This article could be a starting point to help you find out whether you may have sleep apnea. Follow the steps in this article from the expert.
Obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions, like high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, and stroke. Fortunately, effective treatment is available for this condition, and it can improve your health and your quality of life. Since sleep apnea is often accompanied by loud snoring, it may also give a boost to a spouse or partner!
You May Have Sleep Apnea If …
If you’ve noticed symptoms like daytime drowsiness, or frequent headaches, and/or sore throats upon waking, there’s a chance that you may have sleep apnea.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
Take our Airway Questionnaire for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
2 Steps To Take
- The first step you will need to take is to complete a sleep study to get an official diagnosis. This procedure does not cause discomfort, and many times it can even be completed in your own home. It merely measures certain signals from your body that can indicate apneic periods during sleep.
- After you receive a conclusive diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, you may want to consult with a sleep apnea surgeon to learn more about your treatment options.
Sleep Apnea Causes & Treatments
Sleep apnea is typically caused when the airway opening is obstructed periodically during sleep, reducing oxygen flow to the brain. It can be caused by a number of structural issues in the nose or the oral cavity, including excessive soft tissue at the rear of the throat, jaw deformities, large tonsils or a deviated septum, among other issues.
Depending on the specific structural problem at the root of your case, your sleep apnea surgeon may perform a number of procedures to give you relief from your symptoms. For example, surgical removal of any excess tissue near the airway opening can be tremendously beneficial. Similarly, if the position of the jaw is at fault, it will need to be corrected to give the patient relief from sleep apnea.
Getting effective treatment for sleep apnea will protect your health and well being. If you are experiencing symptoms that could be sleep apnea, complete a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis and then consult with our sleep apnea specialist, Dr. Larry M. Wolford, to determine what intervention will be most effective in your case.
If you think you may have sleep apnea and have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Dr. Larry Wolford’s office using our online contact form or call 214.828.9115.
