Get a Good Night’s Rest with Sleep Apnea Treatment

Proper sleep is important for everyone, but you may struggle with this if you have sleep apnea. This condition, which often results in snoring, causes a person’s breathing to stop and restart.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, our specialists at ENT NOW – Des Peres can help. We’ll partner with you to make sure you get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis.

Woman in a hospital clinical setting is laying on a hospital bed, she is blurry and the focus of the image is on the half-mask for a cpap that she is holding up in front of herself.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

  • Snoring
  • Gasping for air while sleeping
  • Insomnia
  • Sleepiness during the day
  • Headache after waking up
  • Dry mouth after sleeping

Types of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is the most common form of sleep apnea and occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax, which causes the airway to narrow or close during breathing.

Risk factors include obesity, thicker neck circumference, a narrow throat, nasal congestion and medical conditions like heart failure, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, stroke or asthma.

Central Sleep Apnea

This is the result of the brain failing to send signals to the muscles that control breathing. Because of this, you do not try to breathe.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome

This refers to when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnea

Our provider will begin by discussing your symptoms and sleep history. You may also participate in a sleep study, which can be done at home or at a medical facility, and measures:

  • Heart rate
  • Blood oxygen level
  • Breathing patterns

The most common solution for sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which delivers air pressure through a mask while sleeping and keeps your upper airway passages open. CPAP machines and masks are available in a variety of styles and sizes, ranging from nasal masks to ones that cover both the nose and mouth. Our team will work with you to determine which will be best for your needs.

If you’re regularly waking up during the night or being told you snore, you may have sleep apnea. At ENT NOW – Des Peres, our providers can determine if your symptoms are the result of sleep apnea and take steps to make sure you sleep well.