Sleep Apnea
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Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep
Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists located in St. Petersburg, FL
An estimated 30 million Americans are living with excessive sleepiness because of sleep apnea. At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep, sleep specialists Himanshu Chandarana, MD, and Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, offer sleep studies and other diagnostic tests for different types of sleep apnea. They treat hundreds of cases of sleep apnea using the latest technologies that you use in the comfort of your own bed or in the state-of-the-art on-site sleep lab. If you snore loudly or are often sleepy throughout the day, call the office in St. Petersburg, Florida, today or book a consultation online.
Sleep Apnea Q&A
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing at times during sleep. The disorder also causes you to snore loudly, which can disturb your sleep and the sleep of others in your household.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea develops when your throat muscles relax too much during sleep and block your airways. You may also have this type of sleep apnea if you have excessive tissue at the back of your throat that obstructs the flow of oxygen into your body.
Your risk for obstructive sleep apnea can increase due to obesity, smoking, and aging. If you have a family history of sleep apnea, you may be more likely to have the condition too.
Central sleep apnea
Central sleep apnea occurs due to dysfunction in the signals that travel from your brain to the muscles that control your breathing.
Complex sleep apnea
Complex sleep apnea describes a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.
When should I seek treatment for sleep apnea?
If you have excessive daytime sleepiness or if your loved ones complain that you snore loudly during sleep, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the team at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep.
You should also schedule a consultation if you have other symptoms of sleep apnea, such as:
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Frequent irritability
- Recurrent morning headaches
- Gasping for air during the night
The team offers comprehensive testing in-office using the latest diagnostic technologies. They also provide at-home and in-lab sleep studies to monitor your sleep and apnea events and determine the type of sleep apnea you have.
Without treatment, sleep apnea can increase your risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other serious health issues.
How is sleep apnea treated?
There are several therapies available to treat sleep apnea. The team at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep may initially recommend lifestyle and sleep habit changes that improve your sleep quality and treat mild sleep apnea symptoms.
Some people may find relief from loud snoring with an oral appliance that holds their jaw in a forward position. If the appliance isn’t working well, you may need a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
A CPAP delivers supplemental oxygen through a face mask you wear while you sleep. This device keeps your airways open to stop snoring and help you sleep soundly.
The team might also suggest lifestyle and dietary changes that help you lose weight and get a better quality of sleep each night. You should take time to wind down before you go to bed by dimming the lights and not using electronics at least an hour before you go to sleep.
To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for sleep apnea symptoms, call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep today or book a consultation online.
