Sleep apnea impacts millions of Americans. This physiological disorder causes a detrimental lack of oxygen at night or even during daytime naps. Over time, serious health conditions may result.
Here are the symptoms you should be aware of.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
There are two kinds of sleep apnea–obstructive and central. The obstructive kind, or OSA, occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat relax and close the airway. The central kind, or CSA, is related to poor communication between the brain and respiratory system.
With both versions, people with sleep apnea snore excessively and loudly and frequently awaken due to it, often gasping for air. Besides snoring and gasping for air, the symptoms of sleep apnea can include:
- Snorting
- Restless sleeping
- Apneic episodes, or breathing cessation
- Daytime sleepiness
- Poor concentration
- Mental fogginess
- Headaches
Some sleep apnea patients even develop chronic health problems, such as anxiety, depression, erectile dysfunction, and obesity. Plus, research indicates that sleep apnea can contribute to the development of diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health issues.
Risk Factors and Treatments For Sleep Apnea
The risk factors for sleep apnea–especially OSA–are:
- Being 40 or older
- Having a large neck circumference or enlarged tonsils and adenoids
- Obesity
- Genetics (this condition can run in families)
If your loved ones complain about your loud snoring and/or notice other symptoms–especially breathing cessation and gasping–you should be evaluated by a board-certified ear, nose, and throat doctor (otolaryngologist, or ENT) who has experience and training in sleep disorders.
You’ll be examined in the office, and the doctor will review your medical history and symptoms. Then, you will likely be monitored with an in-office or at-home sleep study in which your breathing, heart rate, and brain activity will be fully monitored as you sleep.
From there, your ENT doctor can recommend ways to control your sleep apnea symptoms. Common treatments include:
- Losing weight
- Avoiding alcohol in the evening
- Sleeping on your side (instead of your back)
- Using a dental appliance to position your lower jaw forward (thus opening your airway)
- Using a CPAP machine at night
- Surgery to remove excess soft tissue at the back of the throat
Most people have heard of CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, in which a bedside machine delivers a continuous flow of oxygen through a mask and into the airway. CPAP keeps the airway open throughout the night.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Bradenton, FL
Don’t ignore symptoms of sleep apnea. At Intercoastal Medical Group, our staff otolaryngologists can evaluate you for this disorder and help you manage its symptoms.
Dr. Michael Byers sees patients at our Cattleridge location in Sarasota, and Dr. Christine Cicco-Brown sees people at our Lakewood Ranch II location in Bradenton. To arrange a consultation, contact the location nearest you, or request your visit online. We look forward to serving you.
