The Urgent Care for Sleep
At the Ear, Nose and Throat Institute, we’re proud to work with Inspire to bring the newest in sleep apnea treatment to people who need it most.
Inspire is a small device that is inserted into the body that helps the airways open up, removing obstruction. It’s a great alternative to CPAP, especially for people who just can’t sleep with the hose and mask.
One of our Atlanta-based ENT specialists can find out if your snoring is a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. To evaluate this, you will need to take an overnight sleep study called a polysomnogram. Typically, this test measures the individual’s heart rate, respiration, brain activity, eye movement, and blood oxygen level. You will be diagnosed with OSA if two things occur:
- You stop breathing due to a blockage of the airway for more than 10 seconds while asleep.
- This happens more than five times per hour of sleep.
If you have OSA, the sleep study will show if it is mild, moderate, or severe. A person with OSA is often very sleepy during the day due to consistent waking in the night; these brief awakenings keep you from enjoying long periods of deep sleep. OSA may lead to sleepiness, heart attack, stroke, and automobile accidents.
What are the types of sleep disorders?
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- Sleepwalking
- Sleep Terrors
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Jet Lag
- Periodic Limb Movement
- Shift Work
- Inadequate Sleep Hygiene (Bad Sleep Habits)
What is the main cause of sleep apnea?
The most common sleep related breathing disorders are obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and loud snoring. Both are due to the narrowing of the airway during sleep. Snoring occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat vibrates as you breathe. Patients who snore are more likely to have OSA than people who do not snore. Those who snore have an increased risk of developing things like high blood pressure. Other risk factors associated with sleep apnea are:
- Excess weight or obesity (body mass index, or BMI, >25)
- Family history of sleep apnea
- Male sex
- Large neck (greater than 17 in men, greater than 16 in women)
- Recessed chin
- Physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or upper airway structure
- Age
- Smoking
- Use of alcohol or sleeping pill
- Snoring
How can you cure sleep apnea?
For many people, a CPAP machine is prescribed and is the solution to their sleep apnea, but it’s not for everyone. That’s why we offer a new technology called Inspire, a device that is implanted inside of your body that opens up your airways without the hose and mask that a CPAP machine has.
To see if you are eligible for Inspire, call 770-740-1860 today to schedule a sleep study. We offer same-day and Saturday appointments.
Sleep Study Testimonial
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