Is sleep apnea permanent?

I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in October 2003. I have been using a CPAP machine ever since. I started out at an air pressure of 9, but over time ended up at a pressure of 14. Back in January of this year (2007), I began following a steady exercise program and lost fifteen pounds. My doctor had me re-evaluated through another sleep study, and my pressure was reduced to the original pressure of 9. I am sleeping better and feeling better. I view my sleep apnea as being a result of my overweight body, and because I was able to lower my pressure through exercise and weight loss, is it possible to "cure" my sleep apnea if I keep on exercising and losing weight?

I didn't think about it before, but there a probably people reading my question who don't know what sleep apnea is, much less what a CPAP is. Here are a couple a links: http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.com/osa/
http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/snoring...

Sleep apnea is able to be cured with good health and strong lungs. When you exercise practice good breathing, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Practice breathing right. Most people forget 'how' to breath even though most are born with the instinct of doing correctly, we simply uncorrected it. You'll notice when a baby is breathing the stomach goes up and down. A child, young adult or adult who has forgotten how to breath correctly with breath with their full bodies, shoulders moving up and down. If you're not sure how you breathe, lay down on the ground and place a book on your stomach to see if it moves when you breathe. Breathing correctly will help your lungs.

My daughter had sleep apnea, came of CPAP, had to wear an alarm for a while but with increasing good health was able to come off and it's been gone for years now.

Can be but you can help make it less threatening. Talk to your doctor. There are machines that can train your body to breath correctly while sleeping. good luck

My understanding is that yes, it's completely possible to cure your sleep apnea by achieving a normal weight. Plus, if you drink alcohol, quit that as well. Sounds like you're on the right track, hang in there!

I've been told it is. I too have a cpap, and need to lose weight according to my doctor. It's slow going...

There are two distinct forms of sleep apnea: Central and Obstructive. Breathing is interrupted by the lack of effort in Central Sleep Apnea; in Obstructive Sleep Apnea, breathing is interrupted by a physical block to airflow despite effort. In Mixed Sleep Apnea, there is a transition from central to obstructive features during the events themselves.
Many people experience elements of obstructive sleep apnea for only a short period of time. This can be the result of an upper respiratory infection that causes nasal congestion, along with swelling of the throat, or tonsillitis that temporarily produces very enlarged tonsils.
In other words no its not permanent and can be treated, here are some treatments for the type of apnea u have:
(1)One method of treating central sleep apnea is with a special kind of positive airway pressure machine providing additional pressure during inhalation, including a Spontaneous / Time (ST) feature. This machine will automatically deliver pressure to the patient if it fails to detect a certain minimum number of breaths per minute.
(2)the use of dental appliances or devices, such as a Tongue Retaining Device, Mandibular Repositioning Splints or dental appliances, such as a mandibular repositioning splints or devices, or MORA (mandibular orthopedic repositioning appliance.)

If you get down to the proper weight, it is highly likely that the apnea will resolve itself. Being over weight is one of the biggest causes of sleep apnea at this point.

It depends on whether your sleep apnea is genetic or only physical (weight related). Most people start having symptoms that are usually not associated with sleep apnea but they dismiss it as working to hard and stress. Remember exercise gives you energy and lowers your blood pressure which doesn't mean that your sleep apnea has been 'cured'. I know of slim people who have sleep apnea (one is the PA at my doctor's office, the other is my father). the only sure way to know is after you have the lost the weight you want you much get re-evaluated. Because I also have sleep apnea I know all of the tricks to stay awake, exercise being one way.

Loosing weight will help alot and it could be that if you lost more weight you could come off your machine.I have OSA mine is due to overweight and inlarged tonsils,Im 47 and scared to have my tonsils removed so I guess Im stuck with cpap machine.Do you still have your tonsils?

IT'S what's in behind your nasal & in your throat
so, Yes it's permanent
losing weight doesn't hurt