Snoring And Sleep Apnea
Home Sleep Testing
Take The Sleepiness Test
Evaluation and Treatment of Snoring
Sleep Apnea
Snoring affects a very large segment of the American population - both adults and children, male and female.
While snoring is disruptive, it can also be a sign of an underlying disorder called Sleep Apnea. It is caused by recurrent collapse and obstruction of the upper airway (the throat, palate and/or nose) while asleep. This is a serious condition that can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and can cause impotence in men. It often causes daytime fatigue, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and depression, and is associated with decreased performance at work and at school. Sleep apnea is also a major cause of motor vehicle accidents and work related injuries.
In children, Sleep Apnea is associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), poor school performance, bed wetting, and failure of growth and weight gain. It is often unrecognized, and wide scale screening has been hampered by the lack of available sleep testing facilities for children.
With the introduction of home sleep testing using small portable devices (the size of a calculator), the diagnosis can now be made while sleeping at home. Many children have difficulty sleeping in a sleep lab, and Home Sleep Testing will facilitate the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea.
Take the sleepiness test to see if you are at risk for sleep apnea:
While snoring is disruptive, it can also be a sign of an underlying disorder called Sleep Apnea. It is caused by recurrent collapse and obstruction of the upper airway (the throat, palate and/or nose) while asleep. This is a serious condition that can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and can cause impotence in men. It often causes daytime fatigue, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and depression, and is associated with decreased performance at work and at school. Sleep apnea is also a major cause of motor vehicle accidents and work related injuries.
In children, Sleep Apnea is associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), poor school performance, bed wetting, and failure of growth and weight gain. It is often unrecognized, and wide scale screening has been hampered by the lack of available sleep testing facilities for children.
With the introduction of home sleep testing using small portable devices (the size of a calculator), the diagnosis can now be made while sleeping at home. Many children have difficulty sleeping in a sleep lab, and Home Sleep Testing will facilitate the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea.
Take the sleepiness test to see if you are at risk for sleep apnea:
Benefits.
Testing for sleep apnea in the comfort of your own home has many advantages over being tested overnight in a “sleep lab”. There is less disruption to your normal sleep because you are in your own environment and can sleep in any position. The device that we use IS SIMPLER AND MORE COMFORTABLE than the attended overnight sleep test called Polysomnography (PSG). Studies have shown that sleeping in a sleep lab requires some getting used to; and sometimes two nights of testing are required - this has not been the case with our device
(see results of our study).
How is home testing done?
You will be fitted with a Holter-Oximeter monitor. The device continuously records your heart rhythm and blood oxygen levels USING a small electronic device the size of a mobile phone. . You will sleep with the device and bring it back to the office the next day. An automated report is generated and determines your level of obstructive sleep apnea. We have published several studies showing that the Holter-Oximeter can identify patients with significant obstructive sleep apnea in 100% of cases.
(Click here to see full text of research articles)
Risks and Discomfort.
There are no significant risks associated with the use of the home device. It is a device that has been used for over 50 years for heart monitoring. In some cases patients have had minor rashes from the application of adhesive sensors to the skin.
Alternatives.
Alternatives to home testing are the current overnight attended Polysomnography test which requires spending a night in a sleep laboratory supervised by a sleep technician.
Testing for sleep apnea in the comfort of your own home has many advantages over being tested overnight in a “sleep lab”. There is less disruption to your normal sleep because you are in your own environment and can sleep in any position. The device that we use IS SIMPLER AND MORE COMFORTABLE than the attended overnight sleep test called Polysomnography (PSG). Studies have shown that sleeping in a sleep lab requires some getting used to; and sometimes two nights of testing are required - this has not been the case with our device
(see results of our study).
How is home testing done?
You will be fitted with a Holter-Oximeter monitor. The device continuously records your heart rhythm and blood oxygen levels USING a small electronic device the size of a mobile phone. . You will sleep with the device and bring it back to the office the next day. An automated report is generated and determines your level of obstructive sleep apnea. We have published several studies showing that the Holter-Oximeter can identify patients with significant obstructive sleep apnea in 100% of cases.
(Click here to see full text of research articles)
Risks and Discomfort.
There are no significant risks associated with the use of the home device. It is a device that has been used for over 50 years for heart monitoring. In some cases patients have had minor rashes from the application of adhesive sensors to the skin.
Alternatives.
Alternatives to home testing are the current overnight attended Polysomnography test which requires spending a night in a sleep laboratory supervised by a sleep technician.
Snoring Evaluation:
The first and most important step is to determine whether or not the snoring is a sign of underlying Sleep Apnea. This is accomplished by performing a full examination of the upper airway (the nose, mouth, throat and vocal cords), and the neck. If there is any suspicion of sleep apnea based on the examination and answers to Sleep Questionnaires, we will recommend a Home Sleep Study. In some cases radiological imaging such as CT scan or MRI scans may be necessary to better evaluate the source of snoring.
Snoring Treatment:
The treatment is customized to each patient by obtaining as much information as possible about the site of obstruction and the site of vibration in the upper airway. Treatment can be as simple as treating a chronic nasal obstruction with nasal decongestant sprays. In many cases more sophisticated treatment is necessary and requires a customized approach depending upon the information obtained from the examination and other tests. We perform office based and hospital based surgery on the nose and throat when indicated; and will recommend other non-surgical treatments when appropriate. These may include oral appliances; or CPAP if the snoring is associated with severe Sleep Apnea. In many cases snoring can be improved by lifestyle changes such as weight loss, and by decreasing alcohol consumption at night.
The first and most important step is to determine whether or not the snoring is a sign of underlying Sleep Apnea. This is accomplished by performing a full examination of the upper airway (the nose, mouth, throat and vocal cords), and the neck. If there is any suspicion of sleep apnea based on the examination and answers to Sleep Questionnaires, we will recommend a Home Sleep Study. In some cases radiological imaging such as CT scan or MRI scans may be necessary to better evaluate the source of snoring.
Snoring Treatment:
The treatment is customized to each patient by obtaining as much information as possible about the site of obstruction and the site of vibration in the upper airway. Treatment can be as simple as treating a chronic nasal obstruction with nasal decongestant sprays. In many cases more sophisticated treatment is necessary and requires a customized approach depending upon the information obtained from the examination and other tests. We perform office based and hospital based surgery on the nose and throat when indicated; and will recommend other non-surgical treatments when appropriate. These may include oral appliances; or CPAP if the snoring is associated with severe Sleep Apnea. In many cases snoring can be improved by lifestyle changes such as weight loss, and by decreasing alcohol consumption at night.
Sleep Apnea
There are many underlying causes for sleep apnea: these include being overweight, having large tonsils, having a narrow mouth or throat, and nasal obstruction. In some cases, Reflux (or acid coming up from the stomach into the throat) can also cause sleep apnea. The treatment will depend on the severity of the sleep apnea (which can be determined by a home sleep study), and the underlying associated conditions.
Treatment depends on the severity and cause of the airway obstruction. Surgery on the tonsils and throat is performed either in the hospital or in the office for snoring and if the sleep apnea is mild. Other treatments are aimed at keeping the tongue from falling back into the throat when asleep. This can be done by wearing an oral appliance at night, or by performing surgery on the tongue and throat. For severe sleep apnea we may recommend a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine which is worn at night and relieves the obstruction by blowing air into the nose. Because sleep apnea has many underlying causes, our philosophy is to explore all treatment options with the patient and to consult closely with other specialists such as: dentists, respiratory specialists, speech therapists, dieticians, homeopaths, and exercise specialists
There are many underlying causes for sleep apnea: these include being overweight, having large tonsils, having a narrow mouth or throat, and nasal obstruction. In some cases, Reflux (or acid coming up from the stomach into the throat) can also cause sleep apnea. The treatment will depend on the severity of the sleep apnea (which can be determined by a home sleep study), and the underlying associated conditions.
Treatment depends on the severity and cause of the airway obstruction. Surgery on the tonsils and throat is performed either in the hospital or in the office for snoring and if the sleep apnea is mild. Other treatments are aimed at keeping the tongue from falling back into the throat when asleep. This can be done by wearing an oral appliance at night, or by performing surgery on the tongue and throat. For severe sleep apnea we may recommend a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine which is worn at night and relieves the obstruction by blowing air into the nose. Because sleep apnea has many underlying causes, our philosophy is to explore all treatment options with the patient and to consult closely with other specialists such as: dentists, respiratory specialists, speech therapists, dieticians, homeopaths, and exercise specialists