Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that can have an enormous impact on your quality of life. The symptoms of the condition can include loud snoring, breathing that stops and starts, and the inability to get healthy, restorative sleep. If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may feel tired no matter how long you sleep or wake up with a headache, dry mouth, or struggle to pay attention and be productive at work. Sleep apnea can be treated successfully – but what type of specialist should you see?
Ear, nose, and throat specialists: Sleep apnea and you.
An ENT is a specialist that has dedicated years of added education and experience to become an expert in conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat. Sleep apnea comes in several forms, and an ENT from Texas ENT Specialists can diagnose and treat the disorder correctly, bringing you relief. Imagine sleeping soundly all night, waking up well-rested and ready for the day, finally free from the symptoms of sleep apnea! To find out more about our advanced treatments for sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with us.
Treatments for sleep apnea: new options for better results.
An ENT will evaluate your nose and throat structures to identify the cause of your condition. Every person has a unique physiology, and a full examination by a specialist will reveal what aspect of your nose and throat structure needs correction. The condition could be the result of allergies, infections, a structural problem with the tonsils, adenoids, or airways through the nostrils. The treatments for the condition include:
- CPAP machine: Some patients, as the first step in the treatment, use a CPAP machine during sleep to keep your airways open and foster a healthy sleep pattern. This treatment is effective, but unwieldy. You may be a candidate for a more advanced treatment.
- Surgery: Several surgical procedures are possible, including UPPP, which stands for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, a very long word for a procedure to remove excess tissue in the throat to create a larger airway, which for some patients, resolves the symptoms of sleep apnea.
- Septoplasty: The symptoms of sleep apnea could be caused by a nasal obstruction in the nasal airways. A septoplasty is a customized surgical procedure to restore breathing function for patients with a deviated septum.
- Laser lingual tonsillectomy: When a patient has excess tissue in the deeper regions of the throat, it can be removed with an advanced technique with specialized laser surgery.
- Neurostimulation: A new device, recently FDA approved, can be implanted to treat sleep apnea for patients who cannot tolerate the CPAP device. This device requires implanting a device to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve. It senses your respiration to coordinate stimulation of the tongue to open the airway while you sleep.
- MMA: Maxillomandibular advancement is a procedure to correct jaw position or widen the upper jaw to create healthy airflow.
The right treatment – for you.
If you have the symptoms of sleep apnea, you deserve to have access to the most advanced developments in medicine. An ENT, as a specialist in ear, nose, and throat conditions, can diagnose your unique case, and advise you of the most effective treatment to bring you relief for the long term.
