I have had many patients and friends ask me in the clinic if sleep apnea can be cured. Can it be cured with an apnea machine? Today I would like to answer this question for you. Usually the most common sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), regardless of the severity of the disease, the obstruction is basically in the upper respiratory tract of the pharynx, which is surrounded by soft tissues of the channel, snoring is also caused by the vibration of the soft palate in this area. There are many causes of OSA, besides the soft tissues of the upper respiratory tract or the local narrowing caused by neoplastic organisms, many factors such as age, obesity, looks (jaw and facial bone development, such as small jaws from birth, etc.), and some illnesses (e.g., hypothyroidism), and so on, may all work together to cause snoring and apnea. Therefore, it is difficult to address all factors regardless of which treatment is taken. Therefore, sleep apnea, like all chronic diseases, is theoretically incurable, except when caused by specific diseases. Even if some people get better temporarily with treatment, it may recur with the age and weight of the diagnosis. However, it doesn’t matter; regular treatment can keep the symptoms well under control and offer some protection to the cardiovascular system and vital internal organs. Sleeping with a ventilator is the most effective of the many treatments for moderate to severe OSA. Its principle is to continuously give a positive pressure to the airway through the nasal mask or face mask to hold up the upper airway, eliminating soft palate vibration and preventing the collapse of the upper airway, which ideally can basically eliminate snoring and apnea, thus eliminating the lack of oxygen at night. However, this is an allopathic treatment. Just as patients with high blood pressure and diabetes need to take their medication regularly every day, patients with OSA need to be on a ventilator every day while they sleep, and the longer they are on the ventilator each night, the better the protection they will receive. An average of four hours or more per night is generally required. In addition, almost every patient has asked: Will I be dependent on the ventilator? Don’t be able to breathe without it someday! In fact, OSA patients are not unable to breathe, their apnea is only because the upper airway is blocked, the treatment of OSA ventilator is to rely on a stream of air to provide a pressure to hold up the upper airway, so that it does not collapse or blockage, the breathing itself is still dependent on the patient to complete their own, and does not rely on the machine, so there will be no ventilator dependence. The ventilator allows patients with moderate to severe OSA to sleep without worry, and it is also a “household appliance” for daily life. Let’s all work together to make life with a ventilator easier!