What Is Sleep Apnea In Tampa?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleeping disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This can lead to health complications, including heart problems and stroke. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, which happens when soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses or blocks the airway. Another form, called central sleep apnea, occurs when the brain doesn't send signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Symptoms of sleep apnea Tampa include loud snoring, gasping or choking at night and feeling tired during the day. You may also have other symptoms, such as dry mouth or sore throat.

Your doctor can diagnose sleep apnea by asking you about your sleep and medical history. He or she may ask about your sleep habits, whether you snore or talk while asleep and how your medications affect your sleep. Your doctor can also order tests to look at your breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels while you're asleep.

A sleep study, which can be done at home or in a sleep lab, may reveal your level of sleep apnea. It can help your doctor make a diagnosis and suggest a treatment plan.

Stopping smoking can help prevent or lessen the effects of obstructive sleep apnea, because nicotine relaxes the muscles in the back of your throat that block your airway. You can also take steps to avoid obesity and exercise regularly.

Surgery is another option for treating obstructive sleep apnea. There are different types of surgery that can subtly change the position of your jaw or nasal passages, so that soft tissue can't obstruct your airway. The surgeon might also cut the tonsils or adenoids to keep them from blocking your airway.

Other surgical options for obstructive sleep apnea Tampa are uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which can correct the upper part of your throat and tongue; tonsillectomy, which removes the tonsils; and rhinoplasty or a septoplasty, which straightens the soft tissue in your nose and helps you breathe through your nose better.

These surgeries can improve your quality of life and reduce your risk for serious complications from obstructive sleep apnea. They are often a third line of treatment after your medical provider has tried CPAP and other non-surgical methods to treat your sleep apnea.

Lifestyle modifications are also helpful for obstructive sleep apnea, such as losing weight and not taking certain medicines before bed. These changes aren't always easy to do, but they can have a big impact on the severity of your sleep apnea and your quality of life with dentist Tampa fl.

Getting rid of or reducing your use of alcohol and other sedatives can also help you sleep more soundly at night. It's also a good idea to stop smoking and stop eating foods that are high in fat, like meat and full-fat dairy products.

If your obstructive sleep apnea isn't improved by other methods, talk to your doctor about whether surgery might be right for you. It's a safe and effective treatment for many people with obstructive sleep apnea.