Do you snore loudly or tend to feel tired even after a “full” night’s slumber? You may be experiencing sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder in which your breathing is continually interrupted or stopped during sleep.

If you suspect that you suffer from sleep apnea, our sleep specialist here at Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, Dr. Richard Bogan, can diagnose and recommend appropriate interventions for your condition.

The Different Types of Sleep Apnea

  • OSA or Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This results from an airway obstruction when the soft tissue located at the back of your throat tends to collapse while you’re sleeping.
  • Central Sleep Apnea: In this case, the airway isn’t obstructed. Instead, the brain stops the muscles from breathing due to an abnormality in your respiratory control center.

Sleep Apnea Warning Signs

  • Snoring loudly
  • Gasping for air as you sleep
  • Having a dry mouth or sore throat upon waking up
  • Having a headache in the morning
  • Irritability or grumpiness
  • Heartburn
  • Drowsiness during the day
  • Forgetfulness
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Moments wherein you stop breathing while asleep
  • Concentration problems

Common Sleep Apnea Causes

Physical Blockages. Excessive fat stores or thickened tissue near the airway could inhibit airflow. When air squeezes through the obstructed path, it causes you to snore loudly.

Changes in the Muscle. As a person sleeps, the muscles that keep the airways free and open relax, as well as the tongue, making the airway narrow down. This relaxation often enables air to flow in and out of the lungs. However, in sleep apnea, it can’t.

Brain Function. CSA or central sleep apnea results in defective neurological functions responsible for unobstructed breathing. This is often linked to an underlying medical condition.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

The treatment for sleep apnea aims to ensure that airflow is not blocked throughout sleep. Depending on your particular circumstances, your physician in Southfield, MI, may suggest the following treatment solutions:

  • Weight Loss. This helps alleviate the symptoms of OSA.
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy. This type of treatment is administered through the use of a facemask that is worn while you sleep. It provides positive airflow to ensure that the airways are open as you sleep at night.
  • Nasal Decongestants. These could lessen your loud snoring and is effective in treating mild OSA.
  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). This entails the elimination of additional tissues on the back of your throat. A tracheostomy, on the other hand, involves the perforation of an opening in the windpipe that goes around the blockage in the throat.

For Sleep Apnea Relief, We Can Help

Dial (803) 251-3093 to schedule an assessment with Dr. Richard Bogan here at Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC.