Nonsurgical treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Self-help remedies, such as exercise, weight loss, sleep positioning, avoidance of sedatives, and use of anti-snore devices may be helpful in mild snorers, but are of limited use in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Drug therapy with stimulants is also for mild cases and side effects are limiting factors. CPAP is highly effective in patients whose apnea is severe enough to enforce compliance. In all these nonsurgical treatments, the prospect of a lifetime of drug therapy or mechanical ventilation is quite disheartening; when given a reasonable hope for a more permanent cure, most patients will opt for surgical management.