Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Causes & Treatment in Laredo, TX
Sleep apnea causes stem from a condition in which the body has a highly disruptive breathing pattern. Essentially, the body stops breathing momentarily during sleep, only to begin again after the pause. This happens when muscles in the back of the throat are unable to maintain an open airway.
Sleep apnea is often characterized by heavy snoring, breathing problems in the middle of sleep, and feeling tired after a night of sleep. Being overweight, having a small upper airway, smoking, and drinking alcohol can all heighten your risk of developing sleep apnea.
Major warning signs of sleep apnea all but include loud and chronic snoring nightly, pauses in breathing while sleeping, choking and snorting during sleep, waking up in the night feeling short of breath, and or daytime fatigue. Some other warning signs of sleep apnea also include repeated bathroom breaks during the night, dry mouth when you wake up, restless sleep, morning headaches, and forgetfulness.
We Can Help With Your Breathing Problems
Not all forms of sleep apnea are caused by physical blockage of the airway. For those that are, however, what actually happens is the collapse of the rear throat's soft tissue, resulting in the closing of the throat. This breathing problem affects over 22 million Americans and is particularly common in males over the age of 40.
While there may be multiple causes of sleep apnea, there is a far greater number of negative effects it can potentially have on the body. Sleep apnea and other breathing problems have been linked to headaches, weight gain, high blood pressure, memory loss, impotence, and more. Unfortunately, this condition often goes undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness by both people in general and the health care community.
If you suspect you may be suffering from sleep apnea, visit a sleep lab to have an overnight sleep study conducted. This will give you an accurate diagnosis so that you may pursue the proper sleep apnea treatments.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
For those who are diagnosed with a moderate or a severe case of sleep apnea, a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) mask is highly recommended. This mask is designed to deliver enough pressure to your airways to keep them open, thus eliminating any instances of closure.
If you have a milder case or are unable to sleep with a CPAP mask, there are other alternatives. Other devices, such as an auto-CPAP or a BPAP, can be used. Many prefer oral appliances that help to keep your throat and airways open, though these are not as effective as a CPAP mask is.
There are other traditional remedies you can try at home to help relieve sleep apnea symptoms. People can exercise regularly, though yoga or other exercises to improve your respiratory strength and increase oxygen flow. Switching up your sleep position to improve oxygen flow can also help relieve sleep apnea symptoms. Using humidifiers in your home can open up your airways as well as encourage clearer breathing.
Get Tested by Our Physicians
We’ll first need to test you to see if you are suffering from sleep apnea. It can be tough to figure out whether you have sleep apnea on your own, as you are asleep when symptoms occur. From there, we’ll review your options with you to find one that will allow for you to not only sleep comfortably but also offer you real relief from your sleep apnea. Dr. Erik Sloman-Moll's office is located in Laredo, TX, call us
today to schedule an appointment!