Services
Sleep Apnea & Snoring
People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans. Sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children, yet the vast majority of people remain undiagnosed and untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common type of sleep apnea, is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. With each apneic event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.
Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.
Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. We perform a comprehensive sleep apnea evaluation that includes the use of a fiberoptic camera to identify anatomic abnormalities in the nose and throat. We may refer you to a certified sleep center for a diagnostic sleep study to aid in the diagnosis of sleep apnea. Several treatment options exist for obstructive sleep apnea. Nonsurgical options include the use of a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) machine or oral appliance during sleep. Surgical treatments are aimed at correcting anatomical deformities that contribute to the obstruction of airflow in the nose and throat. Surgical options include:
- Tonsillectomy (Removal of tonsils)
- Adenoidectomy (Removal of adenoids in back of upper throat)
- Septoplasty (Remodeling of deviated nasal septum)
- Nasal Turbinate Reduction
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (Removal of uvula and remodeling of opening of the throat from the mouth)