Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Sleep apnea happens when breathing is obstructed in the middle of the night, causing people to wake up and catch their breath. This happens often in the period of one night, which can lead to serious health issues like stroke and heart disease.
Symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Snoring
- Tiredness during the day
- Moodiness
- Restlessness
- Sore throat
Your ENT Urgent Care Doctors
70% of all urgent care and minute-clinic visits are ear, nose, and throat related.
So before you visit those walk-in clinics, consider coming to us: The Ear, Nose, and Throat Institute.
So before you visit those walk-in clinics, consider coming to us: The Ear, Nose, and Throat Institute.
Here at the ENT Institute, we pride ourselves in being the urgent care for your ear, nose, and throat. Whether that means issues with sinuses, hearing loss, sleep disorders, or even speech.
Let our family take care of yours with same-day appointments. We’re also open, early Friday and Saturdays for immediate care.
Poor Muscle Tone In The Tongue And Throat
When muscles are too relaxed, either from alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness, the tongue falls backwards into the airway or the throat muscles draw in from the sides into the airway. This can also happen during deep sleep.
Excessive Bulkiness Of Throat Tissue
Children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore. Overweight people have bulky neck tissue, too. Although rare, cysts or tumors can also cause bulk.
Long Soft Palate And/Or Uvula
A long palate narrows the opening from the nose into the throat. As it dangles, it acts as a noisy flutter valve during relaxed breathing. A long uvula makes matters even worse.
Obstructed Nasal Airways
A stuffy or blocked nose requires extra effort to pull air through it. This creates an exaggerated vacuum in the throat, and pulls together the floppy tissues of the throat, and snoring results. So, snoring often occurs only during the hay fever season or with a cold or sinus infection.
Deformities Of The Nose Or Nasal Septum
Also, deformities of the nose or nasal septum, such as a deviated septum (a deformity of the wall that separates one nostril from the other) can cause such an obstruction.
Alternatives to CPAP
CPAP is a treatment option for sleep apnea that uses a mask and hose to pump air into the airways to keep them from getting obstructed. Although this is an effective way to treat sleep apnea, many people don’t use it, even if it’s prescribed.
A new technology called Inspire not only helps with sleep, but is an easier way to treat it without the hose and mask. The Ear, Nose and Throat Institute is in cooperation with Inspire to bring this technology to patients who struggle with sleep apnea.
Call 770-740-1860 to schedule an appointment or click the link below.
A new technology called Inspire not only helps with sleep, but is an easier way to treat it without the hose and mask. The Ear, Nose and Throat Institute is in cooperation with Inspire to bring this technology to patients who struggle with sleep apnea.
Call 770-740-1860 to schedule an appointment or click the link below.
Self-Help Options
Adults who suffer from mild or occasional snoring should try the following self-help remedies:
- Adopt a healthy and athletic lifestyle to develop good muscle tone and lose weight.
- Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines before bedtime.
- Avoid alcohol for at least four hours before bed.
- Avoid heavy meals or snacks for three hours before bed.
- Establish regular sleeping patterns.
- Sleep on your side rather than your back.
- Tilt the head of your bed upwards four inches.
Remember, snoring means obstructed breathing, and obstruction can be serious. To get started on diagnosing your snoring issues and treating them, please give us a call at any of our Atlanta offices