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ENT For Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Specialist in Metro Atlanta
Struggling with getting restful? If you or your loved ones experience loud snoring, persistent daytime fatigue, or wake up gasping for air, it's time to consider sleep apnea.
This condition disrupts your breathing during sleep, leading to serious health risks if left untreated – sleep apnea can create a vicious cycle by worsening ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions, which in turn can exacerbate sleep apnea and mask its underlying cause.
Don't let poor quality sleep silently erode your well-being. A simple evaluation can be the first step towards better rest and improved overall health. By addressing sleep apnea, you may also alleviate other ENT issues that worsen with poor sleep quality.
Are you worried about sleep apnea? Get evaluated.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start periodically throughout your sleep cycle. These breathing interruptions can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Sleep apnea can occur because your upper airway experiences a temporary physical obstruction, or because the brain is not sending the signals that tell your body to continue breathing while asleep. When the airflow stops, your blood oxygen levels drop, which causes nighttime arousals.
Besides uncomfortable symptoms like snoring and fatigue, sleep apnea can have dangerous complications. The lack of oxygen can lead to various health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic lung disease, and stroke.
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the airway is physically blocked during sleep, preventing air from reaching the lungs. This blockage occurs because the throat muscles relax and the airway collapses. Large tonsils, large tongues, being overweight and other conditions can cause this collapse. The resulting blockage can cause snoring, gasping, or choking sounds as the body struggles to breathe.
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is less common than OSA. It occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles responsible for breathing during sleep, so your body does not make breathing efforts. As a result, the person stops breathing for brief periods, leading to decreased oxygen levels in the blood.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
Recognizing the signs of sleep apnea is crucial for seeking timely treatment and preventing potential complications. Here are some common signs to watch out for:- Loud, persistent snoring
- Gasping or choking sounds during sleep
- Frequent awakenings during the night
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- Irritability or mood changes
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
If you or your partner notice any of these symptoms, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and diagnosis. Sleep apnea can also affect children, so it’s important to seek health if you notice these symptoms in your child.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
The most appropriate treatment for sleep apnea depends on the type and severity of sleep apnea, as well as individual factors. You should consult an ENT specialist to obtain a precise diagnosis and explore your treatment options.Mild cases of sleep apnea can sometimes be addressed with lifestyle changes. Losing weight, quitting smoking, and avoiding alcohol before bedtime can help alleviate symptoms. For those with positional sleep apnea (where symptoms worsen when sleeping on their back), positional therapy devices or techniques can help maintain a side-sleeping position throughout the night.
If these lifestyle modifications fail to alleviate symptoms, or if your sleep apnea is more severe, your ENT doctor will recommend other treatment alternatives.
Common Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): This is the most common treatment for OSA and has also proven effective for CSA. It involves wearing a mask that delivers a continuous stream of air to keep the airway open during sleep. Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) can also be delivered through Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) devices, which might work better for certain patients.
- Supplemental Oxygen: For some patients, supplemental oxygen may be used alongside PAP therapy to improve oxygenation during sleep.
- Oral Appliances: These are custom-fitted devices that reposition the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open. They are often recommended for patients with mild to moderate OSA or those who cannot tolerate CPAP.
Sleep Apnea Surgery
Surgical options for sleep apnea, particularly Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), are considered when non-invasive treatments fail or are not tolerated. These procedures are meant to:
- Remove tissue: The tonsils, adenoids, uvula and parts of the soft palate and base of the tongue are sometimes removed to widen the airway and remove an obstruction. Your surgeon might not remove all of these structures. They will evaluate what’s causing the issue and find the best approach.
- Reposition the jaw: Sometimes sleep apnea is caused by anatomical issues in the jaw. A Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA) repositions the upper and lower jaws forward, enlarging the airway.
- Improve airflow through the nasal passages: Patients with significant nasal obstruction due to anatomical issues like a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates will benefit from nasal surgeries. Options include (correcting a deviated septum), turbinoplasty (reducing enlarged turbinates), and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for sinus-related sleep apnea.
We Are Sleep Apnea Specialists in The Metro Atlanta Area
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, don't hesitate to seek professional help. Our team of sleep apnea specialists is dedicated to providing comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans to help you achieve better sleep.
Schedule a consultation at our clinics in the Metro Atlanta area (Georgia). Appointments are available at our locations in Buckhead/Atlanta, East Cobb, Canton, Cartersville, Marietta and Woodstock.