Sleep apnea is a very common sleep disorder that causes the sufferer to stop breathing while they are sleeping. Their airway has been blocked, restricting the airflow that reaches their lungs. If this happens to you, you may find yourself snoring loudly as you attempt to breathe. Both your body and brain can become deprived of oxygen during this time and you may suddenly wake up. This may occur frequently throughout the night. It can even occur hundreds of times a night among the most severe cases.
Sleep Apnea Causes
One of the main causes of sleep apnea is the collapse of tissues found in the back of the throat. Muscles found in your airway should relax when you fall asleep. Gravity can cause your tongue to fall back into your mouth when you sleep on your back, dangerously narrowing the airway and restricting airflow to your lungs. This causes snoring due to this tissue vibrating when you are breathing.
Many people wake up feeling tired and unrefreshed without realizing it is due to sleep apnea keeping them from getting a full night of sleep. If this is occurring to you, you will likely feel fatigued during the day, have problems with concentration, or unintentionally fall asleep. This may lead you to seek out the care of a sleep apnea surgery doctor.
The lack of oxygen that sleep apnea causes is linked to:
- High blood pressure and heart disease
- Stroke
- Depression
- Diabetes
Sleep Apnea Surgery Doctor
If you are having serious symptoms due to sleep apnea, you should consider contacting a sleep apnea surgery doctor. There are various types of surgery and treatments available for sufferers of sleep apnea.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP is the most popular form of therapy for sufferers of sleep apnea. This involves wearing a face mask while you are sleeping, which is connected to a pump. This ensures that you receive proper airflow and your airway remains open. Many insurance companies will reimburse you for this treatment.
Unfortunately, CPAP does not work for all sufferers of sleep apnea. In these cases, surgery performed by a sleep apnea surgery doctor may be your best choice.
Septoplasty
The goal of the septoplasty procedure is to open your airways to improve airflow to your lungs. This procedure will straighten a deviated or bent nasal septum. The septum separates and divides both sides of your nose.
A related procedure called turbinate reduction helps to remove or reduce structures that protrude from the nose. These curved structures can become enlarged for a variety of reasons, including allergies. Some people are helped by medications to minimize turbinate size.
Hyoid Suspension
Hyoid surgery for sleep apnea involves enlarging the breathing space in the back of the throat. The hyoid bone is found in the neck and has a U-shaped appearance. It attaches to structures in your throat, like your tongue. Hyoid surgery will attempt to move the hyoid bone forward, anchoring it into place.