If you think you may have sleep apnea, you should visit our sleep disorders center for a diagnosis and advice. Sleep apnea is a common disruption that occurs while you sleep. If you have sleep apnea, you may notice obstructed breathing and restlessness whenever you try to sleep. Your case of sleep apnea may be mild or severe, and it could be disrupting your sleep more than you realize.
Sleep Apnea Explanation
If your breathing is blocked at night and you notice that you are not getting enough air, you have sleep apnea. The two main types of sleep apnea are obstructed sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructed sleep apnea is the most common. However, central sleep apnea is common in people who have had previous health issues like heart attacks or stroke. In most cases, men and people who are overweight are more at risk for sleep apnea. If your sleep apnea goes on too long without being treated, you could experience high blood pressure and other issues that lead to stroke or heart failure.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
If you have sleep apnea, there are a variety of symptoms that you could be experiencing. Sleepiness during the day, irritability, concentration problems, sweating, and consistent waking are just a few of the most popular symptoms. Some people suffer from headaches, heartburn, leg swelling, and chest pain, but these are less common symptoms or may indicate additional health problems.
Sleep Apnea Causes
Sleep apnea has several causes. We will be able to determine what might be causing your sleep apnea when you visit our sleep disorders center for a diagnosis. In most cases, the causes of sleep apnea are any outside forces that place pressure or blockage in your airway. If you have large tonsils, you may not be able to notice throughout your day, but they could put pressure on your airway while you try to sleep. Bone deformities or enlarged tissues in your throat and nasal passages are also causes of sleep apnea. Drinking alcohol, obesity, allergy and anxiety medications, as well as narcotics can also contribute to sleep apnea. We have found that the jaw muscles can also relax, causing the lower jaw and tongue to fall backward and block the airway.
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis in Our Sleep Disorders Center
When you come to our sleep disorders center for diagnosis, we will perform an examination and ask you questions about your health and personal habits. We can also perform various sleep studies and blood tests to determine what your likelihood of having sleep apnea is. We will provide you with an oral appliance for you to wear at home to help us determine if you have sleep apnea without you having to make several visits to the hospital or our office for several tests. Once we have determined if you have the condition, we can talk about the best treatments for your needs.
Having sleep apnea can be a constant battle. At our sleep disorders center, we want to be able to help diagnose if you have sleep apnea and to help direct you to the best options for treatment. You should not have to suffer because of your sleep apnea, and your family and significant other should not have to have trouble sleeping because of you snoring or choking at night. Once you know whether or not you have sleep apnea, you can better prepare to deal with this bothersome health problem.