Helping Patients Sleep Better: Why the Airway Deserves Its Own Treatment Plan

Real-world evidence shows that GLP-1 therapies impact far more than weight loss alone. For example, patients taking GLP-1s have experienced significant reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events along with improved metabolic outcomes.1 While these medications can play a critical role in helping patients live healthier and happier lives, they should not be viewed as a standalone solution for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Hidden Risks of Undiagnosed & Untreated Sleep Apnea

I often remind my patients that snoring isn’t just a nuisance—it’s frequently a sign of OSA, which affects > 30 million Americans, though 80% remain undiagnosed. Many GLP-1 patients may still struggle with snoring, fatigue, and morning headaches caused by nighttime airway collapse once they’ve achieved their weight loss goals. Lingering OSA symptoms may also silently undermine the progress these patients have made when it comes to reducing other health concerns and risks.

Even in mild to moderate cases, if left untreated, OSA increases the risk of hypertension, cognitive decline, and type 2 diabetes. Because the condition stems from unique physiologic causes, it requires its own targeted treatment approach—one that addresses airway function directly.

Beyond CPAP: Introducing Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)

Traditional OSA treatments, such as CPAP and oral appliances, are often met with adherence challenges. On the other hand, daytime neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) offers a physiologic solution with improved adherence.

By retraining the tongue and airway muscles to maintain tone during sleep, NMES reduces both snoring and apnea episodes. Outside of treating OSA, NMES has been particularly successful in treating swallowing, voice, and laryngeal disorders. Additionally, NMES has been successfully leveraged in orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation, as well as pain management.

Unlike pharmacologic treatment or CPAP, neuromuscular stimulation addresses the underlying dysfunction of airway collapse, providing lasting improvements without masks or machines.

As a practicing physician, I always consider my patients’ lifestyles in any prescription and clinical recommendation. Historically, CPAP has been the go-to solution for more severe cases of sleep apnea, and there has been a severe unmet need when it comes to non-invasive sleep therapies for mild to moderate OSA. Various in-market solutions can offer patients clinically tested, FDA-cleared relief while offering convenience and ease of use.2

Takeaways for Multispecialty Doctors in the Era of GLP-1s

OSA is a cross-specialty condition, demanding vigilance beyond the ENT office.

• Primary care: Patients achieving significant weight loss on GLP-1s should be screened for residual snoring, fatigue, or poor sleep quality.
• Cardiology & Neurology: OSA is a contributor to hypertension, arrhythmia, heart-failure risk, as well as a driver of cognitive decline and dementia if left untreated.
• Sleep Medicine: CPAP adherence rates hover between 30-60%, especially among patients with milder symptoms, leaving millions without sustainable therapy. With physiologic therapies, physicians can expand their toolkit to improve treatment adherence and their patients’ quality of life.

GLP-1 therapies are transforming weight loss treatment and chronic disease management as we know it, but they cannot replace dedicated treatment for OSA. Snoring and sleep apnea deserve recognition as independent conditions with serious long-term consequences. For multispecialty clinicians, the takeaway is clear: weight loss and OSA therapy can be complementary but are not interchangeable. By screening, referring, and treating OSA directly, clinicians can help patients breathe, sleep, and live better.

References

1. Bonavitacola, J. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Reduce Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes, Improve Survival. AJMC. August 2, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/glp-1-receptor-agonists-reduce-adverse-cardiovascular-outcomes-improve-survival?utm_. Accessed August 27, 2025.
2. Snoring and apnea treatment you can live with — and sleep without. Spring Sleep. https://www.springsleep.com/. Accessed August 27, 2025.