Answer: First if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea did you go to a sleep lab? Usually if you did the technician would tell you about it. And all of the options available I will eventually answer your question.Sleep apnea simply means stopping breathing more than so many times, for a specific length of time, during a given period of time.We go to sleep but never really go into what is called REM sleep where our brain really gets its rest! REM means rapid eye movement - don't be freaked out by phrased and initials, your eyes "dart" about when your brain is in a very specific state of sleep, a very desirable state! For probably the past 40+ years, I really was not truly sleeping! I denied that I had a problem, I really wasn't all that tired. But, my wife finally convinced me. She deserves a gold Star, Probably a Congressional Medal of Honor! I am a Hard Headed 61 year-old. She no doubt saved my life and words will never be able to thank her enough. After all I WAS ASLEEP. ALL WAS OK AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED!!! How do I know what quality sleep I encounter, when I am asleep!In the "usual" cases apnea is caused by blockage of the airway. This blockage is caused frequently by the collapse of the airway thus a positive air pressure is applied to "inflate" this airway. A Constant Pressure Air device CPAP is usually prescribed as the least intrusive measure, but, sometimes minor surgery is required. The device will furnish air at a specific pressure measured in inches of water that will be / or has been prescribed from the sleep lab session. The pressure in inches of water, where your brain goes into REM pattern on the EEG. This is the ideal pressure!