight) may correct the situation.Extra weight can narrow your airway, depositing fat at the base of the tongue, and make it more prone to collapse. If this is the case, diet and exercise may be all the treatment that you need. Unfortunately, many people have multiple contributions to having sleep apnea, and maintaining your ideal body weight may not be a complete fix for everyone.How Weight Loss Can Improve Your Sleep

Losing Weight

John Fedele / Blend Images / Getty Images

Weight loss through diet and exercise may help to reduce the likelihood of sleep apnea

Being obese is often a major contributor to having sleep apnea. If this is the case, shedding a few pounds (often at least 10% of body weight) may correct the situation.Extra weight can narrow your airway, depositing fat at the base of the tongue, and make it more prone to collapse. If this is the case, diet and exercise may be all the treatment that you need. Unfortunately, many people have multiple contributions to having sleep apnea, and maintaining your ideal body weight may not be a complete fix for everyone.

How Weight Loss Can Improve Your Sleep

2

Position Therapy

MAURO FERMARIELLO / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images

Sleeping on your side and staying off your back may help to avoid sleep apnea and snoring

Sleep Positions and Devices for Snoring

3Oral AppliancesBrandon Peters, M.D.There are specially designedoral appliancesor dental devices that may be helpful in correcting anatomical problems. If you have a short or recessed jaw, a mandibular advancement device may move things into better position. This shifts the tongue forward and reduces crowding within the airway. It is typically specially fitted at a specialty dentist’s office. It is worn at night and it can successfully treat mild to moderate sleep apnea for some people. It may have some side effects, however, including discomfort, dry mouth, teeth movement, or jaw joint issues.

3

Oral AppliancesBrandon Peters, M.D.There are specially designedoral appliancesor dental devices that may be helpful in correcting anatomical problems. If you have a short or recessed jaw, a mandibular advancement device may move things into better position. This shifts the tongue forward and reduces crowding within the airway. It is typically specially fitted at a specialty dentist’s office. It is worn at night and it can successfully treat mild to moderate sleep apnea for some people. It may have some side effects, however, including discomfort, dry mouth, teeth movement, or jaw joint issues.

Oral Appliances

Brandon Peters, M.D.

Oral appliances fitted by a dentist may move the lower jaw and tongue forward and help to treat snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea

There are specially designedoral appliancesor dental devices that may be helpful in correcting anatomical problems. If you have a short or recessed jaw, a mandibular advancement device may move things into better position. This shifts the tongue forward and reduces crowding within the airway. It is typically specially fitted at a specialty dentist’s office. It is worn at night and it can successfully treat mild to moderate sleep apnea for some people. It may have some side effects, however, including discomfort, dry mouth, teeth movement, or jaw joint issues.

4Avoidance of Sedatives and AlcoholPeter Dazeley / Getty ImagesThe use of sedatives and alcohol can relax the muscles of your upper airway and make it more prone to collapse. Avoiding these agents in the hours before bedtime may improve your symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring. You may also need to be careful about the use of prescription medication such assleeping pillsand narcotic pain medications.Alcohol and Sleep Apnea

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Avoidance of Sedatives and AlcoholPeter Dazeley / Getty ImagesThe use of sedatives and alcohol can relax the muscles of your upper airway and make it more prone to collapse. Avoiding these agents in the hours before bedtime may improve your symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring. You may also need to be careful about the use of prescription medication such assleeping pillsand narcotic pain medications.Alcohol and Sleep Apnea

Avoidance of Sedatives and Alcohol

Peter Dazeley / Getty Images

Sleeping pill in pack

The use of sedatives and alcohol can relax the muscles of your upper airway and make it more prone to collapse. Avoiding these agents in the hours before bedtime may improve your symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring. You may also need to be careful about the use of prescription medication such assleeping pillsand narcotic pain medications.

Alcohol and Sleep Apnea

5SurgeryPhil Fisk / Getty ImagesThere are multiple surgical options that may be deployed. Historically, the most common is called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). UPPP is the surgical removal of excess tissue in the upper airway, including the back of the mouth and the throat.It may improve snoring, but sleep apnea may persist. Surgery of thesoft palatealone is also possible. Other (more extreme) options includetracheostomy, which is a surgical incision at the front of the windpipe. Removal of the tonsils and adenoids may be helpful in select cases, especially in children. There is also the option of surgical advancement of the jaw. Tonsillectomy may be the first treatment choice in children, but surgical options are otherwise typically a second-line therapy in adults.

5

SurgeryPhil Fisk / Getty ImagesThere are multiple surgical options that may be deployed. Historically, the most common is called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). UPPP is the surgical removal of excess tissue in the upper airway, including the back of the mouth and the throat.It may improve snoring, but sleep apnea may persist. Surgery of thesoft palatealone is also possible. Other (more extreme) options includetracheostomy, which is a surgical incision at the front of the windpipe. Removal of the tonsils and adenoids may be helpful in select cases, especially in children. There is also the option of surgical advancement of the jaw. Tonsillectomy may be the first treatment choice in children, but surgical options are otherwise typically a second-line therapy in adults.

Surgery

Phil Fisk / Getty Images

Child getting tonsils checked

There are multiple surgical options that may be deployed. Historically, the most common is called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). UPPP is the surgical removal of excess tissue in the upper airway, including the back of the mouth and the throat.It may improve snoring, but sleep apnea may persist. Surgery of thesoft palatealone is also possible. Other (more extreme) options includetracheostomy, which is a surgical incision at the front of the windpipe. Removal of the tonsils and adenoids may be helpful in select cases, especially in children. There is also the option of surgical advancement of the jaw. Tonsillectomy may be the first treatment choice in children, but surgical options are otherwise typically a second-line therapy in adults.

A Word From VerywellIf you struggle to improve your breathing during sleep, seek assistance from a board-certified sleep medicine physician who will be able to provider further personalized advice.

A Word From Verywell

If you struggle to improve your breathing during sleep, seek assistance from a board-certified sleep medicine physician who will be able to provider further personalized advice.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schwartz AR, Patil SP, Laffan AM, Polotsky V, Schneider H, Smith PL.Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(2):185–192. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-137MGMenon A, Kumar M.Influence of body position on severity of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review.ISRN Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:670381. Published 2013 Oct 8. doi:10.1155/2013/670381Sutherland K, Vanderveken OM, Tsuda H, et al.Oral appliance treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: an update.J Clin Sleep Med. 2014;10(2):215–227. Published 2014 Feb 15. doi:10.5664/jcsm.3460Simou E, Britton J, Leonardi-Bee J.Alcohol and the risk of sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Med. 2018;42:38–46. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2017.12.005Khan A, Ramar K, Maddirala S, Friedman O, Pallanch JF, Olson EJ.Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in the management of obstructive sleep apnea: the mayo clinic experience.Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84(9):795–800. doi:10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60489-8

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schwartz AR, Patil SP, Laffan AM, Polotsky V, Schneider H, Smith PL.Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(2):185–192. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-137MGMenon A, Kumar M.Influence of body position on severity of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review.ISRN Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:670381. Published 2013 Oct 8. doi:10.1155/2013/670381Sutherland K, Vanderveken OM, Tsuda H, et al.Oral appliance treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: an update.J Clin Sleep Med. 2014;10(2):215–227. Published 2014 Feb 15. doi:10.5664/jcsm.3460Simou E, Britton J, Leonardi-Bee J.Alcohol and the risk of sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Med. 2018;42:38–46. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2017.12.005Khan A, Ramar K, Maddirala S, Friedman O, Pallanch JF, Olson EJ.Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in the management of obstructive sleep apnea: the mayo clinic experience.Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84(9):795–800. doi:10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60489-8

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Schwartz AR, Patil SP, Laffan AM, Polotsky V, Schneider H, Smith PL.Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(2):185–192. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-137MGMenon A, Kumar M.Influence of body position on severity of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review.ISRN Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:670381. Published 2013 Oct 8. doi:10.1155/2013/670381Sutherland K, Vanderveken OM, Tsuda H, et al.Oral appliance treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: an update.J Clin Sleep Med. 2014;10(2):215–227. Published 2014 Feb 15. doi:10.5664/jcsm.3460Simou E, Britton J, Leonardi-Bee J.Alcohol and the risk of sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Med. 2018;42:38–46. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2017.12.005Khan A, Ramar K, Maddirala S, Friedman O, Pallanch JF, Olson EJ.Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in the management of obstructive sleep apnea: the mayo clinic experience.Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84(9):795–800. doi:10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60489-8

Schwartz AR, Patil SP, Laffan AM, Polotsky V, Schneider H, Smith PL.Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(2):185–192. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-137MG

Menon A, Kumar M.Influence of body position on severity of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review.ISRN Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:670381. Published 2013 Oct 8. doi:10.1155/2013/670381

Sutherland K, Vanderveken OM, Tsuda H, et al.Oral appliance treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: an update.J Clin Sleep Med. 2014;10(2):215–227. Published 2014 Feb 15. doi:10.5664/jcsm.3460

Simou E, Britton J, Leonardi-Bee J.Alcohol and the risk of sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Med. 2018;42:38–46. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2017.12.005

Khan A, Ramar K, Maddirala S, Friedman O, Pallanch JF, Olson EJ.Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in the management of obstructive sleep apnea: the mayo clinic experience.Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84(9):795–800. doi:10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60489-8

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