Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition that occurs when the upper airway narrows while sleeping. The obstruction causes frequent pauses in breathing throughout the night. Not only does this interrupt your sleep quality, but it can lead to several serious health conditions without any treatment, like cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, sleep apnea will not go away on its own. You can take certain steps at home to improve your symptoms, but they aren’t a substitute for sleep apnea therapy.