Avoid sleeping on your back (To help with this, wear a T-shirt to bed that has a tennis ball sewn into the back of it. You will be less likely to sleep on your back.)

Use pillows to keep the head elevated.

Normalize your weight. Weight loss may help in the treatment of sleep apnea. Even partial weight loss may improve breathing during sleep, making sleep more restful and lessening daytime sleepiness.

Avoid alcohol within four hours of bed- time. Alcohol depresses breathing and makes sleep apnea episodes more frequent and severe. Alcohol also appears to trigger sleep apnea in people who would otherwise merely snore.

Avoid sleeping pills. Sleeping pills depress breathing, relax the muscles of the throat, and generally make sleep apnea worse. Seek out a healthcare professional's advice if you use sleeping pills and have sleep apnea.

Take all drugs with care. Medications prescribed for headaches, anxiety, and other common problems can affect sleep and breathing.

Medications to relieve congestion of the nose may be helpful in reducing snoring and the likelihood of sleep apnea episodes. Usually treatment of sleep apnea solely by improving nasal airflow does not solve loud snoring or significant breathing episodes.