Sleep Apnea
Proper Rest and a Better Night’s Sleep
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that is caused by interrupted airflow during the sleep cycle. The interruptions are often caused by obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes the muscles in the back of the throat to relax too much and block the airway. When the brain senses the inability to breathe you wake up. Sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea often don't remember waking up but can be disturbed from their sleep cycle hundreds of times per night.
Sleep apnea requires a medical diagnosis. If your doctor determines that you exhibit symptoms suggestive of sleep apnea, they may order an overnight sleep study. Once sleep apnea is confirmed, our team of surgeons can create a customized treatment plan to manage or correct the condition. If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with sleep apnea, we encourage you to contact our office to find out how our team of experts can help you breathe properly to finally achieve a proper night’s sleep.
Treatment Options for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Depending on the severity of the patient’s obstructive sleep apnea treatment can range from conservative therapies to outpatient surgical procedures. Mild cases may only require lifestyle changes like losing weight, avoiding alcohol and certain sleeping pills, and quitting smoking. Oral appliances can help to reposition the jaws and stabilize the tongue to keep the airway open during sleep. Mechanical therapies like Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) machines can also be prescribed as a helpful initial treatment.
With PAP therapy, patients sleep with a mask over their nose and mouth. A machine gently forces air through the nose and/or mouth with enough pressure to prevent the upper airway from collapsing during sleep. Patients sleep soundly without frequent interruptions and rest properly. There are a variety of positive airway pressure devices available depending on the specific needs of the patient.
Patients who do not respond to conservative therapies and a trial of CPAP may benefit from surgery. Surgical procedures are reserved for people with the following conditions:
- A severely deviated septum.
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids that restrict the airway. Patients will snore loudly and stop breathing for short periods of time while sleeping.
- A disproportionate lower jaw that causes an overbite and an abnormally narrow airway.
If left untreated, complications from sleep apnea can trigger multiple health problems such as daytime fatigue, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is critical that you seek treatment to properly manage or correct the cause of the obstruction to protect your future health.
Types of Anesthesia
There are a variety of anesthesia and sedation options available at our practice.
Surgical Procedures for Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep is a necessary function that allows your mind and body to rest, leaving you feeling refreshed and alert. Without adequate sleep, the brain cannot function properly. Dr. Alfi can perform a number of surgical procedures to treat patients suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnea due to head or face abnormalities.
Maxillomandibular advancement surgery can correct facial abnormalities or throat obstructions. Your surgeon will reposition the jaw and move it forward to create more space in the back of the throat behind the tongue.
Anterior inferior mandibular osteotomy divides the chin bone into two parts and allows the tongue to move forward. The procedure stabilizes the jaw and mouth and helps open up the airway. Anterior inferior mandibular osteotomy is sometimes recommended in conjunction with other surgical procedures.
Dr. Alfi has pioneered an intraoral surgical technique that allows all incisions to be made within the mouth and prevents any visible scars on the patient's face. This in combination with virtual surgical planning and custom surgical guides dramatically reduce surgical times and provide dramatic aesthetic outcomes. If you have been recommended for the surgical treatment of sleep apnea, contact our practice to learn more about how our team of experts can help you.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Houston, TX
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