Did You Know We Treat Sleep Apnea?
If you snore or wake up with a dry mouth, sore throat, or headache, you may have sleep apnea. Maybe it’s not you but your partner who is exhibiting these symptoms. In either case, sleep apnea is a serious health threat that requires treatment. Otherwise, it can lead to even more serious problems, some of which are life threatening. Luckily, we have a device that helps us diagnose sleep apnea and make treatment recommendations. Keep reading to find out more.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Simply put, sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing while asleep because their throat muscles relax and loose tissue blocks their airway. Their brain wakes them up just long enough to restart breathing, and they fall asleep again, most of the time without even being aware of the episode. This cycle keeps repeating, sometimes over 100 times in a single night when the case is severe.
As you can imagine, sleep apnea puts a lot of stress on your body. The constant interruptions each night make it impossible to get enough quality sleep to fully rest and recharge. You may be consistently tired during the day, unable to concentrate on work, school or household tasks, irritable and moody, or you may even experience insomnia. Without proper treatment, over time, these symptoms will continue to take a toll on your body, making you more vulnerable to major health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis with a Take-Home Sleep Study
Fortunately, sleep apnea is treatable. The first step is to get a proper diagnosis. We use a tiny device to diagnose sleep apnea in our patients. It’s called Medibyte, and it makes the process a breeze. The patient takes the Medibyte home and sleeps with it for a night. The device is so small that the patient will hardly be aware of it. While the patient is asleep, it records vital data about any apnea events that occur during the night. When the patient returns the Medibyte to our office, we read that data and add it to all the other information we’ve gathered through consultation and examination to determine whether:
- they should pursue further testing at a special facility
- we can help them with one of the sleep apnea treatment options we offer, or
- no treatment is needed.
Regardless of the outcome, the patient will leave our office with a clear path forward and expert advice from a qualified doctor.
If you believe you may have sleep apnea or are at risk due to certain health concerns, such as obesity, or specific symptoms, like loud snoring, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We are here to help our patients in the Monroe, WI area. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
