Sleep apnea disrupts restful sleep and can lead to serious health issues. At WMCHealth, our ENT specialists expertly diagnose and treat sleep apnea. Our team provides comprehensive, personalized treatments that begin with a sleep study to help patients achieve a restful night’s sleep and improve overall health. Using advanced diagnostic tools, we determine the type and severity of sleep apnea to create a tailored treatment plan.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes snoring and a pause in breathing during sleep. The lack of oxygen triggers a survival reflex in the brain that forces you to wake up to start breathing again. This reflex keeps you alive but disrupts your sleep.
Those with sleep apnea often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and irritability due to fragmented sleep. Over time, this can contribute to serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. Identifying and treating sleep apnea is crucial for preventing these complications and improving quality of life.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Snoring
- Irritability
- Mood changes
- Extreme tiredness
- Headache upon waking
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Reduction in brain function
- Waking up short of breath or with a choking sensation
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
To diagnose sleep apnea, your doctor will begin with a medical history, evaluation of symptoms, and a physical exam. If they suspect you have sleep apnea, you’ll need to participate in a sleep study. There are two general types of studies:
- Home sleep apnea test: You can do this test from the comfort of your home, and results are shared remotely with your doctor.
- Overnight sleep study: This study requires you to spend the night in the Sleep Center for observation.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
The cause of your sleep apnea will depend on the type you have. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). OSA occurs when the head and neck muscles overly relax and obstruct airflow. With CSA, the brain doesn’t send the correct signals to keep breathing muscles operating when you sleep.
Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea
A variety of factors that can increase the risk of sleep apnea, including:
- Age
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Smoking
- Being male
- Nasal congestion
- Underlying medical conditions
- Use of narcotic pain medications
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Treatment depends on the severity and type of sleep apnea. For mild cases, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes like losing weight or quitting smoking. If these adjustments don’t help, or if you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, additional treatment methods may be needed.
Devices
Numerous devices can help relieve sleep apnea symptoms. The most common device is the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, a mask with a tube that pumps air, worn during sleep. However, it can be difficult to get used to. Other options include:
- BiPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) machine
- Oral appliances, like mouthguards
- Supplemental oxygen
- Adaptive servo ventilation
The ENT specialists at WMCHealth are experts in helping you choose the device that is right for you.
Surgery
Surgery is considered only after other treatments are ineffective. Many surgical options are newer and need more research to assess long-term effectiveness. One option is an implantable pacemaker like device that can be controlled outside the body to turn on and off for sleep.
Managing Other Medical Conditions
If other medical conditions contribute to your sleep apnea, addressing these with therapies and medication adjustments may improve symptoms.