Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Many of us don’t think of snoring as something that we should be too concerned about unless your bed partner is keeping you from getting a good night's sleep!

However, heavy snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a common and possibly serious disorder where your breathing continually stops and restarts during sleep.

Many times sleep apnea goes unrecognized however, it can be treated. You can Learn how to identify the warning signs of sleep apnea differentiate it from normal snoring, and the steps to take. Sleep apnea impacts how you breathe when you’re asleep. Without treatment, breathing is briefly interrupted or becomes very shallow. These types of breathing pauses typically last between 10 to 20 seconds and can happen the entire night.

Sleep apnea inhibits you from getting a good night’s sleep. When your breathing is paused, you’re shaken from your bodies natural sleep pattern. Consequently, you get much less of a deep sleep and more of a light sleep which makes you less energetic, mentally sharp and productive the next day.

Sleep apnea can also lead to serious health problems over time, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and weight gain. The good news is with treatment, you’ll be able to control the symptoms and have your sleep back on track, and begin enjoying a more energetic refreshed and alert day.

Major signs and symptoms of sleep apnea:

• Loud and chronic snoring
• Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep
• Long pauses in breathing
• Daytime sleepiness, no matter how much time you spend in bed

Minor signs and symptoms of sleep apnea: 

• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headaches
• Restless or fitful sleep
• Insomnia or nighttime awakenings
• Going to the bathroom frequently during the night
• Waking up feeling out of breath
• Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
• Moodiness, irritability, or depression

Feldman ENT Division is one of only a few practices in the DC area that provides Inspire™ procedure for sleep apnea.

• Inspire therapy is a FDA approved, surgically implanted device that treats obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Inspire can be an alternative treatment option for patients with OSA  that have not seen benefit from CPAP and/or oral appliance therapy
• Inspire device is implanted in the neck and chest, and delivers stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve via an electrode.  The hypoglossal nerve is responsible for controlling key airway muscles
• Click here for more information
• Please call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Natalie Earl to see if you are a candidate.  Mention Inspire when you make the appointment.