I didn't Realize Sleep Apnea was Progressive Until Now!

I was under the impression that once you were diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, then the only way it would get worse is if you gained a lot of weight. But from what I have been researching, I've found that sleep apnea is a progressive disorder. So, that tells me that my prescription for CPAP would naturally increase over time.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you eventually get to the point where your sleep disorder has gotten so bad that CPAP would no longer work?

-G

I am a dentist working in dental sleep medicine. Indeed, sleep apnea can be a progressive disorder. But the picture is more complex than that. It can get better or worse over time depending on how many factors interact. You know that losing weight can make it better. In some people, improving their nasal patency with medications or surgery can make it better. The normal aging process, which makes your tissues looser and more distended tends to make it worse. CPAP and oral appliances can actually improve things by resolving some of the inflammation in your throat caused by the trauma of snoring vibrations. So the picture is complex. The good news is that CPAP can generally be adjusted enough to successfully treat people for a lifetime. Arthur B. Luisi. Jr, D.M.D.