Oregon Careers in Healthcare

What kind of doctor is a sleep apnea doctor? If you suffer from this sleep disorder, which doctor should you see? How can you know if you have sleep apnea? This article will talk about sleep apnea, which kind of doctor to visit and how medical intervention can help. If you have sleep disorders, you can visit the professional at this sleep clinic in Melbourne.

What Is Sleep Apnea? 

Sleep apnea, is also known more specifically as obstructive sleep apnea. It gets its name from how it affects people. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea often stop breathing in the middle of the night. They stop breathing for ten seconds or more. The cause of this is usually an obstruction that blocks air from flowing freely through the person’s airway. 

The obstruction in the airway may also cause most people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea snore at night. Obstructive sleep apnea may become extremely dangerous if it is left untreated. It can have adverse effects on a person’s nervous system because of the lack of oxygen that the person’s body is receiving when they stop breathing. Do not hesitate to get a check by your GP or dentist if you think you have apnea, bruxism or snoring.

How To Know If You Have Sleep Apnea? 

If you have a partner with you in bed as you sleep, they may be able to tell you if they notice anything amiss when it comes to your breathing patterns. However, it may be a little bit more difficult if you live and sleep alone. Since you will be asleep, it may be a little more difficult for you to know right away if you have obstructive sleep apnea or not.  

If you wake up feeling more tired than you did before you fell asleep, have headaches and have difficulties concentrating during the day, you might have obstructive sleep apnea. It is a good idea to see your doctor, to get yourself diagnosed. This is especially true if the symptoms you are feeling disrupt your ability to concentrate and get work done. 

Sleep Apnea Doctors 

With sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, there is more than one doctor that can help a person get treated properly. It is a good idea to visit your general physician first, if you are not sure if you have sleep apnea or not. Once you are able to see your general physician and get a proper diagnosis, they will most likely refer you to an eye, nose and throat doctor about the obstruction in your airway. 

Your general physician may also recommend that you visit a doctor that specializes in nervous system conditions. This type of doctor is a neurologist. They will be able to determine if there may be anything wrong with the nervous system because of the lack of air.  

The team of doctors can help a person deal with sleep apnea by diagnosing the person and helping them find the right treatment options that can help them deal with their obstructive sleep apnea. 

Treatment Options 

What are the different treatment options that can help people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea? Depending on the severity of the obstructive sleep apnea, the sleep apnea doctors can recommend different types of treatment options to patients. Here is a list of the treatment options available to people who have sleep apnea. 

Stress Management And Therapy 

Sleep apnea has been heavily linked to stress and anxiety. Patients who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea are often told by their doctors to also seek treatment for any anxiety issues they have to help manage their stress levels. 

CPAP Machines 

Continues Positive Airflow Pressure machines help a person with sleep apnea regulate their breathing. They will no longer stop breathing because of these helpful machines. CPAP machines are recommended to patients by their doctors to reduce the risk of having nervous system problems caused by the lack of oxygen. 

Mouth Guards 

One of the most straightforward solutions sleep apnea doctors recommend are mouth guards. These are custom-fit mouthguards that help the tissues inside the mouth stay in place as a person sleeps. These mouth guards will help a person get rid of their snoring as well. Consult your dentist about night guards.

Lifestyle Changes 

If the patient is obese, the sleep apnea doctor may recommend them to have lifestyle changes such as losing weight to help them get rid of their sleep apnea.