WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?
Sleep apnea is an deadly medical condition that occurs when your airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing you to experience brief interruptions in breathing. Literally, you are choking to death each night while you are sleeping. Your brain has to wake the body up from sleep in order to clear the obstruction. The main culprits for blockage of the airway are the tongue and soft tissue of the airway.
The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that around 22 million people suffer from sleep apnea.
RISK FACTORS FOR SLEEP APNEA
Obesity is the leading risk factor for sleep apnea. A large neck circumference (17 inches for male and 16 inches for female) can increase your risk of sleep apnea. Males are more likely to develop sleep apnea than females.
SLEEP APNEA SYMPTOMS
- Loud, chronic snoring
- Morning headaches
- Daytime fatigue
- Repeatedly waking up and gasping for air
- Insomnia
- Decreased sex drive
- Memory Problems
DIAGNOSING SLEEP APNEA
In order to determine whether you have sleep apnea, Dr. Nugent will order a home sleep test (HST). This test is easy as it is conducted in your bed at your house. No more having to go to a sleep clinic and sleep in a weird bed. The test results are read by a board-certified sleep physician that gives a diagnosis and recommendation of treatment.
WHY DO I NEED TO TREAT SLEEP APNEA?
If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of many somber health conditions including:
SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT
The two most common treatment options for sleep apnea are CPAP and Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances. Many patients have numerous problems with wearing a CPAP mask and most stop using the CPAP after a year. However, an oral appliance is much more tolerated.
The oral appliance brings the lower jaw downward and forward opening up the airway. The appliance is made by Dr. Nugent and he can adjust the appliance to find the optimal jaw position.
Stop snoring and treat your sleep apnea with Dr. Nugent. See why he is the leading sleep doctor in Pasadena, Texas. Call us at 832-487-0647 today to finally get the sleep you deserve.
