Surgery is an alternative treatment for people with OSA who have either failed to respond to CPAP therapy or are unable to tolerate it. Surgical techniques used can vary based on the physiology of the individual being treated, but are generally performed to remove excess tissue or remodel the upper airway to prevent obstructions.[1]
Lifestyle interventions may also be effective treatments for OSA, since obesity is a significant risk factor.[2] One 89-participant randomized controlled trial comparing a diet and lifestyle intervention to standard CPAP therapy in men with moderate to severe OSA and overweight or obesity found that the diet/lifestyle intervention eliminated the need for CPAP therapy in over 60% of the participants. Remarkably, 29% of the participants in the lifestyle intervention group achieved complete OSA remission.[3]
Reducing alcohol consumption may help to improve sleep apnea symptoms, since higher levels of alcohol consumption are an OSA risk factor.[4]
Exercise may also improve OSA symptoms in people with sleep apnea by reducing the accumulation of fluid in tissues surrounding the upper airway at night, which helps to reduce constriction.[5]