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What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a very serious disorder in which a person stops breathing or experiences shallow breathing during sleep. Symptoms include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, waking up with a sore throat or waking up gasping for air. In severe cases, it can lead to heart attack or stroke. According to the National Institutes for Health, as many as 12 million people suffer from sleep apnea.
What are the possible causes?
It is usually caused by either a blockage of the person's airway from loose or extra tissues in the (nose and throat collapsing during sleep or by the brain failing to tell the muscles to breathe.
How is it diagnosed?
Usually the patient will undergo a sleep study, or polysomnograph (PSG), during which he or she is observed overnight in a sleep lab. The test measures heart rate, respiratory function, blood oxygen levels and the brain's electrical activity in order to make a diagnosis. What are the treatment options?
- Nasal CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) - a mask-like device worn over the mouth and nose during sleep that keeps the airway open with air pressure during sleep.
- Oral appliances - these push the lower jaw forward, keeping the airway open.
- Medication - Some prescription drugs may provide relief.
- Surgery - Removing excess tissue from the nose and throat may help widen the airway. Surgeries may include correcting the septum (wall between the nostrils), removing nasal polyps, which may also be blocking the airway, minimally-invasive throat procedures to reduce tissue in the airway, and the Pillar Procedure to stiffen the soft palate reducing or eliminating it’s collapse during sleep.
The tissue in the back of the throat most often involved in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea is the soft palate. In addition to the soft palate, many people also suffer from obstruction of other parts of the upper airway including the nasal airway, tonsils, tongue, and pharyngeal walls. During your first office visit, your doctor will examine all parts of your upper airway and assess which areas may be contributing to your sleep apnea. A treatment plan addressing your specific anatomy may include CPAP, oral appliances, medications, minimally invasive or surgical treatments. Only a full examination by our board certified Physicians can determine the treatment best for you.
Obstructive sleep apnea can be a complex condition. Our practice will continue to work with you to provide the relief you deserve. |
