Treating Sleep Apnea at Northeast Medical Practice
If you wake up feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep, you may have sleep apnea. Patients often state that their partners note the patient snoring and episodes of stopped breathing or gasping for air. It is often associated with morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness.
This common disorder causes you to stop breathing repeatedly while you sleep, robbing you of restful sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea raises your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It also can cause weight gain and difficulty losing weight.
The good news is sleep apnea is treatable. At Northeast Medical Practice, we offer customized treatment plans to help you sleep better and restore your health.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea causes your breathing to stop briefly but repeatedly during sleep. These pauses can last 10 seconds or longer and can happen hundreds of times a night, preventing you from reaching the deep, restorative stages of sleep.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea, where throat muscles relax and block the airway during sleep
- Central sleep apnea, where the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Several factors can contribute to sleep apnea, including:
- Being overweight
- Anatomical factors like large tonsils or a small jawbone
- Family history
- Alcohol use
- Smoking
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
The most common signs of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood changes
Get Diagnosed and Treated
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, Dr. Berger at Northeast Medical Practice can help. If there is concern for sleep apnea, a sleep study will be arranged. This can often be performed at home with simple equipment.
Based on your test results, we will craft a personalized treatment plan. Lifestyle changes, oral appliances, CPAP therapy, and other treatments can help you sleep better and restore your health.
If needed, Dr. Berger may refer you to a pulmonologist/sleep specialist. He will collaborate with the pulmonologist to develop a comprehensive treatment plan involving lifestyle modification, weight loss, as well as CPAP or oral appliance as needed.
Don’t wait – better sleep and improved health are within reach. Contact us today to take charge of your sleep apnea.
