Sleep Apnea

Our Approach

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. People with sleep apnea stop breathing, sometimes hundreds of times a night. Breathing usually starts again after a loud gasp or body jerk.

The sleep specialists at Franciscan Health can diagnose sleep apnea and find a treatment that helps.

Diagnosing and treating sleep apnea

Your doctor may recommend a sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea.

The most common treatment is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. A CPAP gently blows air through a mask that you wear over your nose or mouth while you sleep.

We also perform surgery to remove large tonsils or correct a deviated septum or other issues that can cause sleep apnea. Treatments for less severe sleep apnea can include weight loss, breathing strips or nasal sprays.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can reduce oxygen to vital organs and cause heart rhythm problems. Because people with sleep apnea don't get good sleep, they may experience poor job performance, work-related accidents or car accidents.

If not treated, sleep apnea can cause:

• Abnormal heartbeat
• Enlarged heart muscle
• High blood pressure
• Stroke or heart attack
• Obesity

Risk factors for sleep apnea

There are certain risk factors for sleep apnea, including:

• Obesity
• Large neck or large tonsils
• Blockages in the nose or mouth
• Small jaw with an overbite

Types of sleep apnea

There are two main types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the most common type of sleep apnea. It's caused by a blockage of the passages in the nose or mouth. This blockage occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep.
• Central sleep apnea: This form occurs when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing during sleep. Central sleep apnea may occur after a stroke or in people with heart or lung problems or a brain tumor.

Sleep apnea symptoms

Often, a sleeping partner is the first to notice symptoms of sleep apnea. These symptoms can include:

• Sudden gasping or choking while sleeping
• Snoring
• Fatigue or irritability
• Frequent nighttime awakening
• Dry mouth or sore throat after sleeping
• Forgetfulness and memory problems
• Night sweats
• Headaches
• Bedwetting (in children)