Sleep Apnea
Are you keeping your spouse up all night? Are you nodding off at meetings, while watching TV, or reading? Do you lack energy during the day even though you think you got a good night’s rest?
You may be suffering from sleep apnea. If you are suffering from sleep apnea you may experience things like daytime fatigue, snoring, a sore throat, or waking up gasping. Sleep apnea can lead to other serious health conditions like high blood pressure or stroke. It can also damage relationships because of its propensity to cause loud snoring that may keep the partner up at night.
If you think that you’re suffering from sleep apnea, it is important to schedule today with Noel ENT.
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What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop periodically throughout sleep. It can cause loud snoring, painful symptoms, and serious health issues if left untreated. There are three types of sleep apnea including:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea and it occurs when the muscles in the mouth and throat relax during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea is less common, and it occurs when the brain signals that control the respiratory muscles are disrupted.
Mixed Sleep Apnea
This type of sleep apnea is a combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea.
Your Snoring May Be Impacting You More Than You Know
If you think that you are suffering from any of the symptoms of snoring or know that you do snore, take our sleeping quiz to see how snoring is truly impacting your life.
Take Our Sleep QuizHow do I know if I Suffer from Sleep Apnea?
One of the first things you will notice when suffering from sleep apnea is loud snoring and fatigue. However, not everyone experiences snoring, so the best way to find out if you are suffering from sleep apnea and which type of sleep apnea you have is by having a sleep test. At Noel ENT, we have the knowledge and experience to perform a thorough sleep test in our sleep center or at your home. This allows us to properly diagnose the root cause of your sleep apnea and develop a treatment plan that can have you sleeping better in no time.
While having a sleep test is the best way to find out if you have sleep apnea, there are some symptoms that you can look out for such as:
- Waking up gasping or interrupted breathing
- Excessive daytime fatigue
- Waking up in the morning with headaches
- Restlessness when sleeping
- Excessive nighttime bathroom trips
- Oftentimes, sleep apnea may be misdiagnosed as BPH or a urological issue
- Lowered sex drive
- Inability to concentrate
- Mood swings
If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms, it may be time to schedule with Noel ENT to see if a sleep test is right for you.
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Sleep Apnea Can Cause Serious Health Complications
Sleep apnea is disruptive enough in its own right but it also impacts the body in negative ways. When left untreated sleep apnea can cause serious health conditions including:
- Cardiovascular issues
- Irregular heartbeats
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Pregnancy complications
- Poor cognition
To minimize the serious health conditions that sleep apnea can cause, it is important to get it diagnosed and treated early on.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
Your sleep apnea treatment will be unique to you, based on the cause and severity of your sleep apnea as well as your overall treatment goals. At our sleep center, our professionals can address your symptoms, medical history, and goals to develop a treatment plan that will have you sleeping easily again. Some treatment methods include:
Making Lifestyle Changes
In mild cases, making positive changes to your lifestyle can help ease sleep apnea. Changes like weight loss, a reduction of alcohol consumption, and smoking cessation can help sleep apnea symptoms.
Using a Breathing Machine
Breathing machines such as a CPAP or BiPAP machine can help reduce or eliminate sleep apnea symptoms. These machines work to increase air pressure by pushing air into the airway to maintain normal airflow.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances help reduce sleep apnea by controlling the tongue and jaw to prevent any airflow blockages.
Learn about some sleep apnea treatments offered at Noel ENT