Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Medications are generally not effective in sleep apnea treatment. However, if nasal congestion is contributing to breathing problems, decongestants may help.
Left untreated, sleep apnea can be life-threatening. Excessive daytime sleepiness can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving. Sleep apnea also appears to put individuals at risk for stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs, also known as "mini-strokes"), and is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and high blood pressure.
Although there is no cure for sleep apnea, recent studies show that successfully managing the condition can reduce the risk of heart and blood pressure problems.