6 Health Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment

His doctor suggested oral appliance therapy (OAT) and referred him to me to perform the procedure. I’m a dentist who is board certified in dental sleep medicine. “We were very skeptical at first but … the results have been nothing short of miraculous,” says Peggy. “From the first night he used the appliance, the snoring stopped.... not a peep; just normal breathing.”

Now, she said, David gets about six, sometimes seven hours of undisturbed sleep a night. He finds the appliance comfortable and easy to clean. “Most importantly, he hasn’t had an amnesia episode in six months,” Peggy said.

The impact of sleep apnea

There are several reasons that so many cases of sleep apnea go undiagnosed. Many people do not notice how they slowly get more tired and often blame it on aging. Family members may not pay attention to snoring, noisy breathing and the sudden interruptions in breathing.

“Many people think snoring is funny. They don’t see that snoring is a potential indicator of the fact that somebody has sleep apnea. So I always tell my patients, make sure your family listens when you’re snoring. If you’re snoring and you stop snoring for a period of time in between the snores, that’s probably sleep apnea,” said Roger Maxfield, professor of medicine at Columbia University.

Dentists can see signs of sleep apnea in the mouth and educate patients about the necessity of checking their sleep. Jean-Francois Masse, editor in chief of the Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine and a professor at Laval University in Quebec, said dentists can see signs in the mouth and tongue that a patient might have obstructive sleep apnea.

The benefits of treating sleep apnea

1. Enhanced sleep quality

By preventing frequent awakenings and disruptions, sleep apnea treatment leads to more restorative rest, ensuring individuals wake up feeling refreshed. “Quality sleep is essential for physical and mental health. Treating sleep apnea can dramatically improve sleep quality and overall well-being,” said Aarti Grover, M.D., medical director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Tufts Medical Center.

2. Increased energy

“Untreated sleep apnea can leave somebody fatigued all the time. These people constantly feel like they need to fall asleep,” Maxfield said.

Effective treatment reduces daytime fatigue, boosting energy levels and overall alertness.

3. Improved heart health

Sleep apnea causes repeated interruptions in breathing, which leads to fluctuations in blood pressure and oxygen levels, placing immense stress on the cardiovascular system. Effective treatment helps maintain consistent oxygen levels and stabilizes blood pressure, which in turn reduces the strain on the heart and blood vessels.

“Untreated sleep apnea puts a strain on your heart, your lungs, your blood vessels and brain. Your blood pressure often goes up over a period of time with untreated sleep apnea, and that can have consequences,” said Richard Brown, M.D., associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. He added that treating sleep apnea reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack.

4. Lower risk of cognitive decline, dementia and depression

Ensuring continuous oxygen flow to the brain prevents damage caused by chronic oxygen deprivation. Additionally, it allows the toxins to be cleared from the brain, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Sleep apnea can also affect mental health.

“One of the biggest things, which I saw for years in my patient practice, is that the patients who developed obstructive sleep apnea don’t respond well to their antidepressants,” Brown said.

5. Regulated hormone release and improved metabolism

Uninterrupted slow-wave sleep facilitates the release of essential hormones that regulate glucose and weight metabolism. “Hormonal balance and metabolic health are closely linked to sleep quality,” Grover said. “Addressing sleep apnea can lead to significant improvements in these areas.”

6. Improved sexual health and intimacy

Treating sleep apnea and snoring can enhance sexual health by improving hormone levels and increasing intimacy by allowing couples to share a bedroom again. This improvement in sleep quality and reduction in fatigue can foster a stronger connection and a more fulfilling relationship.

About half of people with sleep apnea also experience erectile dysfunction, according to research and men with obstructive sleep apnea commonly have low testosterone levels. Several studies have found that treating sleep apnea improves sexual satisfaction, but research looking at whether treating sleep apnea helps with decreasing erectile dysfunction or increasing testosterone, however, have been inconclusive.

Sleep apnea treatments

Treating sleep apnea can be done in many ways, each with its own good points and things to think about. Here are eight of the main ways to treat it:

• CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine: CPAP is the most common and effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It involves wearing a mask connected to a machine that delivers a continuous flow of air to keep the airway open during sleep. CPAPs are highly effective but may not be tolerated by all patients due to discomfort, mask leakage or claustrophobia.
• OAT (oral appliance therapy): OAT uses custom-made oral appliances (mouthpieces) to reposition the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open during sleep. It is often preferred by patients who find CPAP uncomfortable. OAT can be effective for mild to moderate OSA and is less invasive than surgery.
• Upper airway stimulation: This therapy, which is often called Inspire (in reference to the company that developed the treatment), involves a surgically implanted device that stimulates the hypoglossal nerve to move the tongue forward during sleep, preventing airway obstruction. The FDA-approved implantable upper airway stimulation device functions like a pacemaker to gently prompt the patient’s muscles while they are sleeping. It is an option for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP or OAT. Most insurance providers, including Medicare, cover Inspire if CPAP treatment was problematic, according to the company’s website. 
• Surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea: In cases where structural issues in the jaw or face contribute to sleep apnea, tonsil and adenoid removal, correction of a deviated septum, and surgical correction of the soft palate are options for treating sleep apnea. Orthognathic surgery can reposition the upper and lower jaws, enlarging the airway and improving breathing during sleep. This is a more invasive option typically considered when other treatments have failed.
• Positional therapy: Sleep apnea tends to be worse when people sleep on their backs. Positional therapy involves using devices or techniques to encourage sleeping in positions that prevent airway obstruction. It can be effective for patients whose sleep apnea is primarily positional.
• Weight loss: Obesity is a significant risk factor for sleep apnea. Losing weight through diet and exercise can reduce the severity of sleep apnea or even eliminate it in some cases. Combining weight loss with other therapies like CPAP or OAT can enhance treatment effectiveness.
• Myofunctional therapy: Myofunctional therapy involves exercises and techniques to strengthen and retrain the muscles of the tongue and throat. It can improve tongue position and swallowing patterns, reducing airway collapse during sleep.
• Medications: Doctors sometimes use medications to help treat sleep apnea along with CPAP or OAT. For example, acetazolamide can assist with central sleep apnea in some circumstances, and modafinil can help individuals stay awake during the day.

Exciting research from the University of California San Diego shows that tirzepatide, a drug originally developed for type 2 diabetes, can also treat obstructive sleep apnea. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and led by Atul Malhotra, found that tirzepatide significantly reduced breathing interruptions during sleep. “This new drug treatment offers a more accessible alternative for individuals who cannot tolerate or adhere to existing therapies,” said Malhotra in a press release. Tirzepatide manufacturer Eli Lilly has applied for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for tirzepatide (Zepbound) for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.