• Sleep Apnea

  • Sleep Apnea is a condition that disturbs an individual's breathing while they sleep. It causes short pauses in breathing, which can happen 30 times or within an hour. There are three primary kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed.

    Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): As the most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when throat muscles relax and soft tissues collapses and blocks your airway.

    Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Your brain doesn’t effectively tell your body to breathe. This is commonly associated with conditions like arthritis, encephalitis, and Parkinson’s disease.

    Mixed Sleep Apnea - Individuals experience a combination of OSA and CSA symptoms.

     

    Signs and Symptoms

     

    The following symptoms can be indications of sleep apnea:

    • Loud snoring
    • Frequent pauses in breath while sleeping
    • Waking up feeling short of breath
    • Difficulty falling back asleep when you wake up during the night
    • Restless sleep
    • Insomnia
    • Headaches in the morning
    • Sore throat or dry mouth when you first wake up
    • Sleepiness and fatigue throughout the day even with a full night's rest
    • Forgetfulness
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Irritability
    • Moodiness

    Who is at Risk?

     

    Sleep Apnea can affect anyone throughout their lives. You may be more at risk for sleep apnea if any of the following applies to you: 

    • Over the age of 40
    • Overweight
    • Large neck, tongue, uvula, or tonsils
    • Small jaw
    • Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
    • Nasal blockage from allergies, deviated septum, or other sinus issues.
    • Sleep apnea runs in your family

    Effects

     

    Severe medical conditions can happen if sleep apnea isn’t treated in a timely manner:

    • Heart attack
    • Stroke
    • High blood pressure
    • Diabetes
    • Headaches
    • Depression
    • Asphyxiation  

    Prevention

     

    You can try to reduce your chances of getting sleep apnea by maintaining a good diet, exercising, and with a healthy sleep schedule, ensuring you get a substantial amount of sleep and go to bed and wake up around the same time each day/night. To further prevent sleep apnea, consider the following:

    • Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and other sedatives that can relax your throat and constrict breathing.
    • Sleep in a comfortable position and remember the soft tissues in your throat can collapse and disrupt breathing more easily when you sleep on your back.
    • Losing weight can decrease the pressure on your neck and heart and allow you to sleep with fewer disruptions.

    Treatment

     

    Dr. Sachdev and his team want to help you sleep peacefully through the night. We understand each patient has unique needs, which is why we work hard to a find solution for your specific issue and create a personalized treatment plan.

    We may use the following treatments to help you sleep through the night:

    • Tongue Stabilizing Devices
    • Custom designed mouth tray
    • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines

    Let us help you achieve not only a better night's sleep but a healthier and happier life. To schedule your appointment, call us today at (831) 724-6000.