Does sleep apnea go away?

Does sleep apnea go away?

Cleveland Clinic says not every type can be eliminated and that weight loss or surgical treatment options may resolve obstructive sleep apnea, and that a provider can advise on your situation. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when airway blockage makes you stop breathing while you sleep, and central sleep apnea happens when the brain does not control breathing as expected. Sleep Foundation describes CPAP as the gold standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, usually the first option for moderate or severe disease, which must be used nightly. For many people the condition is managed for life, not cured.

Can losing weight help sleep apnea?

Cleveland Clinic lists obesity as a risk factor and says weight loss may help treat obstructive sleep apnea. Healthline says losing weight, especially in the upper body, may keep airways clearer and ease symptoms, cites research suggesting modest weight loss can sometimes remove the need for surgery or long-term CPAP, and warns that the condition can return if the weight comes back. Sleep Foundation says losing excess weight can improve symptoms, so doctors may recommend diet and exercise, and mentions a medicine approved in December 2024 for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in people with obesity. Talk to a doctor before changing treatment.

Can skinny people have sleep apnea?

Yes. Cleveland Clinic says people of any body size can develop sleep apnea, so thin people are not exempt, and lists other risk factors including family history, heart conditions, stroke, high blood pressure, large tonsils and older age, with males more likely to be diagnosed before age 50.

What treatments are there, including dental ones?

Cleveland Clinic lists a CPAP machine, an oral appliance (mouthpiece) to keep the airway open, managing underlying conditions, sleeping on your side, a nerve stimulation device, medications and surgery such as jaw or nasal surgery. Healthline says oral appliances reposition the jaw or tongue to keep the airway open, in two main types, mandibular advancement devices and tongue-stabilizing devices, ranging from over-the-counter products to custom-fitted versions made by a dentist, and that the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine supports them as effective therapy. Sleep Foundation says they are not as effective as CPAP, are often only prescribed after a person cannot tolerate positive airway pressure therapy, and describes mandibular devices as custom-made dental devices.

Other lifestyle changes

Healthline lists side sleeping, since back sleeping can worsen symptoms, avoiding alcohol and smoking, which may reduce airway inflammation and snoring, a humidifier that is cleaned regularly, and yoga and breathing exercises, and says home remedies can reduce symptoms but should not replace CPAP, medication or sometimes surgery. Talk with your doctor before trying alternative treatments.

Does my child have sleep apnea?

Cleveland Clinic says sleep apnea can affect children and may look different in children, and does not list specific signs, linking to a separate page. The sources we read include no quiz, so we do not offer one. Snoring, breathing pauses, restless sleep or mouth breathing are reasons to talk to your child's doctor or dentist. Large tonsils are a listed risk factor.

Can a Fitbit or watch detect sleep apnea?

The sources we read do not address wearable devices. A diagnosis normally comes from a doctor, often with a sleep study, so treat a wearable's reading as a reason to ask your doctor, not as a diagnosis.

Questions to ask your doctor or dentist

Ask about the full range of options.

• Do I have obstructive or central sleep apnea, and how severe is it?
• Is weight loss likely to help me, and what plan do you suggest?
• Am I a candidate for an oral appliance, and who would make it?
• What side effects should I watch for with a mouthpiece?
• How will we check that treatment is working?

Frequently asked questions