Expert Q&A for How to Cure Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is when people have pauses in their breathing while they sleep at night. You might snore loudly, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. You might also find that you wake up a lot during the night to change positions or go to the bathroom—you might think it's because you drank too much water, when in reality it's because your sleep isn't very deep.

Broken, unrefreshing sleep can result in significant daytime fatigue. You might find yourself overcompensating by drinking large amounts of caffeine. You might also have elevated blood pressure, increased anxiety, memory issues, and trouble with attention and focus. In addition, you might have increased carb cravings, because that's what the body does when you're tired during the day.

There are two main types of sleep studies that are used—they're both called polysomnography. The home sleep test is the easiest—you bring home a small device, and during the night it monitors your breathing, pulse, blood oxygen levels, and pulse. In-lab testing is a little more advanced, and it involves spending the night in a sleep lab.

People with sleep apnea sometimes struggle with congestion due to allergies, so having those allergies corrected is often the first step of treatment. Being overweight can also result in sleep apnea, so weight loss is often recommended. Certain substances like alcohol and sedation medications can also make you more prone to sleep apnea, so it may be worth reducing those before bed.

For some people, sleeping on their back can significantly worsen sleep apnea. You may find you sleep better on an incline or in a reclined seat.

Your doctor may recommend that you wear a mandibular advance device while you sleep. This is different than a regular mouthguard because it pushes your lower jaw forward, which pushes your tongue forward as well. They may also recommend a CPAP machine, which is a mask that delivers air to you while you're sleeping.