Snoring is one of the most prevalent signs of obstructive sleep apnea. If your friends or family tease you about snoring, consider a sleep apnea screening at Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC. Experienced Pulmonologist Andrew R. Freedman, MD, Gichel Watson, RPAC, and the team examine your breathing structures, perform CDL testing, and administer sleep studies to provide an accurate diagnosis. If you live in the Monroe, New Jersey, or Evanston, Wyoming, area, schedule a visit to learn more. Call the office to make an appointment or book one online today.
Sleep apnea is a disorder where you stop breathing for a short time while sleeping. The pauses disrupt your slumber because they pull you out of deep sleep cycles. Because of these disruptions, many men, women, and children still feel tired in the morning.
Airway muscles naturally relax during sleep. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, those muscles relax to the point where your airway collapses during sleep. Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, as air attempts to squeeze past the obstruction.
If you have central sleep apnea, the brain interferes with the signals that tell your body to breathe, so your breathing pauses. Snoring is less common with this form of sleep apnea.
At Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC, the team discusses your concerns and thoroughly examines your throat, nose, palate, and neck. The team will recommend a sleep study because it requires an accurate sleep apnea diagnosis.
Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC offers two types of sleep studies, a home-based portable monitor and a polysomnogram:
You sleep in your everyday environment for this test while hooked to the portable monitor. The device tracks your oxygen levels, breathing effort, and heart rate. The team uses these results to diagnose or verify the need for a full polysomnogram.
During a polysomnogram, you sleep in a specialized sleep lab where a technician monitors your oxygen levels, brain activity, and breathing patterns through the attached sensors. After reading the results from your sleep study, the team determines whether you exhibit signs of sleep apnea.
CDL testing is also available, should you need one for a DOT physical. DOT requires a medical examination for drivers to receive and maintain a CDL license.
Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC offers several surgical and non-surgical treatments for sleep apnea.
For mild sleep apnea, a few lifestyle adjustments may treat your condition. Lying on your side, wearing a mouthpiece, and losing weight can help you breathe better while you sleep. More severe cases of sleep apnea may require you to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which keeps your airways open during sleep.
When the excess tissue in your mouth or throat obstructs your airway, you may benefit from surgery to open those air passages. If you have enlarged tonsils, they may need to be removed to improve your breathing.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, contact Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC for an appointment online or over the phone. Telemedicine services are also available.