What Causes Snoring and Sleep Apnea The most common cause for snoring and sleep apnea is a nasal or sinus condition that reduces the nasal airflow. What’s really interesting is that the second most common cause is an enlargement of the tongue. When patients hear that tongue enlargement is the second most common cause of […]
What is the difference between snoring and Sleep Apnea First off, let’s define snoring and sleep apnea. Snoring is resistance to airflow through the upper airway creating vibration and noise production. Sleep apnea is the same condition except for the resistance to airflow is intermittently severe enough to create cessation of airflow (apnea). The obstructive […]
The field of sleep medicine has changed dramatically in the last few years with the development of Home Sleep Testing (HST) for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Snoring vs. Obstructive Sleep Apnea As a matter of background, snoring is a condition where there is resistance to airflow through the upper airway while sleeping […]
It is important to understand that snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are the same condition. It is just a matter of severity. The condition can worsen over time for a variety of reasons. Snoring is resistance to airflow through the upper airway during sleep that creates vibration of the soft palate, tongue, and tonsil area. […]
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, there is a good chance you have been prescribed a CPAP machine. You may try and try but you just can’t wear it. You may try switching masks, try different CPAP machines, use chin straps, try sleeping pills, program a ramp up in pressure, all to no […]
Approximately 25% of people in the USA snore nightly. The bed partner is typically significantly bothered by this noise but they may also be concerned that it is a more serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There is a lot of confusion about these two problems and how they are related. In this blog, […]
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, also known as OSA, is a very common disorder where the upper airway collapses during sleep. This collapse prevents the movement of air in to the lungs causing a drop in the blood oxygen levels. The drop in the oxygen creates arousals from deep sleep to light sleep leaving the patient unrestored […]
What does a sleep study test for? A sleep study is a diagnostic test to evaluate for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a disorder where there is a cessation of the airflow during sleep (apnea) or a significant reduction in the airflow during sleep causing a drop in the oxygen concentration (hypopnea). What is […]
Patients have heard about this procedure for snoring and sleep apnea and have many questions. The purpose of this procedure is to elevate and stiffen the soft palate. The soft palate is the structure in the back of your throat that includes the uvula (the little thing that hangs in the back of your throat). […]
We are now much more aware of the importance of sleep to our overall health. Getting that deep restorative sleep prevents many health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and even automobile injuries. Deep sleep also affects us socially, as the ability to be an attentive parent or an effective worker is dependent upon waking […]
