111-29 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375
111-29 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375
When you don’t get enough deep sleep, you face your days groggy and fatigued. While you may go to bed early enough to get your seven to eight hours of necessary rest, the quality of that sleep is more important than the quantity. Sleep apnea is a condition that interrupts your sleep due to blocked airways. It’s a scary condition, but it’s easily treatable with the guidance of your ears, nose and throat specialist at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens New York. Call today for an analysis of your sleep and effective treatment for sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that stops you from breathing for short periods of time during sleep. Because you wake up in the middle of the night multiple times, even if you have no memory of it, sleep apnea decreases the quality of your sleep. As a result, the condition affects your concentration the following day. It causes other problems as well.
About 18 million Americans currently have this condition. Sleep apnea degrades the quality of your life, unleashing fatigue, irritability, anxiety and even depression on your mental stability. If left untreated, sleep apnea also leads to problems with your cardiac functions, blood pressure and metabolism, possibly affecting your longevity.
The most common type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea. It’s caused when your throat muscles relax too much and close your windpipe temporarily. Since this kind of sleep apnea develops in the throat, your ears, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens, NY is a first point of contact for detecting and dealing with sleep apnea.
Sleep hygiene is a term for using good etiquette and appropriate practices for healthy sleep — and it’s your first step to prevent sleep apnea. Sleep hygiene includes such habits as:
Your ENT doctor recommends other lifestyle changes after you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea. These changes keep your symptoms from worsening and they include:
Sleep apnea sometimes is difficult to diagnose because you may have it without knowing it, especially if you sleep alone. Some of the signs of sleep apnea that indicate you aren’t getting fully restorative sleep include:
Describe your symptoms to your Queens ENT specialist at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Your doctor may arrange for a sleep study, during which you sleep in a laboratory so your patterns can be monitored. This is a crucial step, because it gives your doctor evidence of your diagnosis, which determines your best treatment options.
CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The machine is currently the industry standard for treating sleep apnea. It’s a device you wear when you go to sleep. It pushes a continuous airflow into your lungs, keeping your airways open to stabilize your breathing.
CPAP machines usually work well, but many people don’t like wearing them, even if their doctor directs them to use it. Some devices are uncomfortable, loud, inconvenient and even embarrassing to some people. CPAP machines also make travelling more difficult. While they are one of the most effective solutions, they aren’t always the best option for everyone.
Your ENT doctor at Medex may suggest that you try a mouthpiece instead. These teeth guards are custom-made by a dentist or orthodontist. The mouthpiece is designed to hold your jaw in a position that combats sleep apnea. Other mouthpieces are available that prevent your tongue from blocking your breathing. It all depends on what the primary cause of your sleep disorder is.
Orofacial therapy is another option that may work for you and your lifestyle. This treatment is an intervention that trains you to position your mouth and nasal pathways for the best airflow. This may be an ideal choice if your main problem is due to your facial muscles or posture.
At the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center, your ENT specialist always tries the least invasive treatment options first. Lifestyle changes are the easier to make to prevent the disorder and give you a good night’s sleep. But when all non-invasive treatments fail and you continue to face sleepless nights and abnormal breathing, your ENT doctor may suggest a minimally-invasive surgical procedure.
Implants are used in therapies such as hypoglossal neuro-stimulation therapy. A small implant is placed in your mouth to send electrical signals that relax key parts of your tongue or airway. More invasive techniques that involve surgery targets the jaw. An oral surgeon performs facial reconstruction to reposition your mouth. Surgery may also be recommended to remove excess tissue from your airway.
All sleep apnea treatments are customized to fit your needs. Contact your ENT doctor in Queens to begin the process of finding the most effective treatment for you. Get the night’s sleep you’ve been craving.
We can help you find a doctor. Call (718) 275-8900
Licensed by the state of New York, Medex is an Article 28 diagnostic and treatment center. Our physicians provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages in the Forest Hills, Queens area, for over 15 years. Start receiving expert care now by calling or scheduling an appointment online with one of the skilled specialists.
Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center