Table 1.

Evidence-based treatment approaches to alleviate symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

Treatment type	Device/procedure
Stenting the upper airway mechanically	Nasal CPAP, BiPAP, autoCPAP or dental devices
Altering the upper airway	Soft tissue or skeletal surgery
Bypassing the upper airway	Tracheostomy
Reducing weight	Diet and behavior modification or bariatric surgery
Positional therapy	Raise patient’s head off bed, alarm or tennis ball technique

These therapeutic approaches have shown improvement in metabolic functioning including reduced blood pressure and weight, improved glucose homeostasis and lipid profile, as well as increased cardiac functions.

BiPAP: Bilevel positive airway pressure; CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure.