Pulmonologists (Breathing/Lung Doctors) Pulmonologists are medical specialists that focus on the health of the respiratory system. These physicians are very familiar with sleep disorders, including OSA, and manage other diseases such as COPD, asthma, and other breathing disorders that may be related to sleep apnea.
What is the ENT procedure for sleep apnea?
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. This sleep apnea surgery may have a long name, but the positive effects are long-lasting as well. During the procedure the ENT will remove tissues from the throat, uvula, tonsils, adenoids or the soft palate.
Can an ENT diagnose snoring?
An ENT can help determine the cause of your snoring and recommend appropriate treatment options. Treatment for snoring may include lifestyle changes, oral appliances or surgery.
What is the best diagnostic test for sleep apnea?
Polysomnography, an overnight sleep study performed in a lab, provides the most accurate diagnosis. View Source for obstructive sleep apnea. However, this type of test can be more expensive, and people in certain areas may face long waitlists or lack easy access to a sleep center.
Who can diagnose sleep apnea Related Questions
At what age is sleep apnea usually diagnosed?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when a child stops breathing during sleep. The cessation of breathing usually occurs because there is a blockage (obstruction) in the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea affects many children and is most commonly found in children between 2 and 6 years of age, but can occur at any age.
What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?
Excessive daytime sleepiness. Loud snoring. Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep. Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking. Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat. Morning headache. Difficulty concentrating during the day.
What is the recovery time for sleep apnea?
Although the recovery process can be painful, most people recover in three to four weeks and notice an improvement after two months.
Does throat surgery help sleep apnea?
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is surgery to open the upper airways by taking out extra tissue in the throat. It may be done alone to treat mild obstructive sleep apnea or snoring or with other procedures to treat moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
What is the best treatment for obstructive sleep apnea?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) CPAP is considered the gold standard treatment for OSA7 because its use can improve sleep-related symptoms and quality of life. CPAP acts as a pneumatic splint that stabilizes the upper airway with constant positive pressure via a mask interface.
Can sleep apnea be cured?
Is There a Cure for Sleep Apnea? While there is no cure for sleep apnea, studies show that certain lifestyle factors can reverse or make your sleep apnea less intense. Other treatment or surgical options can also reverse the condition. Sleep apnea happens when your upper airway muscles relax while you sleep.
What does ENT detect?
You’ll treat conditions that affect the senses such as hearing and balance disorders or smell and taste problems. You’ll also treat patients with conditions that affect their voice, breathing and swallowing as well as those with head and neck tumours. ENT has possibly the widest range of operations of any speciality.
What is checked by an ENT?
ENTs deal with anything that has to do with the head, neck, and ears in adults and children, including: Hearing. The adenoids and tonsils. The thyroid.
Does sleep apnea happen every night?
People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night.
Is sleep apnea easy to detect?
Information: It can be hard to tell if you have sleep apnoea. It may help to ask someone to stay with you while you sleep so they can check for the symptoms.
Can sleep apnea be cured naturally?
‚ÄúThe only way to ‘cure’ sleep apnea naturally is with significant lifestyle changes,‚Äù notes Dr. May. Generally, sleep apnea symptoms like daytime sleepiness and comorbidities like heart disease and excess weight can be treated thus. For example, daytime sleepiness can be curbed with a cup of coffee.
What makes sleep apnea worse?
Your Sleep Position Sleeping on your back can make your sleep apnea worse‚Äî this is because your tongue can fall back towards your throat and press against your airway. Any extra weight or pressure, such as body fat, around your airway can block it while you’re on your back also. Instead, try sleeping on your side.
Can stress cause sleep apnea?
Statistical analysis showed that sleep apnea was significantly associated with both insomnia and high levels of stress. They found that high stress levels were associated with a 50% higher risk of sleep apnea.
What are the dangers of sleep apnea?
High blood pressure. Heart disease. Heart failure. Stroke. Type 2 diabetes. Weight gain. Metabolic syndrome. Adult asthma.
What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?
Sleep apnea, particularly when the disorder goes undiagnosed or untreated, has been linked to a wide-array of health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even glaucoma, and it may also increase your risk of death.
How to avoid sleep apnea?
Lose weight if you’re overweight. Exercise regularly. Drink alcohol moderately, if at all. Don’t drink in the hours before bedtime. Quit smoking. Use a nasal decongestant or allergy medications. Don’t sleep on your back. Avoid taking sedative medications such as anti-anxiety drugs or sleeping pills.