What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can be thought of as an extreme form of snoring. But unlike snoring, which is mostly a relationship or quality of life issue, sleep apnea is a disease with significant health implications. Snoring and sleep apnea both result from vibration of soft tissue in the throat. When we fall asleep, our muscles relax, and as we breathe through the relaxed tissues in the throat, they tend to vibrate. If they vibrate a little, we snore a little. If they vibrate a lot, we snore a lot. Sleep apnea occurs when they vibrate enough that the tissue repeatedly blocks the airway. This obstruction of tissue is what leads to the condition, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Why Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?

Sleep apnea is dangerous because it prevents a normal, restorative sleep. Every time an airway is blocked, your brain awakens (very briefly) and signals a re-opening of the airway. This disrupts normal sleep patterns and cycles. In addition, the stop breathing episodes can cause dangerous decreases in blood oxygen levels, robbing your brain and vital organs of the oxygen they require. Sleep apnea increases risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, obesity, erectile dysfunction and even depression and anxiety. Sleep apnea is a serious disease, and if you have it, it is important that you get treatment.

Do I Have To Wear A CPAP Mask?

No, you don’t! CPAP is only one treatment option. While CPAP can be very effective, it is poorly tolerated. Studies show that fewer than 40% of patients actually wear CPAP regularly. Fortunately, there are effective treatment options that are much easier to live with. These minimally invasive options are what The Snoring Center specializes in.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are common sleep apnea symptoms?

Having a combination of the following sleep apnea symptoms can indicate you suffer from this condition:

  • Loud snoring
  • Stop breathing episodes while asleep
  • Trouble breathing during sleep, including gasping for air
  • Waking up with a dry mouth
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Insomnia, or difficulty staying asleep
  • Increasing, or excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Difficulty paying attention while awake
  • Irritability
  • High blood pressure
  • Atrial Fibrillation

If you experience three or more of these sleep apnea symptoms consistently, you should contact the Snoring Center.

Can my primary care physician help, or do I need a sleep apnea specialist?

In order to be diagnosed with sleep apnea, you must undergo a sleep study. A sleep apnea specialist is best able to interpret the data from your sleep study, and to assess the severity. Once you’re diagnosed, an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor can determine the best treatment options.

What are the differences between mild sleep apnea and severe sleep apnea?

Each time your breathing is interrupted (for at least 10 seconds), it’s an episode of apnea. The severity of sleep apnea is determined by how often you stop breathing. If your breathing stops between one and 15 times an hour during sleep, it’s considered mild sleep apnea. Having over 30 interruptions a night is when your condition is considered severe sleep apnea. Mild sleep apnea is still a medical condition that should be assessed by a sleep apnea doctor, because even mild sleep apnea can be disruptive to your health and quality of life.

Can I identify sleep apnea myself or do I need a doctor for diagnosis?

Sleep apnea can be difficult to self diagnose. An official diagnosis from a certified doctor determines whether you have sleep apnea and the severity.

What other disorders are confused with Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the upper airway is partially or completely blocked. It is the most common form of sleep apnea, but other disorders are likely to be confused by non-medical doctors.

Central sleep apnea, which is far less common than obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the brain isn’t sending the proper breathing signals to the rest of the body during sleep. In other words, there is nothing blocking airflow, rather a person simply doesn’t breath. Causes vary, but medical conditions such as stroke and heart attack along with medications like opioids can cause this condition. High altitudes have also been known to cause central sleep apnea.

Any breathing trouble during sleep needs to be assessed by a doctor before symptoms get worse.

Let Us Help You

  • We accept the following insurance:

    Cigna Insurance Blue Cross Blue Shield Aetna Insurance United Healthcare

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • After A Week, I Could Already Feel Big Improvements

    “I’ve always had large tonsils, but recently they became a big problem for me. I had Laser Tonsillectomy to reduce the size of my tonsils, and the results are great. The procedure was not a big deal and over before I knew it. I went to a Mexican restaurant directly after my procedure and ate chips and tacos. And, after a week, I could already feel big improvements.”

    - Justin L.

  • I Was Way Past The Normal Age For A Tonsillectomy, And I Was Skeptical About The Laser Procedure

    “The Snoring Center has improved my quality of life. After numerous episodes of tonsillitis, I was searching for anything to help. I was way past the normal age for a tonsillectomy, and I was skeptical about the Laser Tonsillectomy procedure. However, Dr. Schwimmer and the entire staff at The Snoring Center were very nice and professional and made the entire process fast and relatively pain free. I experienced very little discomfort during the procedure and very minor pain afterwards. Within a few hours, I was eating normal food. The best part is that since the Laser Tonsillectomy procedure I have not had a single episode of tonsillitis or even a sore throat. Thank you Snoring Center!”

    - Daniel A.

  • I Can Breathe Through My Nose For The First Time In 16 Years

    “My nasal allergies are so bad that it is debilitating. I love outdoor activities, but often I can’t partake or I pay the price. I heard about turbinate reduction at The Snoring Center and that it can help with nasal allergy symptoms. For me it has done much more than “help”, I can breathe through my nose for the first time in 16 years. This really is life changing. Thank you!”

    - Ryan W.

  • The Entire Procedure Took Only About 10 Minutes. But, It Changed My Life

    “I have suffered all of my life from nasal allergies. I meet with clients all day and allergy season is awful. It is embarrassing to continually blow my nose and sniffle during meetings. Not to mention the expense of regular doctor’s visits and daily medication. I was happy to have Turbinate Reduction at The Snoring Center. The entire procedure took only about 10 minutes, but it changed my life. Thank you Snoring Center.”

    - Kelly F.

  • It Truly Was A Life-Changing Experience

    “Turbinate Reduction not only helped my allergies but also my sinus headaches. This changed my life from someone who has had allergies since I was five years old to someone who is allergy-free. I would like to thank Dr. Schwimmer for all he has done for me. It truly was a life-changing experience.”

    - John B.