Read up on Sleep apnea treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Sleep apnea

Key points about treatments

It's important to get treatment if you have sleep apnea, especially if it's severe.

Here, we talk about treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common type. To learn about other kinds, see Other types of sleep apnea.

Wearing a mask at night to help you breathe can improve your sleep and give you more energy in the day.
Wearing a special mouthpiece that keeps your airway open is likely to help.
It may take time to adjust to a mask or a mouthpiece, and you need to keep wearing them. You'll probably need to try several types before you find one you're comfortable with.
Losing weight will reduce pressure on your airway, and is recommended by doctors if you're overweight. But there hasn't been much research on whether losing weight helps sleep apnea.

This information was last updated on Jul 09, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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