Northern Respiratory Specialist

Sleep Apnea


WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME?

         

          Normal sleep is associated with a regular breathing  pattern.

          In sleep apnea syndrome, when a person sleeps, there is relaxation of the neck muscles. This results in the narrowing of air passages in the throat. This causes snoring.  If the narrowing is severe, there is a complete collapse of the air passages and cessation of breathing (apnea).  Each of these episodes is associated with decrease in oxygen levels in the blood and disruption in the normal sleep pattern. Some patients have several hundred of these episodes every night without being aware of them. Over time lack of adequate sleep and low oxygen levels have serious health consequences.

 

 

 

          SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP APNEA

               

           Weakness, tiredness, and lack of energy during daytime

            Sleepiness during daytime

            High blood pressure.

            Snoring

            Family members may have noted apneic episodes while patient sleeps

            Morning headaches

            Personality changes and mood  swings

 

          HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF SLEEP APNEA

 

          Motor Vehicle Accidents: Excessive sleepiness may cause one to doze off while driving and get in to an accident.  To be alert while driving is especially important in certain jobs like school bus drivers, truck drivers, taxicab drivers etc.

             

             Stroke

                Heart attacks

             Heart Irregularities

             Hypertension

                Sudden death at a young age

 

HOW IS THE DIAGNOSIS MADE ?

                 

                  1. Home Screening:  The application of an oxygen saturation monitor, Nasal air Flow and chest movement detector  during sleep may detect sleep apnea syndrome.

 

                  2. Sleep study :  While you sleep, specially made monitoring devices record heart rate, movements of the chest, airflow and oxygen levels. This information is then analyzed by computer and a determination is made by our trained technicians and physicians as to the presence and severity of sleep apnea syndrome.

 

 

TREATMENT

 

                Sleep apnea is fortunately a correctable disorder. Most often it is treated by application of a nose mask while sleeping.  Through a small and quiet compressor air is forced through the mask. This keeps air passages open, relieves sleep disruptions and maintains adequate oxygen level in the blood.

 

COST CONSIDERATIONS

               

                Our trained office staff will work with your insurance company to get pre-approval and expedite claims processing.


CPAP AND BIPAP LOANER PROGRAM - We have a CPAP or BIPAP loaner program for our patient in case of emergencies.