Can Sleep Apea Be Cured?

In order to answer the question, "can sleep apnea be cured," it's important to first understand what sleep apnea is.

What sleep apnea isn't

It's almost easier to explain what sleep apnea isn't.

It is not an infection, a virus or the result of some abnormal growth.

In fact, it has no external cause to speak of. It is a condition much like diabetes is a condition. In the case of sleep apnea, the problem occurs when your airway temporarily closes down and you stop breathing. These breath pauses can last anywhere from 1 second to as long as 10 seconds.

The breath pauses themselves are called apnea, hence the name sleep apnea.

What would cause my airway to close down?

There are a number of reasons why your airway might close down or become blocked while you sleep. First, your throat muscles and tongue may relax more than normal. Second, your tongue and tonsils may be large compared to the opening into your windpipe. Third, you are overweight. The extra fat tissue can pick and the wall of the windpipe, causing the inside opening to narrow down which makes it harder to keep the airway open.

Third, you may have been born with a head and neck that create a smaller airway size in your mouth and throat area.

Finally, if you are older, the aging process my be limiting the ability of your throat muscles to keep stiff during sleep.

What happens when my airway closes down or becomes blocked?

When this happens, you are likely to snore loudly and your oxygen may drop to a dangerous level. This will disturb your sleep which, in turn, helps tighten the upper airway muscles and open your windpipe. You will then start breathing normally again, often with a snort, or choking sound.

How do you define the word cure?

If you define the word cure as something that brings a total end to a problem -- like an aspirin will cure a headache, then the answer to the question "is there a cure for sleep apnea," is "no" with one possible exception.

Today, there are surgeries available that can bring a permanent and to sleep apnea. This includes a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, a procedure called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty wherein your tonsils and add noise (if present) are removed and your uvula is either removed or shortened. The soft palate or roof of your mouth may also be shortened. There is also a new procedure called laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty or LAUP, where the surgeon uses a laser to cut the uvula.

While the answer to the question "can sleep apnea be cured may be "no," there are many good treatments available, in addition to surgery -- which are simpler and less risky.