Sleep Apnea Treatment for Hagerstown patients

Sleep Better Tonight in Hagerstown with Sleep Apnea Treatments

 
If you or your partner snores, or if you have ever woken up exhausted from the night before, you may suffer from sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea occurs when you stop breathing during periods of sleep, as the cessation of breathing usually occurs because of a blockage in the airway.  With help from Dr. Kirby Scott, you can sleep better tonight in Hagerstown with sleep apnea treatment. 
sleep apnea treatment
Most patients who suffer from sleep apnea Hagerstown and other areas all over the world, will experience a cycle of snoring, apnea and awakening five or more times a night.  Those who suffer from sleep apnea can also suffer from high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and heart disease, which makes it important for you to understand sleep apnea and your options for treatment.
 

Patients in Hagerstown Ask: What are the Causes of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when muscles in the back of your throat relax.  These muscles support the soft palate, the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate, the tonsils and the tongue.  When your muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in.  Breathing will also momentarily stop during muscle relaxation, which may lower the level of oxygen in your blood.
 
Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway.  And when this awakening occurs, it is typically so brief that you will not remember it in the morning.
 

Dr. Scott Shares Simple Techniques to Help Your Improve Your Sleep

One simple technique for alleviating mild sleep apnea is to sleep on your sides and not your back.  You should also avoid alcohol or sedatives before bedtime.  Treatment may also consist of nasal decongestants, inhaled steroid preparations or oral mouth devices that force the jaw forward to prevent the tongue from falling back and constricting the throat. 
 
Depending on your diagnosis, you may require more aggressive forms of treatment.  Through an examination by Dr. Kirby Scott, it can be revealed if nasal allergy, infection, deformity or tonsils and adenoids are the cause to your snoring or sleep apnea. When this is present, Dr. Scott may recommend various treatments, including:
 
  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
  • Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP)
  • Genioglossus and hyoid advancement
 
If Dr. Kirby Scott determines surgery is too risky or unwanted, the patient can sleep with a nasal mask or appliance that delivers air pressure to the throat.  A sleep study, performed at home, can be completed to determine if a patient in Hagerstown has sleep apnea. With a proper diagnosis, Dr. Scott can determine the best treatment plan.