Sleep Apnea

Five percent of men over the age of fifty have sleep apnea, which means they repeatedly wake up suddenly during sleep because their airway has been shut off and they are not getting enough oxygen. Most men don't realize they're actually waking up,... Full Answer

If you snore or have other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it’s time to have a conversation with your doctor about an evaluation for OSA. A diagnosis of sleep apnea always starts with a conversation with your physician. In some... Full Answer

You can help prevent obstructive sleep apnea if you: Don't use alcohol and medicines, such as sleeping pills and sedatives, before bed. These can relax your throat muscles and slow your breathing. Eat sensibly, exercise, and stay at a healthy... Full Answer

Call your doctor if: You or your bed partner snores loudly and heavily and feels sleepy during the day. You notice that your bed partner stops breathing, gasps or chokes during sleep. You sometimes fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while... Full Answer

Yes, in most cases your primary care physician will be able to diagnose and treat you for sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very common chronic disease, but until recently the diagnosis and treatment of patients with even uncomplicated OSA... Full Answer

We have noticed a dramatic increase in sleep apnea cases. Five years ago it was stated that between 5% and 10% of heart disease patients may have sleep apnea. Now the percentage may be as high as 45 to 55%. We are now finding the effects of sleep... Full Answer

There are several symptoms of sleep apnea in children. They include the following: Continuous loud snoring Failure to thrive (not gaining weight, not growing) Enlarged tonsils Episodes of not breathing at night (apneas) Mouth breathing Daytime... Full Answer

Yes, but loosely. Sleep apnea causes severe sleep deprivation and may cause fainting due to sleep attacks. It may also cause fainting due to heart arrhythmias. It also aggravates hypertension and your risk of mini-strokes, which may present as... Full Answer

The best way to diagnose sleep apnea is with a sleep study, which may be ordered by your doctor. A sleep study involves monitoring a child while they sleep to measure breathing rate, oxygen levels and brain waves. You will be asked to spend the night at... Full Answer

If your doctor suspects you have sleep apnea, they may suggest you go to a sleep laboratory. At the sleep lab, you may be attached to machines that can measure your body as you sleep. There are tests to measure blood oxygen levels, organ function,... Full Answer