Will Sleep Apnea Go Away on Its Own?

Every night, millions of people miss out on countless hours of sleep due to sleep apnea—and to make matters worse, many more cases remain completely undiagnosed! But your rest isn’t the only thing at stake; if left untreated, sleep apnea can actually lead to some pretty serious health consequences! In order to avoid this, seeking sleep apnea therapy in Rocky Mount is your best bet, as the condition won’t simply vanish on its own. Keep reading to learn more about what causes sleep apnea and what you can do to manage your symptoms.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common types of sleep apnea, and it’s characterized by blockage in the airway while you’re asleep. When it happens, your body is forced to wake up and normalize your breathing, causing you to miss out on much needed sleep and accumulate sleep debt. This blockage can be caused by a variety of different things, as there are many factors that can influence the airway—and it’s very often associated with chronic snoring! Some known possible causes include but aren’t limited to:

• Weight gain (excess fat around the neck or chest cavity).
• Underlying facial anatomy such as a larger-than-average tongue or big tonsils.
• Sleeping on your back.
• Excessive alcohol consumption.

Does Sleep Apnea Ever Go Away?

Unfortunately, sleep apnea is not something that will clear up on its own; human anatomy tends to remain fixed, especially after the teenage years. Even though the symptoms can be treated, usually with the help of oral appliances, CPAP machines, or other forms of sleep apnea therapy, the condition itself is chronic and cannot be cured entirely. This means that your best bet is mitigating the symptoms and making lifestyle changes to lessen its effect on you. It’s worth noting that children can sometimes be successfully cured of sleep apnea if it’s addressed early on, through means such as tonsil extraction or orthodontic therapy.

Can My Sleep Apnea Symptoms Be Managed?

There are a few things you can do to help reduce the severity, or even the presence, of your sleep apnea symptoms. Consider the following:

• Manage your weight – Try to maintain a healthy weight by exercising regularly and eating a vitamin-rich diet. Also avoid processed or sugary foods and beverages, and drink plenty of water.
• Establish a bedtime routine – Try to limit the number of distractions that occur around bedtime and aim to go to bed around the same time every evening.
• Address other causes of sleep disruption – If seasonal allergies are causing your sleep disruption, you can try using over-the-counter medicines to alleviate your symptoms. Also be mindful of too much light entering your bedroom and ensure that the inside temperature isn’t too hot or cold.
• Seek treatment for your sleep apnea – If you’re able to receive a diagnosis from a sleep doctor, you can receive sleep apnea therapy that will greatly improve the quality of your rest.

Sleep apnea won’t go away on its own—but that doesn’t mean you’re totally helpless against it! Seeking treatment and taking steps to manage your symptoms will go a long way towards helping you get a great night’s sleep every night.

About the Author

Dr. Kevin Schrimper received his DDS from the University of North Carolina and has proudly served patients and families in the Rocky Mount community for over 25 years. His practice is pleased to offer a wide range of services including sleep apnea therapy. If you have any concerns about sleep apnea or would like to schedule an appointment, you can contact Dr. Schrimper’s practice online or over the phone for assistance: (252) 937-7878.