Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes your breathing to stop or get very shallow and starts again at intervals. This means your breathing can get interrupted while you sleep, causing serious health complications. You should get treatment from your healthcare provider. Learn more about Sleep Apnea.

Risk Factors

  • Using alcohol and sedatives
  • Having a narrow airway
  • Having an airway obstructed by large tonsils or adenoids
  • Obesity or excessive weight

Symptoms

  • Headaches in the morning
  • Mood changes during the day
  • Snoring loudly
  • Nightmares
  • Trouble falling asleep
  • Fatigue during the day, even after getting a full night’s rest

Tests and Diagnosis

Testing for sleep apnea may include collecting your medical history with symptoms, family history, and tests. These tests may include a pulmonary function test, spirometry, allergy, skin, or blood tests.

Managing Sleep Apnea

There are many approaches to treating sleep apnea. These can include a CPAP or other special mouthpiece devices to keep your mouth open so you can breathe. A more invasive option is surgery. Removing your tonsils and adenoids can widen the opening where your mouth, throat and nasal passages connect.

Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Healthy lifestyle changes can help you control the factors that cause hypertension. Experts recommend the following:

  • Consume a heart-healthy diet, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins like fish
  • Increase physical activity, aiming for 150 minutes of moderate activity each week
  • Maintain a moderate weight
  • Manage stress
  • Quit smoking, if you do
  • Limiting alcohol consumption

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. The effects begin soon after you stop smoking, though they are impacted by how long you have been a smoker before quitting.

The effects of quitting smoking include:

  • Reduced heart rate
  • Improved blood flow to your heart
  • Lower risk of heart attack
  • Lower risk of coronary heart disease

TRICARE East offers a free program called Commit to Quit, that provides free tobacco and vaping quit. You can reach a nicotine cessation specialist at 877-414-9949 or visit Commit to Quit | TRICARE for more information.

TRICARE Coverage

TRICARE covers medically necessaryTo be medically necessary means it is appropriate, reasonable, and adequate for your condition. services. To be medically necessary means it is appropriate, reasonable, and adequate for your condition. services, including those for sleep apnea.

Sleep Studies | TRICARE

CPAP Machine

Resources

Insomnia Coach - Mobile VA Phone App

Beneficiary Care Management Resource Guide

TRICARE East Commit to Quit - 877-414-9949

Community Resource Directory - Findhelp.org

Last Updated 9/12/2025