We provide care in three easily-accessible locations across the Rio Grande Valley.
1604 East 8th St., Suite A
Weslaco, TX
Phone: (956) 447-5557
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McAllen, TX
Phone: (956) 630-1000
1022 E. Griffin Pkwy.
Mission, TX 78572
Phone: (956) 833-6000
As many as 30 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea – And only about 6 million Americans are aware of it. This serious sleep disorder, characterized by repeated interruptions in your breathing throughout the night, doesn’t just make rest impossible. It can also have serious effects on your health and daily life. Ongoing and untreated apnea can result in
Once you are aware of sleep apnea, however, there are treatments that can help. Here is a look at how to recognize this disorder, and how to treat it, so you can sleep well and live healthier.
Sleep apnea is a term that encompasses two types of disorders that result in frequent pauses in breathing throughout the night. These pauses are usually short-lived (Lasting about 20-30 seconds), but can happen hundreds of times in a single night.
Because airflow is nonexistent or severely obstructed during these episodes, sleep apnea can interfere with the body’s natural sleep cycles, leading to exhaustion and an array of physical problems.
The two types of sleep apnea are the following:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea which includes a partial or total airway collapse during obstructive events
Central Sleep Apnea which usually involves a failure of the brain to tell the muscles to breathe during sleep.
Unless your partner notices a frequent stop and start pattern to your breathing, chances are you may not be aware that you suffer from sleep apnea. However, this disorder can lead to a number of symptoms that point to the lack of rest you are experiencing during frequent bouts of breathing obstruction. Here are some of the most common:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you may want to get evaluated for sleep apnea by a sleep professional. You should also seek an evaluation if your partner reports frequent pauses in your breathing during the night.
Anyone can get sleep apnea. However, there are certain risk factors that elevate your chances of getting this disorder. Among children, the most common cause of sleep apnea are tonsils that become enlarged and block off the child’s airway while they rest. Among adults, risk factors for this sleep disorder include the following:
If you have any of these risk factors, combined with any of the symptoms above, it is essential to get checked out by your healthcare professional to rule out sleep apnea.
If you have symptoms that may point to a form of sleep apnea, your first step should be to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor. This healthcare professional will valuate your symptoms and medical history and, if they feel it is warranted, will recommend a sleep study.
The sleep study, which occurs under the care of sleep professionals in a sleep lab, will carefully monitor you during a night of sleep. You will be hooked up to sensors that will provide your specialists with information about
Alternatively, you may undergo a home sleep study (HST). During this study, you sleep and receive evaluation at home. However, this approach is less accurate than a clinical sleep study and cannot identify central sleep apnea.
Once you receive a diagnosis of sleep apnea, you will likely need to undergo treatment for your disorder, unless the condition is very mild. Fortunately, sleep specialists have a wide array of tools at their disposal to help you achieve, and maintain, regular breathing while you sleep. Here are some of the most common approaches to treating sleep apnea.
Sometimes, changes to your daily habits can be an effective treatment for sleep apnea. Here are some common adjustments to your life that can positively affect your disorder:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), is one of the most common, and effective, treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. This treatment consists of sleeping with a machine and a mask over your face. Throughout the night, the machine delivers a steady stream of air pressure that prevents airway blockage.
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure is a lower-pressure alternative to CPAP that is often used for patients who did not respond to CPAP. With a BiPAP machine, the patient receives pressure to support exhalation.
Some patients respond well to an oral advancement devices known as a TAP®, or Thornton Adjustable Positioner. This device can serve as an alternative to CPAP by pushing the lower jaw forward in order to open the airway.
Patients who suffer from severe sleep apnea may require surgery. During this procedure, called a UPPP, excess tissue in the airway is removed and the airway is widened to allow for better breathing during sleep.
For patients who suffer from central sleep apnea, ASV, short for adaptive servoventilation, can be effective. During this treatment, a machine is used to regulate your breathing in order to maintain safe oxygen levels in the blood.
You deserve good sleep and a healthy life. Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can steal that from you. At Pulmonary & Sleep Center of the Valley, our expert specialists can diagnose and treat a wide array of sleep problems, including sleep apnea. Let us help you sleep better, feel better and live a healthier life.
