Procedure - Sleep Apnea
People who experience drastic changes in breathing throughout the night may be experiencing sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing starts and stops consistently throughout the night. People with sleep apnea often snore very loudly and wake up feeling tired, even after a full night’s sleep. At Ogden Clinic, we treat patients throughout Utah who are experiencing one of three types of sleep apnea, including:
- Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the most common form of sleep apnea and occurs when throat muscles relax.
- Central sleep apnea: This condition is caused when the brain does not properly communicate with the muscles that control breathing.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome: This condition is also referred to as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea. It occurs when a patient has both central and obstructive sleep apnea.
Some of the most common symptoms of both central and obstructive sleep apnea include irritability, attention problems, waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth, headaches first thing in the morning, insomnia, loud snoring, episodes of breathing cessation observed by someone else throughout the night, and waking up in the middle of the night with shortness of breath. Sleep apnea is caused when the muscles in the back of the throat relax, which causes a constricted airway, allowing less breath in and reduced oxygen in the blood.
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
For people with mild cases of sleep apnea, an Ogden Clinic specialist may recommend simple lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking. For those with severe cases of sleep apnea, treatment options range from sleeping masks to surgery. One common therapy is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP therapy involves using a mask at night through which air pressure is delivered into the nose, keeping the upper airway passages open. The CPAP system prevents sleep apnea and snoring, and it’s one of the most reliable ways to treat sleep apnea.
A new procedure called Inspire sleep apnea therapy is now available at Ogden Clinic. Inspire is an alternative to traditional CPAP; an implantable device that no longer requires a mask or a hose. With just three small incisions, the Inspire sleep apnea device is inserted under the skin around the throat and upper chest area—all using a general anesthetic in an outpatient setting. Most patients return home the same day and resume light daily activity and their regular diet the day of the procedure. Full recovery can be expected within a couple weeks.
If you believe your condition is sleep apnea, contact us at Ogden Clinic to schedule a consultation at one of our Utah offices.
