Sleep Apnea
- Medical Specialities
- ENT & Head and Neck Care
- Sleep Apnea
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Sleep Apnea
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Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by interruptions in breathing for longer than 10 seconds, occurring multiple times during sleep. These interruptions result in inadequate oxygen intake, leading to various long-term consequences, including increased blood pressure, unstable oxygen levels, altered insulin, and glucose responses, changes in mental function and mood, and cardiovascular issues such as heart failure, stroke, or abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia).
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The common symptoms are:
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Loud snoring
Feeling sleepy during daytime
Repeated episodes of breathing stop during sleep
Gasping in the night
Dry and sore throat in the morning while waking up
Trouble in focusing
Morning headaches
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If you experience these symptoms, consulting with an ENT specialist is highly recommended. Feeling drowsy or frequently falling asleep during the day are also signs to call your doctor immediately.
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Sleep apnea treatment varies depending on the individual.
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Common treatments include:
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Sleeping with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine
Wearing an oral appliance, a custom-fit mouthpiece can open the airways when one sleeps
Surgery to repair defects in facial structures, abnormalities
Surgery to get rid of extra tissues that can block airways
Removal of adenoids and tonsils (mostly for children)
Lifestyle modifications like shedding excess weight, quitting smoking, limiting the use of sedatives, and sleeping on your side instead of your back
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We aim to develop a personalized sleep management plan to help you with your sleep apnea and snoring-related issues.
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Dr. Bhavin Patel
