Sleep Apnea Treatment Q & A 

What you want is a true certified sleep doctor. A primary care physician can order tests for sleep issues like sleep apnea, but that’s about it. A certified sleep doctor, like a sleep apnea doctor, can provide other tests and rule out many other possible conditions. This type of professional can determine precisely what the issue is and decide what the exact Top treatment should be. These professionals are the most qualified ones to help you manage more complicated issues like sleep apnea.

If you and the doctor both agree that you could have a sleep issue like sleep apnea, then you might benefit a great deal from a sleep study. In these overnight studies, specialized technicians and the doctor will monitor your sleep. They’ll pay attention to your sleep habits, your breathing, and other behaviors as you sleep. A sleep study can reveal a lot about your sleep and your health, and can be used to determine whether you have sleep apnea.

If you do get a sleep study done, then you’ll want the doctor to be able to explain your test results to you and help you understand what the implications are. If the test results indicate that you have sleep apnea, then it’s important for you to understand why and how often you stop breathing as you sleep. You’ll also need to understand how low your oxygen saturation levels become and if it is especially serious. If your case of sleep apnea is mild, then you might be able to manage your sleep apnea from home. If your case is more serious, then you’ll need professional management instead.

This is another excellent and important question! Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) will likely benefit from weight loss, as being overweight is one of the most common risk factors in developing and contributing to sleep apnea. Patients with mild sleep apnea will very likely benefit from professional weight-loss management, so if you have a mild case, ask if the doctor can provide this service or offer you advice.

Some professionals will recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for moderate to severe sleep apnea. This can work for some patients, but not for all. There might be a better option for you if you’re suffering from any facial pain or issues related to your jaw.

Oral appliance therapy is a proven method that could work very well for you! It is a nonsurgical, non-pharmacological option that is approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. With this form of oral therapy, patients will get relief from any facial pain or issues with their jaw that could be affecting their sleep. Patients often experience immediate relief, and within the first week, they experience a reduction of symptoms of 50%. Within just 3 months, patients are 90% symptom-free! We provide this treatment here at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders.

Once you have a good understanding of how severe your sleep apnea is and what the treatment options are, you can choose the method of treatment that’s Top for you and your needs. We will help you with this decision here at our clinic.

There they are: the 5 questions to ask your sleep apnea doctor. We hope you find them useful when you go in for help with your sleep problem. If you’d like to come to Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders, we would be more than happy to speak with you. We have clinic locations in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin. Please see our Appointments page for our locations and contact information, and to book a consultation with us.