Can’t sleep? Or perhaps the question is, your partner can’t sleep? Sleep Apnea is a treatable condition and requires a medical diagnosis by a certified ENT. Properly diagnosing sleep apnea involves an in-office nasopharyngoscopy as well as a sleep study. It is a chronic condition that can last for years or even a lifetime.
What exactly is sleep apnea?
You have most likely heard that a common symptom of sleep apnea is heavy snoring. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Snoring is likely to be a sign of sleep apnea when it is followed by silent breathing pauses and choking or gasping sounds.
People with sleep apnea often have daytime sleepiness or fatigue. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Loud or frequent snoring
- Silent pauses in breathing
- Choking or gasping sounds
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Insomnia
- Morning headaches
- Nocturia (waking during the night to go to the bathroom)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Decreased sexual desire
- Irritability
Sleep apnea may be caused by these factors:
- Excess weight
- Large neck size
- Middle age
- Male gender
- Hypertension
- Family History
You deserve a good night’s sleep! We’re here to help. We invite you to call our office to schedule an exam.
