Untreated, sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle accidents. Medications are generally not effective in the treatment of sleep apnea. But it cannot be estimated if any one of them can be helpful, since individuals have different forms of airway and facial structure. Behavioral changes are an important part of the treatment program, and in mild cases, behavioral therapy may be all that is needed. One should avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills, which make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and prolong the apneic periods.
Overweight persons can benefit from losing weight.
In some patients with mild sleep apnea, using pillows and other devices that help them sleep in a side position is often helpful. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure is the most common, effective treatment for sleep apnea. Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty is done to eliminate snoring but has not been shown to be effective in treating sleep apnea. Tracheostomy is used in persons with severe, life-threatening sleep apnea. Patients in whom sleep apnea is due to deformities of the lower jaw may benefit from surgical reconstruction.