Sleep Apnea

Do you regularly wake up feeling groggy? Maybe you experience morning headaches or increased irritability? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Jodi Conlan, NP-C, and the team at Restful Solutions in Duanesburg, New York, regularly work with patients to manage the symptoms of sleep apnea. If you’re tired of tossing and turning all night, make an in-person or telehealth appointment by phone or request one online today. 

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes you to stop and start breathing multiple times throughout the night. 

Sleep apnea doesn’t just interfere with your ability to get a good night’s rest. Left unmanaged, it also increases your risk of more serious health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. 

Are there different types of sleep apnea?

There are three different types of sleep apnea: 

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Central sleep apnea
• Complex sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA occurs when the soft tissues at the back of your throat relax during sleep, blocking your airways. 

Central sleep apnea or CSA occurs when your brain fails to send your respiratory system signals to breathe during sleep. The third and rarest type of sleep apnea is complex sleep apnea, which is a combination of OSA and CSA. 

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

The symptoms of sleep apnea vary from person to person and depend on the severity of the condition. However, telltale signs of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Chronic fatigue
• Irritability

If you have sleep apnea, you might also notice that you have trouble focusing at work or trouble remembering things throughout the day. 

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

The Restful Solutions team can spot sleep apnea symptoms, order an in-clinic or home sleep apnea study (HSAT), and make treatment recommendations following a diagnosis. 

Your provider then develops a treatment plan that aligns with your health history, goals for treatment, and budget.

How is sleep apnea treated?

Treatment for sleep apnea depends on the severity of your condition and symptoms. Whenever possible, your Restful Solutions provider recommends conservative, noninvasive methods of treatment. Examples of sleep apnea treatment options include:

• Oral appliances
• Lifestyle habit changes
• Good sleep hygiene
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) management
• Bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) management
• Surgery
• Treating underlying medical conditions via:
  • Prescription medications
  • Supplemental oxygen

Customized sleep apnea treatment plans vary based on your personalized needs. It’s helpful to avoid alcohol, smoking, sleeping pills, and sleeping on your back. Exercise regularly, maintain an ideal body weight, minimize stress, and eat nutritious foods whenever possible. Establish a regular sleep schedule and sleep in a dark, quiet, cool room.

If you suspect you’re suffering from sleep apnea or you already have a diagnosis, make an in-person or telehealth appointment at Restful Solutions by phone or request one online today.