When your alarm goes off in the mornings, the first thing you realise is how weary you are. You slept a reasonable hour and went to sleep pretty quickly. Still, the reality is that regardless of how many hours of sleep you get, you are always exhausted. This has been going on for as long as you can recall, and it's beginning to harm your quality of life.
Continue reading to find out what you should do if you suspect you (or a loved one) has sleep apnea.
Step 1: Acquiring a Test
If you think you might well have sleep apnea, the first thing to do is get tested to see if you have the condition. A sleep test will disclose both the origin and extent of your sleep problem. After a proper diagnosis will a specialist be able to provide the best treatment alternatives for you.
Step 2: Diagnosis
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea after being examined, your sleep expert or ear nose throat specialist will evaluate if you have central or obstructive sleep apnea.
- Central sleep apnea (CSA) is caused by a disturbance in the brain's connection with the body, specifically when the brainstem fails to inform the respiratory muscles to function when sleeping.
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when something physically clogs the airway while sleeping, such as the tongue, soft palate, or fatty tissue surrounding the throat.
Step 3: Undergoing Treatment
If central sleep apnea is the cause, your doctor may suggest the following treatments:
- Taking care of an underlying medical condition (such as those listed above)
- Medications have changed (especially if a person is taking opioids)
- CPAP, BPAP, and ASV treatment work to keep the airway open and maintain a regular breathing pattern.
- Some drugs, such as acetazolamide (Diamox) or theophylline (Theo-24, Theochron, and others), can help persons with CSA breathe more easily.
If your ENT doctor in Singapore determines that obstructive sleep apnea is the cause, they will decide if the issue is mild, moderate, or severe. To do so, your doctor will examine the findings of your sleep test, particularly the number of apnea incidents each hour. After determining the severity, your doctor can then propose the best treatment option for you, whether it's oral appliance treatment, surgery, or CPAP.
Bottom Line
Visit a local sleep expert or ENT doctor in Mount Elizabeth to start your journey to obtaining a full good nights sleep and getting up feeling energised again. They can assist you in obtaining the information you require and determining which treatment choice is best for you. You only need to arrange a consultation to get started.
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