Can Sleep Apnea Be Cured? A Neurologist Reveals When Remission Is Really Possible

For some, the best part of the day is crawling into soft sheets, putting on cozy pajamas and letting our stress wash away. For others with sleep apnea, slumber doesn’t always feel so restorative. Between waking up gasping for air, snoring that disturbs your partner and waking up with a dry mouth, getting a good night’s rest can feel impossible. So it’s no surprise so many of us are wondering: Can sleep apnea be cured? And could it be possible to ditch your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device for good? A leading neurologist reveals the surprisingly hopeful news. 

What is sleep apnea?

“Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly becomes very shallow or stops during sleep,” says Rab Nawaz, MD, a board-certified neurologist. “These pauses can lower oxygen levels, fragment sleep and leave people tired even after spending enough time in bed.”

Dr. Nawaz explains that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common type, happens when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or collapses, while central sleep apnea, which is less common, occurs when the brain temporarily fails to send the normal signals that trigger breathing.

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OSA often develops when a person’s airway is already more likely to narrow and the muscles around it relax during sleep. Dr. Nawaz says factors that can raise the risk of the condition include having a small jaw, carrying excess weight or having enlarged tonsils. Central sleep apnea, on the other hand, can be linked to factors such as heart failure, neurological conditions or opioid medications.

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Can sleep apnea be cured?

Now the answer to the big question you’ve been waiting for: Can sleep apnea be cured? In short, yes, but it depends on your unique condition and the treatment options you pursue. 

Per Harvard Health, dropping about 10 percent of your weight may help reduce how often sleep apnea occurs, and for some people, losing enough weight may even cure the condition.

“Weight loss is one of the most important treatments for obstructive sleep apnea in people with overweight or obesity, and some people do reach remission after substantial, sustained weight loss,” confirms Dr. Nawaz. However, while he agrees some cases of sleep apnea can go into remission with treatments like weight loss, he cautions against using the word “cured.”

“Obstructive sleep apnea may resolve when a reversible cause is corrected, such as substantial weight loss in an appropriate patient, removal of enlarged tonsils or adenoids or selected airway surgery,” says Dr. Nawaz. Still, he cautions that sleep apnea can return with hormonal changes, airway narrowing, weight gain or aging.

How to ‘cure’ sleep apnea 

CPAP therapy is still considered gold-standard, first-line treatment for sleep apnea. That said, it manages the conditions but doesn’t reverse it. To help put your sleep apnea into remission, consider these doctor-backed tips:

Address your trigger

Beyond weight loss, if your sleep apnea is due to a reversible cause such as high altitude or even opioid use, treating the trigger could help lessen or even resolve your sleep apnea, says Dr. Nawaz. 

Consider surgical procedures 

A more permanent treatment for sleep apnea like surgery could help if you’re a good fit. “Procedures such as maxillomandibular advancement move the jaws forward and enlarge the space behind the tongue and soft palate,” explains Dr. Nawaz. “In carefully selected adults, this can substantially reduce apnea and may normalize breathing during sleep. It is major surgery, so the decision requires specialist evaluation.”

Treat your tonsils 

Dr. Nawaz says enlarged tonsils and adenoids (patches of lymphatic tissue) can sometimes block the airway during sleep. “Removing them creates more room for airflow and can resolve obstructive sleep apnea when enlarged tissue is the main problem,” he adds.

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How to tell if your sleep apnea is in remission

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If you decide to take the plunge with one of the above methods, your next question will likely be: How do I know my sleep apnea is in remission? Dr. Nawaz shares four signs your treatment may be working: 

1. A normal sleep study. Feeling better isn’t enough to confirm remission, but a repeat sleep study can provide the proof, says Dr. Nawaz.
2. No longer pausing, choking or gasping while sleeping. If a partner no longer notices those interruptions during the night, it could be a sign your sleep apnea has improved, Dr. Nawaz adds. 
3. You feel better during the day. Feeling less sleepy, having fewer morning headaches, concentrating better and waking up refreshed are all encouraging signs, he says.
4. Your improvement stays stable. If your symptoms don’t return and you don’t develop new risk factors, such as regaining weight or experiencing another major health change, it may be a sign your sleep apnea remains in remission, Dr. Nawaz explains. Even then, he says sleep apnea can return, so ongoing follow-up is important.

Can sleep apnea be cured? The bottom line 

While sleep apnea can feel overwhelming, remission is possible. Whether through weight loss, treating underlying conditions or surgical options, you have more control over your sleep apnea than you might think. Talk to your doctor about which approach might work best for you.

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