Snoring and sleep apnea are two common types of sleep disorders. They may prevent people from getting sufficient sleep at night, which then affects them during the day and may cause difficulty when performing everyday activities. Snoring and sleep apnea involve breathing irregularities while sleeping, which can result in loud noises, blocked airways and interrupted sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. Many patients who have sleep apnea or snore are not even aware that they have these conditions, as breathing interruptions are not usually remembered upon waking.
We provide treatments for the following:
-
Sleep Apnea
People with sleep apnea stop breathing while they sleep, sometimes hundreds of times per night, and sometimes for a minute or longer. With normal breathing, air passes through the nose and past the flexible structures, such as the soft palate, uvula and tongue, in the back of the throat. When awake, the muscles hold this airway open. When asleep, these muscles relax, but the airway should remain open. In those who suffer from sleep apnea, the upper airway is blocked, causing oxygen levels to drop in both the brain and the blood. -
Excessive Snoring
When we sleep, our throat muscles relax and vibrate when air tries to pass through but is blocked, causing snoring. Snoring is very common and occurs at least occasionally in almost half of all adults. Snoring can be brought on by nasal congestion, alcohol consumption, sleep apnea or simply the anatomy of your mouth. If your tonsils are enlarged, your airway can be narrower and vibrate more when air tries to flow through. Being overweight can also contribute to a narrowed airway.You may not be aware that you snore unless it is brought to your attention by someone else. Your snoring may disrupt your proper sleeping patterns as well as your partner's. Heavy snorers may suffer from sleep apnea, a condition in which sleep is frequently interrupted by periods of completely obstructed breathing. These periods can last up to 10 seconds at a time. -
Obstructed Breathing
Obstructed breathing is associated with sleep apnea, the disorder involving breathing interruptions that may occur hundreds of times each night during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common form of this disorder, and involves a blocked or collapsed airway during sleep that may result in breathing abnormalities. Patients who are overweight, have high blood pressure, are older, smoke or have a family history of sleep apnea may have an increased risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. -
Daytime Fatigue
One of the main symptoms of obstructed breathing is daytime fatigue. Excessive daytime sleepiness can be dangerous, particularly if the patient is driving a vehicle.
Snoring and sleep apnea is cured using the latest techniques involving soft palate radiofrequency, lasers, and implants.