Sleep apnea doctors near me

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About Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a person momentarily stops breathing during sleep. This stoppage of airflow can happen hundreds of times during the night, with each event lasting 10 to 20 seconds in duration. This can cause the sufferer to feel unrested even after a full night of sleep. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition, and if left untreated, can cause a multitude of other health issues including hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attacks, stroke, liver problems, diabetes, and cardiomyopathy (heart enlargement).

There are 3 types of sleep apnea:

- Obstructive sleep apnea: Caused by the relaxation of throat muscles. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea.

- Central sleep apnea: Caused by the brain and central nervous system’s failure to send important signals to breathing muscles.

- Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea: This is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

Obesity and excessive weight around the throat and neck are the leading causes of obstructive sleep apnea but can affect normal-weight individuals as well. In a study published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in 2012, sleep apnea likely affects nearly a billion people globally. Sleep apnea is more common in men, affecting 1 in 4, while sleep apnea affects only 1 in 10 women.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Headaches, especially upon waking in the morning
  • Recurrent awakenings that may include nighttime urination
  • Snoring that causes dry mouth or sore throat
  • Feeling excessively tired during the day
  • Anxiety, depression, forgetfulness, irritability, or trouble focusing
  • Night sweats

These symptoms may appear in children and adults alike.

Treatment Options
Specific treatment for sleep apnea depends on which type of sleep apnea you suffer from and the severity of the condition. During your appointment, talk to your doctor or provider about your symptoms and the treatment plan that is right for you.

For cases of obstructive sleep apnea, you may be able to reduce the number of apneic episodes during a night’s rest by following a few self-care methods which include:

  • Lose weight. Even a modest decrease in weight can help lower the number of breathless events during the night.
  • Avoid alcohol, smoking, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Change sleeping position. Many mild cases of sleep apnea happen when you sleep on your back. Try sleeping on your side or stomach, or invest in a sleep apnea pillow.
  • Exercise. Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day can help with symptoms related to sleep apnea.
  • Try using nose sprays or nose strips. Keeping the airways open at night can encourage easier breathing during rest.

A very common treatment for all forms of sleep apnea involves the use of mechanical therapy. These therapies can help open up the airway during rest. These include:

- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine: This is a machine consisting of a compressor, tube, and mask that seals around your nose and mouth. The pressure from the compressor helps air push past any blockages helping keep constant airflow. A CPAP machine keeps the same pressure for both the inhale and exhale and is most often prescribed to those with obstructive sleep apnea.

- Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine: Much like a CPAP machine, a BiPAP machine uses a compressor, tub, and mask that seals around your nose and mouth to deliver constant airflow to a sleeper. Unlike a CPAP machine, a BiPAP machine uses higher pressure during inhalation and lower pressure during exhalation.

- Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV): Resembling a CPAP or BiPAP machine, an ASV machine is comprised of a compressor, tube, mask. But unlike a CPAP or BiPAP, an ASV has a computer that learns and adapts to your breathing patterns throughout the night. ASV is often used for treatment-emergent central sleep apnea in which a machine learns your breathing patterns during rest.

- Oxygen: supplemental oxygen can be used for central sleep apnea. Dental appliances that keep the jaw and/or tongue in the proper position

For severe cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend surgery if other treatment options have failed. Surgery options include removing or shrinking the tissue around the throat and mouth, creation of a new airway (tracheostomy), tonsil removal, adding a nerve stimulator to keep the tongue in place, jaw placement surgery, and nasal surgery. Your doctor may suggest trying other treatment options for at least 3 months before considering surgery.

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FAQs

Sleep Apnea

Pretty common! According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, it is currently estimated that 26 percent of adults between the ages of 30 and 70 years have sleep apnea.

Does your bed partner complain that you snore? Are you experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness or difficulty concentrating during the day? Do you often awaken with a dry mouth or sore throat or have abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking? These are just a handful of sleep apnea symptoms.

Sleep deprivation can have a profound impact on your quality of life. If you believe you may be suffering from a sleeping disorder, let Sesame help! Sesame offers convenient and affordable consultations with sleep specialists in Yellow Bluff Fort, FL at affordable cash-pay prices. Book directly with the doctor you want to see and save up to 60% on your appointment when you book through Sesame - no insurance needed.

CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) is the most common and reliable treatment for sleep apnea. CPAP prevents snoring and apnea by providing air pressure that is greater than the surrounding air, helping keep your upper airway passages open.

Some people may find the CPAP to be too bulky and uncomfortable and give up on the CPAP machine. With practice, though, most people can find a comfortable and secure fit. You may need to try more than one type of CPAP mask and experiment with the tension on the straps to find the fit that you prefer.

Sleep apnea is often a chronic condition that does not go away. However, there are several effective sleep apnea treatments. CPAP therapy is the most common and reliable treatment for sleep apnea. However, many people also see great results using oral appliances, treatment for associated medical problems, supplemental oxygen, adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), and more.

If you're not seeing improvements with CPAP therapy, there are still plenty of options available. Those include:

- PAP Devices: PAP devices, such as an Auto-CPAP device, automatically adjust air pressure while you're sleeping. Another option is a bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP), which provides more pressure when you inhale and less when you exhale.

- Oral Devices: Oral appliances such as a mandibular advancement device (MAD). A MAD is a mouthpiece that moves the lower jaw forward preventing blockages of the airway.

- Medical Treatment: Treating associated medical conditions. Central sleep apnea that may be caused by heart or neuromuscular disorders can benefit from treating those underlying causes. Overly large tonsils and adenoids may also restrict airflow. In these cases, a tonsillectomy may help.

- Ventilation Devices: An adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) device can be used for treating either central sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The ASV device stores information about your normal breathing pattern and automatically adjusts the airflow pressure to prevent pauses in your breathing while you sleep. ASV may be more effective than other PAP devices, but might not be the best choice for people with predominant central sleep apnea or for those who have experienced advanced heart failure.

If you have mild obstructive sleep apnea you may be able to see great improvements through a few lifestyle changes. Here are a few tips:

- Lose weight: Even slight weight loss can help lessen the constriction in your throat. Not to mention obesity can put you at increased risk of other health problems such as heart disease or a heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more.

- Exercise: Regular exercise can help alleviate symptoms even if you don't lose any weight.

- Abstain from alcohol or sleeping pills: These relax the muscles in the back of the throat that interfere with breathing.

- Try sleeping on your side or stomach: Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and soft palate to relax against the back of the throat, causing airway obstruction. Some doctors might recommend positional therapy as a short-term remedy for this. One do-it-yourself trick to keep you from rolling onto your back is by attaching a tennis ball to the back of your shirt or pajama top.

- Quit smoking: Smoking can lead to medical conditions beyond just sleep disorders. If you're struggling to quit, your primary care physician may be able to connect you with resources to help.

For more information on alleviating sleep problems, consult a healthcare professional. Sesame makes it easier than ever. Simply search for sleep specialists in Yellow Bluff Fort, FL in our search engine, compare prices, and book directly on the site.

There are several effective treatment options for helping you sleep at night, including - a CPAP device, mouthpieces, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, or special pillows. In cases of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in which you have not responded well to any of these treatments, your doctor may recommend surgery. The type of surgery will depend on the part of the body causing the issue - nose, tongue, palate (the soft tissue in the back of your mouth and throat), or the bones in your face, neck, or jaw.

- Nasal surgery: The most common type of nasal surgery is the correction of a deviated septum (when the cartilage separating your nostrils is off-center). This is usually meant to improve the use of CPAP and is not likely to get rid of the apnea entirely.

- Tongue surgery: The two most common tongue surgeries are a lingual tonsillectomy, in which doctors remove part of the base of the tongue, or a genioglossus advancement, which firms up the tongue by pulling the muscle that attaches to your lower jaw forward.

- Patate surgeries include: Tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils), uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (also known as UPPP or UP3, this is the rearranging of throat tissue to make a bigger airway), palate radiofrequency (the doctor will zap the soft tissue that makes up your palate. As you heal the tissues will stiffen and shrink), and palate implants (small fiber rods are used to stiffen the tissue and keep the airway open.

- Skeletal surgery: This type of surgery aims to change the shape of your airway by moving your jawbones. The most effective (but also most invasive) type of skeletal surgery is called maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) in which the surgeon breaks your upper and lower jaws and moves them forward to make a bigger airway. This generally requires a few days in the hospital. Afterward, your jaw will be held together by tight rubberbands which your doctor will remove at each of your follow-up visits over the following weeks. Another option is called anterior inferior mandibular osteotomy with hyoid suspension. In this type of surgery part of the bone in your chin is removed and your tongue and neck muscles are pulled forward to make more space in your airway. This is less effective than MMA, but you won't need to have your jaws held together during your recovery.

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