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Sleep Apnea

HealthStone Primary Care Partners Our Services Sleep Apnea

HealthStone Primary Care Partners

Family Medicine Practice & Hormone Replacement Specialists located in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Did you know that an estimated 18 million American adults are living with sleep apnea? This serious health condition can lead to numerous chronic health issues, but help is available through the care of Gilbert Weiner, DO, of HealthStone Primary Care Partners in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. If you suspect you aren’t getting the rest you need to thrive, request an appointment or by phone to explore diagnostic and treatment services for sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Q & A

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a chronic health condition characterized by frequent interruptions in your breathing while asleep. There are two primary types of sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea

This is the most common type of sleep apnea and occurs when the muscles in your throat relax during sleep and cut off your air supply.

Central sleep apnea

This type of sleep apnea occurs when there is a disconnect in the signals that run between your brain and the muscles that control your breathing.

Complex sleep apnea syndrome is when someone exhibits a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.

What are some signs I have sleep apnea?

Knowing what to look for can help you decide when to seek treatment for sleep apnea. Some common signs and symptoms include:

  • Loud snoring
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness or muscle weakness
  • Headache upon waking
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Gasping for air during sleep
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Concentration difficulties
  • Waking with a dry mouth

Often the clearest indication of sleep apnea is the complaints of your sleep partner, who may find themselves unable to get a good night’s rest because of your loud snoring and sudden gasping for air.

What are some treatments for sleep apnea?

The HealthStone Primary Care Partners team begins with a thorough exam and a discussion of your symptoms. In cases of mild sleep apnea, lifestyle changes like shedding excess pounds, quitting smoking, or improving your sleep environment may be all that’s needed to find relief.

In more advanced cases, a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, device can help by delivering a steady stream of air pressure through a mask as you sleep. This keeps your upper airway open and prevents snoring.

Oral appliances can also be effective. These are devices you wear in your mouth during sleep. They reposition your jaw to help your airway remain open. It may take a period of trial and error to find the device that works best for you.

In rare cases, surgery is the best way to achieve proper breathing during sleep. If other treatment options fail, or if you have certain structural abnormalities in your jaw, your practitioner can help you find a specialist to deliver surgical intervention.

If you suspect you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea, call the office today.

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