Every night millions of Americans struggle to fall asleep and obtain the deep rest necessary to function during work or school. In order to identify the cause of your sleep troubles and recommend treatment, a diagnosis is needed. What is a sleep assessment? With a thorough diagnosis you’re one step closer to finally receiving the rest you need.
What is Sleep Apnea?
A sleep disorder that happens when patients have their breathing obstructed during sleep, OSA can lead to a number of potential health issues, including an elevated risk of heart attack, stroke depression, and high blood pressure. Patients with sleep apnea snore, feel exhausted during the daytime, and may wake up gasping for air or choking.
Why Do People Develop OSA?
There are a number of risk factors for sleep apnea. For one, if you have enlarged tonsils or a large neck. Alcohol consumption may also cause your throat muscles to become overlay relaxed, collapsing and blocking airflow. Other factors include obesity, age (60 and over) and gender (large percentage of sufferers are male). Treating the issue means undergoing a thorough diagnosis, so the doctor can then decide which treatment options will best address the issue.
What Does a Sleep Assessment Involve?
Before diagnosing the issue the doctor may recommend a sleep assessment. The process is simple: you look at a series of questions, if three or more sound familiar then you may be at risk. Then, we may conduct a sleep study to finally assess the cause and severity of your sleep disorder.
Treatment
In many offices you may be prescribed a CPAP machine, which involves wearing a mask attached to a device that forces air through the nose and mouth. The machine is uncomfortable and many people have difficulty sleeping while wearing it. However, we will typically prescribe an oral appliance. The device acts like a nightguard and is worn during sleep. The device simply moves the jaw slightly to open airways.
