Sleep Apnea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

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Is your significant other constantly trying to turn you over or wake you up to stop your snoring and heavy breathing? If this is the case, you might be like more than 20 million Americans with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes your breathing to stop or become shallow while sleeping. There are three main types of sleep apnea:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)– This is the most common type that occurs when the throat muscles relax.

  • Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)- Occurs when your brain doesn't send proper signals to your muscles that control breathing.

  • Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome – Consists of having both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Some sleep apnea symptoms are best monitored by a significant other, such as breathing pauses, noisy breathing, gasps for air, and loud snoring. Other signs of sleep apnea that you can notice yourself include fatigue, waking up throughout the night, headaches, heartburn, insomnia, or a dry mouth. If you experience any of these symptoms, a visit to a doctor is recommended.

For minor sleep apnea, you might be able to treat it with lifestyle changes. These modifications are critical to taking the first steps to treat your sleep apnea. Some of these lifestyle changes include maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the use of sedatives, and sleeping on your side.

If you struggle with more severe sleep apnea, a doctor will provide an accurate diagnosis and start you on a treatment path. Positive Airway Pressure Therapy (PAP) is the most common and effective way to treat obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. A PAP machine gently blows air into your mouth during sleep to help keep your airways open. An alternative to a PAP machine is Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT), worn in the mouth at night to reduce airway collapsibility and reposition your jaw to stay forward. FusionSleep® also offers alternatives to PAP machines and OAT such as Inspire Therapy, medication treatment, and surgery options.

To better understand your sleep apnea and get to the root issue, you should schedule an appointment with a board-certified sleep medicine doctor. Getting tested and treated for sleep apnea can have positive life-changing effects on your sleep and overall health.

At FusionSleep®, we have dedicated our entire medical practice to helping patients get their lives back through healthy sleep. We offer various sleep solutions, in-lab and at-home sleep testing options, and virtual appointments on our established telemedicine platform.  Contact us today on our website or by calling 678.990.3962.

Lisa Driscoll