Why am I so tired every day?
Why do I snore?
Why is my sleep so restless?
If you find yourself asking these questions, you might have sleep apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common cause of daytime sleepiness and occurs in 10-30% of adults. If left untreated it can cause more than just fatigue – it can also cause morning headaches, insomnia and frequent nighttime awakenings to use the restroom. Untreated sleep apnea can worsen leg swelling, make blood pressure more difficult to control, and have detrimental effects that ripple across your overall well-being.
OSA can be diagnosed in your home with a home sleep study kit or in the hospital. If you are diagnosed with OSA your doctor can talk to you about treatment options to relieve your symptoms and help you get restful sleep. If you are living with undiagnosed OSA, a sleep study followed by treatment can be a game-changer on the way you feel each day. Patients are often surprised by what full restorative sleep actually feels like!
One of the most important parts of the OSA treatment plan is weight loss. Sometimes, weight loss alone is enough to fully relieve the symptoms associated with OSA and can even take away snoring completely. Making dietary changes can be hard, and it can be confusing to know what to eat – please talk to your doctor if you need guidance with this. Other OSA treatment options include an oral appliance (like a specialized mouth guard) or being fit with a C-PAP device. Talk to your doctor about testing for OSA if you suspect you have this problem.