3 Myths About Sleep Apnea

September 15, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea,Snoring — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 12:40 pm

There is so much information floating around the Internet, it’s hard to know what is true and what is false. When beginning your searches about symptoms regarding sleep apnea, you may have run across some scary, but not possibly quite true, information. At Sleep Rehab, our goal is to make you well informed and confident about treating your symptoms. So, let’s bust some myths about Sleep Apnea!

7#K%xYSY9PTjrWRahw

Myth 1: Obesity is the main cause of Sleep Apnea.

Yes, there is a link between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and weight gain, as we wrote about in this blog post. However, there are several factors that can affect your breathing at night and obesity is just one of them. As concluded by the Lost Angeles Sleep Study Institute, “Weight is a factor in developing sleep apnea, as the fatty tissue in the back of the throat can collapse and block the airway as the muscles relax during sleep. However, even a well-conditioned athlete who has a large, muscular neck may have a similar problem. Even a thin person can have sleep apnea if he or she has a narrowed airway or structural abnormalities of the jaw, tonsils or adenoids, septum, tongue and soft palate.”

Myth 2: Snoring means you have Sleep Apnea.

Snoring is a common symptom of Sleep Apnea patients, but just because you snore does not mean that you have Sleep Apnea. Snoring is only a clue that Sleep Apnea may be a possibility. According to the Mayo Clinic, snoring can occur with alcohol consumption, having a narrow nasal airway, a family history of snoring, or being a man (men are more likely to snore than women).

Myth 3: A CPAP machine is the most effective treatment of Sleep Apnea.

A CPAP machine has been a popular treatment for Sleep Apnea patients for decades. It delivers air pressure to keep a person’s airway open. However, there have been issues surrounding the use of a CPAP machine including claustrophobia, dry mouth, skin irritation, and nasal problems. Thankfully, the medical community is always advancing and there are as effective, or even more effective, Sleep Apnea treatments and Sleep Rehab is always on the cutting edge. We offer easy-to-wear oral appliances that are a lot of like a mouthguard and much less intrusive than a CPAP machine.

 

We hope busting these myths about Sleep Apnea puts you on a more clear path to treating your symptoms of sleeplessness and snoring. When you’re ready, make an appointment to see a specialist at Sleep Rehab to get a better night’s sleep.

Weight and Sleep Apnea: Does One Cause the Other?

July 6, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 5:59 pm

Which comes first, weight gain from lack of sleep or Sleep Apnea caused by weight gain? Well, the truth is, it can be both. In fact, it can become a vicious cycle if not treated quickly. You may not be able to sleep well at night due to Sleep Apnea, and the exhaustion you experience from a restless night disrupts a healthy routine. It’s not new knowledge that carrying around extra weight comes with additional medical issues, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be one of them.

Why Weight Gain Causes Sleep Apnea

Over two-thirds of the U.S. population of the United States is now considered overweight or obese, and it’s estimated that three to seven percent of the U.S. population suffers from Sleep Apnea. So, just because you are overweight does not mean you will develop Sleep Apnea, but it does significantly increase your chances if you do have some additional pounds on you.

The reason for this is, that the excess fat that accumulates around the neck area can obstruct breathing, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of Sleep Apnea.

 

Why Sleep Apnea Causes Weight Gain

Not getting an adequate amount of sleep nightly not only makes you less attentive and reactive, but it can cause weight gain. Lack of sleep changes your hormone levels related to your appetite, and in the increase in hunger makes you eat more than you normally would or even need. Not waking up rested can also cause you to put off healthy habits like a morning jog. The last thing anyone wants to do when they are exhausted is go for a long walk.

 

So how do you stop this cycle from becoming worse and worse? Make an appointment for a consultation with our experts at Sleep Rehab. We have the right tools to help you sleep better and feel better.

Can Sleep Apnea Affect My Other Medical Conditions?

February 4, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 12:20 am

A true Sleep Rehab patient story, originally published on YouTube

Mrs. Dillard wasn’t feeling very rested in the morning and was snoring more often than before, as reported by her husband. In addition to some allergies she was experiencing, she went in for a consult with her Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor. The ENT doctor, after a check-up, noticed some irregularities in her current medical condition thus recommending a professional sleep test by Sleep Rehab.  She and her husband both came into the Sleep Rehab office for Mrs. Dillard’s first sleep test, and sure enough, Sleep Apnea was diagnosed.

However, she wasn’t the typical patient that Dr. Fedosky usually sees, because of her lack of the usual symptoms – Mrs. Dillard wasn’t crippling exhausted upon waking, nor was her snoring out-of-control and unbearable. But, her Sleep Apnea was in fact, making her other medical conditions worse and there was no question that it needed to be fixed.

Sleep Apnea can worsen other medical conditions like, but not limited to:

  • Propensity for strokes
  • High blood pressure
  • Arrhythmia of the heart
  • Heart disease

So, by controlling Sleep Apnea, you can also potentially control these other medical conditions, as they can be linked.

We are happy to report that after working with Dr. Fedosky and the Sleep Rehab team, Mrs. Dillard was relieved of her former tiredness and even snoring (which makes for a very happy husband!) and her Sleep Apnea is now controlled.

See the full patient story of Mr. and Mrs. Dillard below! Do you identify with Mrs. Dillard and interested in having a sleep test performed? If you believe you may be experiencing unusual symptoms for Sleep Apnea or looking for a doctor that can help you, contact Dr. Fedosky at Sleep Rehab today.