Sleep apnea is a condition in which you are unable to breathe properly when sleeping. This can cause loud snoring, gasping, choking, and the inability to breathe for any number of seconds while you are sleeping. Imagine holding your breath for thirty seconds. You are doing this all the time if you have sleep apnea, and your body needs more oxygen, more air, to function fully and to revive itself while you are sleeping at night.

Sleep apnea can be treated in various ways, with surgery and without surgery. For those who are suffering with sleep apnea, you are most likely going to be told to lose weight, to sleep on your side, and to sleep at an elevation. These methods are well known for treating those with sleep apnea naturally without having to go through surgery first. Sleeping on your side can move the obstruction you may have, or it may open an additional airway so you can breath while you are sleeping. If you are overweight, this can cause a restriction on your airways while you are lying down, and losing weight is going to lessen the stress on your body.

If sleep apnea is occurring because the tongue falls back into the throat, this can be easily treated with a device that holds the tongue in place while you sleep. While it could feel a little strange with the first use, you will find that you will be able to sleep easily and you will feel more rested as the problems associated with sleep apnea are lessened with the continued use of the device.

Another type of treatment that does not require surgery for those who are suffering sleep apnea is the continuous positive airway pressure device. This is a tube or a mask that is worn at night that puts air into the nasal passage while you are sleeping. This will increase the oxygen levels in your blood, and you will not snore or gasp for breath. The device treats the problem so you can get get to sleep, stay asleep, and feel rested for your next day.

If all else fails, surgery could be the next option. Removing the tonsils or removing the adenoids could be a first alternative. If a person has too much tissue in the nasal passage or in the throat, this can be removed using a laser process. All of these surgeries are minor and will require a short time for recovery, but the results are well worth the time invested in having the surgery completed and for recovery.