Good question. If you're trying to avoid surgery or medicine, it's worth considering specially-designed pillows for sleep apnea. Because so often sleep apnea has to do with weight, diets for weight loss can be used to improve sleep apnea, while preventing or improving other illness caused by carrying around extra weight. Acupuncture for sleep apnea is also an option. Often the acupuncturist will focus on reducing phlegm in the body or generally improving chi flow, toning the muscles in your throat so that they don't collapse while you're sleeping.