Is Sleep Apnea a Respiratory Disorder?

02/10/2015 10:32

Is Sleep Apnea a Respiratory Disorder?Sleep apnea is the name of a condition where a person constantly stops breathing throughout the night. The cessation of breathing can occur a few times every hour, or it could occur hundreds of times throughout the night. Our Los Angeles sleep apnea specialist will need to perform a sleep apnea test in order to see if you are actually suffering from sleep apnea, and if you are, determine the severity of the condition.

Allowing your sleep apnea to go untreated could result in serious problems to your respiratory system, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Your physician will take into account your age, overall health, medical history, and your own personal preference when deciding upon a treatment method.

Some patients will notice a sharp decline in their symptoms if they implement certain lifestyle changes. Losing weight, avoiding alcohol, exercising more, and changing sleeping positions can possibly have dramatic effects on your condition. Mild cases of sleep apnea can often be treated with an oral appliance that repositions your jaw or keeps your tongue in a fixed position so that your airways remain open at night. For more moderate cases, our expert may recommend a CPAP machine, which is often considered the most effective way to deal with sleep apnea.