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Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a very common sleep disorder with major clinical and social consequences, often neglected, under diagnosed and under treated.
OSA Questions to ask a bed partner or tape record:
- Is there snoring, loudly or quietly, frequently or infrequently, and lying on the back or side?
- Is there excessive daytime sleepiness?
- Are there episodes during sleep when breathing stops?
- Is there "dry" mouth upon waking?
- Is there excessive urination at night?
- Is there hypertension?
Facts:
· 80 to 90% of patients with OSA are undiagnosed
· When patients are diagnosed with OSA they have, on average, had OSA for 7 years, having seen a family practice physician 17 times, & a specialist 9 times.
· The gold standard for accurate diagnosis of OSA is a polysomnography exam.
Clinical Findings related to OSA:
· Snoring
· Cardiovascular complications
· Renal damage
· Cognitive dysfunction
· Headaches
· Impotence
· Hypertension
· Obesity
· Diabetes
Treatment of OSA:
· Nonsurgical
· Weight Loss
· Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) during sleep
· Position Therapy (avoiding the spine position) when sleeping
· Oral devices (while sleeping) keep mandible & tongue forward
· Surgical
· Surgical or laser excision or uvolopalatopharyngoplasty, or part of the soft palate above the tongue
· Surgical relief of nasal obstruction, tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, mandibular-maxillary surgery and somnoplasty.
Financing:
· Most insurance covers OSA management
Contact us in regards to your coverage.
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