Sleep Apnea Disorder

Do you or a family member suffer from sleep apnea?  Are you looking for help with this concerning disorder?

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder generally characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep.  These pauses are called apneas (defined as ‘without breath’) that occur throughout sleep and can last so that one or more breaths are missed.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Amazingly, many suffer from sleep apnea for years or even decades before getting a definitive diagnosis.  You may be suffering from sleep apnea if you have any of the following symptoms:

• excessive daytime sleepiness
• loud snoring
• disruptive/fragmented sleep
• choking or gasping during sleep to get air into lungs
• headaches, dry mouth, sore throat after sleeping 

If you are overweight, you could be at risk for sleep apnea.  However, not all sleep apnea patients are overweight, normal weight patients with a small receding jaw may also suffer.  Studies have shown that a neck circumference greater than 16 inches in women and 17 inches in men correlates with an increase risk of sleep apnea.  Studies further showed that increasing neck size correlates with the severity of sleep apnea.

It is important to discuss any of the above symptoms with your physician because those suffering from sleep apnea can develop cardiovascular abnormalities with the repeating cycles of snoring, airway collapse and arousal. 

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

Once your family physician suspects you may be suffering from sleep apnea, he or she may send you to an ear, nose and throat specialist for tests.  To clinically diagnose sleep apnea, you may have to undergo an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram.  Having a polysomnography in a sleep laboratory is considered the highest standard for diagnosing the condition.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

The treatments recommended are on a case-by-case basis and may include:

• Losing weight
• Dental devices to modify the position of the tongue or jaw
• Upper airway and/or jaw surgical procedures
• CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment

CPAP treatment is the most commonly used treatment for sleep apnea.  With CPAP, the patient wears a snugly fitting nasal mask that is attached to a fan blowing air into their nostrils to keep the airway open while sleeping.

For patients who cannot endure CPAP, their doctor may suggest a surgical option to alleviate the apnea. 

• UPPP – Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty – This surgery involves removing part of the uvula, soft palate and redundant peripharyngeal tissues.  Effective in reducing or eliminating snoring, it often does not cure sleep apnea since in many patients other areas of the airway also collapse along with the soft palate.

Getting treatment for sleep apnea is important for overall long-term health.  Visit a qualified Ear, Nose and Throat doctor like those from Montgomery ENT Center.  Their friendly professionals are experts in treating all types of sleep apnea and can recommend an appropriate course of treatment.  Contact Montgomery ENT Center today to make your appointment to discuss diagnosing and resolving your sleep apnea.