Sleep Apnea
Most of us don’t think of sleep other than at bedtime when we become tired & sleepy; to the fortunate ones, sleep comes naturally & easily, waking up the next day refreshed & ready for a full & productive day. Unfortunately for many others getting enough sleep is a constant battle.
Snoring is very common in the general population; it is more common in men, especially overweight individuals. In most individual it is no more then a nuisance. However in some snorers, breathing pauses occur followed by snorts or arousals. These pauses (or apneas) can occur frequently leading to a drop in blood oxygen. The patient will then experience an arousal or awakening opening the air passage temporarily.
This condition is called obstructive sleep apnea. It will lead to sleep disruption making these individuals sleepy during the day. It will also cause morning headaches as well as personality, mood, & sexual problems. Such individuals can also develop high blood pressure & heart problems. A sleep study will tell your doctor about the presence and the severity of the disease; during an overnight stay at Clemenceau Medical Center a round-the-clock monitoring (including video monitoring) gives your doctor a clear and complete picture of your body functions (Brain, Lungs, Heart, & Muscles) during all sleep stages. Pulmonary / Sleep specialists, Ear Nose & Throat, Neurologists, & Psychiatrists specialists at Clemenceau Medical Center have an excellent expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of all sleep disorders. They collaborate to offer their patient unparalleled outcome in the management of all sleep disorders.
Once the diagnosis of sleep apnea is made, appropriate treatment is recommended and may include the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) at night, surgery to remove excess tissue from the back of the nose and mouth area, and weight loss.