If you've recently been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, the good news is that there are several proven ways to manage it. This page is a plain-language overview of your treatment options so you can have a more informed conversation with your GP or sleep clinician — and choose equipment with confidence when you're ready.
What are the main sleep apnoea treatments?
Treatments fall into a few broad groups. Which one suits you depends on the type of apnoea (obstructive or central) and its severity.
- Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy — CPAP, Auto-CPAP (APAP), BiPAP and ASV machines. This is the mainstay of treatment for most people.
- Oral appliances — a custom-fitted dental device that holds the lower jaw forward, used for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea.
- Lifestyle changes — weight management, sleep position, reducing alcohol and quitting smoking.
- Surgical and implant options — considered when other treatments haven't worked, and always specialist-led.
Most people start with a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis and severity. Our clinical partner, CLM Sleep, offers sleep studies and treatment programmes, and our consultants in Elizabeth, SA can help you choose and fit equipment once you have a diagnosis.
Treating obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnoea is the most common form. It happens when the muscles around the throat relax during sleep and the airway narrows or closes, briefly interrupting breathing. Treatment focuses on keeping that airway open.
CPAP therapy (the most common treatment)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) delivers a steady stream of gently pressurised air through a mask, splinting the airway open so you breathe smoothly all night. For many people it noticeably improves sleep quality and reduces daytime tiredness.
A CPAP setup has three core parts:
- The machine (air blower) — generates a continuous flow of air at your prescribed pressure.
- The tubing — carries the air from the machine to your mask.
- The mask — worn over the nose, or nose and mouth, to deliver the air.
Masks come in three main styles to suit different faces and breathing habits:
- Nasal masks — cover the nose.
- Nasal pillow masks — sit gently at the nostrils, with minimal contact on the face.
- Full-face masks — cover both the nose and mouth, ideal if you breathe through your mouth.
Not sure which mask is right for you? Try our mask finder, or browse CPAP machines and CPAP masks.
Auto-CPAP (APAP)
Auto-adjusting CPAP machines vary the pressure automatically throughout the night based on what your airway needs moment to moment, rather than holding one fixed pressure. Many people find this more comfortable. Explore auto-CPAP machines.
BiPAP therapy
Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) delivers two pressure levels — a higher pressure as you breathe in (IPAP) and a lower pressure as you breathe out (EPAP). That difference can make therapy easier to tolerate, particularly for people who struggle with a single fixed CPAP pressure. BiPAP is typically prescribed for specific clinical needs, so it's chosen in consultation with your clinician.
Oral appliances (mandibular devices)
A custom-fitted oral appliance gently holds your lower jaw forward, opening up space behind the tongue. These devices can help with snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea, and are sometimes suggested for people who find CPAP difficult. A dentist or sleep clinician fits these to your bite.
Lifestyle changes that can help
For some people — especially with mild apnoea — lifestyle changes make a real difference, and they support any other therapy you're using.
- Weight management — reducing excess weight around the neck can ease pressure on the airway.
- Sleep position — sleeping on your side or with your head slightly elevated can help keep the airway open; lying flat on your back tends to make obstruction worse.
- Alcohol and sedatives — these relax the throat muscles, so cutting back (especially in the evening) can reduce airway collapse.
- Quitting smoking — smoking irritates and inflames the airway; stopping can improve breathing during sleep.
Surgery and implants
When CPAP and other options haven't worked, a specialist may discuss surgical procedures or an implanted nerve-stimulation device. These are last-resort, individualised decisions made with an ENT or sleep surgeon — not something to choose from a guide like this. In children, removing enlarged tonsils or adenoids can sometimes resolve obstructive sleep apnoea.
Treating central sleep apnoea (CSA)
Central sleep apnoea is less common than the obstructive type. Instead of a blocked airway, the brain doesn't reliably signal the muscles that control breathing, so you briefly stop breathing during sleep. Because the cause is different, the treatment approach is too — and it's firmly specialist-led.
Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV)
ASV is an advanced therapy designed for central and complex sleep apnoea. It continuously monitors your breathing and adjusts pressure breath by breath to smooth out irregular patterns. ASV is prescribed for specific clinical situations and isn't suitable for everyone, so it's always set up under clinical guidance.
Treating the underlying cause
Central sleep apnoea can be linked to other health conditions or to certain medications. Treating the underlying issue, or your doctor reviewing your medications, may improve symptoms. CPAP is sometimes used for central sleep apnoea as well, with ASV considered if CPAP isn't effective.
How do I know which treatment is right for me?
The honest answer: start with a diagnosis. A sleep study tells you whether your apnoea is obstructive or central and how severe it is — and that's what determines the right therapy and pressure settings. From there:
- Confirm the diagnosis with a sleep study. CLM Sleep offers studies and treatment programmes.
- Get your prescription and settings from your clinician.
- Choose your equipment — our consultants can help you match a machine and mask to your therapy and comfort needs.
- Fine-tune the fit, because comfort is what makes therapy stick.
You can chat with a real CPAP consultant, visit our store in Elizabeth, SA, or read more in our FAQ.
Why buy your equipment from CPAP Discount Warehouse?
- Genuine, Australian-supplied devices from authorised brands — ResMed, Fisher & Paykel, Philips Respironics and Löwenstein.
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This page is general information, not medical advice. It doesn't replace a diagnosis or a treatment plan from a qualified health professional. Please speak with your GP or a sleep clinician about what's right for you — our clinical partner CLM Sleep offers sleep studies and clinical support.
