Behavioral management of obstructive sleep apnea

Behavioral therapy is an integral part of patient management with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Counseling about the hazards of driving while untreated is of utmost importance. Weight loss can be cured in the small number of patients who actually achieve it; pharmacological therapy shows some promise in this regard. A variety of other behavioral approaches including the lateral decubitus sleeping position, nasal dilators, nasal sprays, and avoidance of unhealthy behaviors may be useful in patients with sleep-disordered breathing.