Can you cure sleep apnea?

This question was asked in Irvine, California on 03/11/2013.
Can you cure sleep apnea?

Doctors Answers (8)

Daron Scherr, MD, DABSM
Answered on: 4/5/2013 1

In some people it can be cured with surgery; however, it may recur over time. Other "treatments" included CPAP and oral appliances.

Vector Sleep Diagnostics Center
Answered on: 3/14/2013

There is no simple answer to this question. It depends on a lot factors including type and severity of sleep apnea. But most importantly it CAN BE effectively treated. Please consult with your local sleep specialist.

J. Douglas Hudson, MD, DABSM
Answered on: 3/12/2013

You can "cure" sleep apnea in a couple of ways. First, don't go to sleep. Another way is to undergo a surgical procedure which by passes all the pathology. That is a tracheotomy. The new airway from the outside world to the trachea can be closed in the daytime and opened at night. This was the first surgical approach to "curing" sleep apnea. Later, surgical procedures such as removing tonsillar tissue, portions of the soft palate and even the base of the tongue were performed with variable success. Snoring and sleep apnea are genetic traits and are seemingly related to the narrowness of the hypopharynx (the windpipe just below the level of the tongue). Surgical procedures to help open this area of the airway are often successful. This procedure, performed by a maxillofacial surgeon, entails moving your jawbone forward and is an effective but not a simple cure. At present, CPAP therapy is the gold standard.

SomnoDiagnostics, Inc.
Answered on: 3/12/2013

Curing sleep apnea is not as common as treating sleep apnea. Cures or resolving the sleep apnea typically occurs when caused by weight and a significant weight loss is achieved. However, you should not discontinue treatment without undergoing a sleep study to determine that it is truly resolved.

Ramie A. Tritt, M.D., FRCSC
Answered on: 3/12/2013

Yes, it is possible to cure sleep apnea but it depends on the specific cause of your sleep apnea. It also requires a complete sleep, nose and throat evaluation, as well as an overnight sleep study. Finally, sometimes it is not possible to cure sleep apnea but in those situations it is possible to improve and control sleep apnea.

Richard L. Jacobson, D.M.D., M.S.
Answered on: 3/12/2013

Yes you can cure sleep apnea. Feel free to look at our website and look at the section on sleep apnea. Also feel free to set up (with my office) a telephone consultation at your convenience and I can give you more information.

Joseph Lee, DDS, FICOI
Answered on: 3/12/2013

If you have obstructive sleep apnea and the main cause is being overweight, it's possible to cure it with weight loss. If the main cause is a retruded jaw with a deep bite, it's possible with functional orthodontics to move the teeth and jaws to a better position.

Susan M. Welch
Answered on: 3/12/2013

It depends; there are different types of apnea. Obstructive apnea is an upper airway/throat closure issue that can resolve if it's mild, in some cases, by losing weight. Most central and mixed apneas are CNS or brainstem issues and are not easily resolved, although some research suggests can be improved by dealing with chronic, whole body inflammation. The goal of therapeutics when treating obstructive sleep apnea is advancing the mandible with oral appliance therapy or a tongue retention device, bringing the tongue base forward which helps open the posterior pharyngeal space, allowing air to pass with breathing. Apnea does not go away on it's own, neither does snoring without getting the soft tissue out of the posterior throat space. Snoring and mild apnea can be resolved and managed by changing sleep posture. Sleeping on your side and not your back is a common change. I hope I've answered your questions. Should you have others, please don't hesitate to ask.