If you snore loudly and wake up exhausted, it might not be just a bad night’s sleep; it may be sleep apnea. At Michigan Avenue Primary Care in The Loop of downtown Chicago, Illinois, their team offers effective treatment for sleep apnea. Call the office or request an appointment online today to take the first step toward better, healthier sleep.
Sleep apnea is a type of disorder in which you randomly stop or start breathing as you sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can raise your risk of serious conditions such as:
There are two types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles relax too much, which can close off your trachea (breathing tube). Central sleep apnea occurs when signals from your brain don't properly communicate with the muscles you use to breathe. Rarely, you may have both types of sleep apnea.
Both types of sleep apnea can have similar symptoms. Symptoms may include:
If you have these symptoms, you should see your Michigan Avenue Primary Care provider. A sleep study can help identify if you have sleep apnea and which type of sleep apnea you have. At Michigan Avenue Primary Care, the team may suggest a home sleep study that can diagnose sleep apnea without travel to a sleep center.
The goal of sleep apnea treatment is to improve breathing as you sleep. Treatment may be different depending on what type of sleep apnea you have.
If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you may be able to cure the condition by losing weight or quitting smoking. Excess weight, especially around the neck, can contribute to your throat narrowing or closing as you sleep.
For both obstructive and central sleep apnea, the next treatment option is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. To use this machine, you will wear a mask as you sleep. The machine pumps air through the mask that helps keep your airways open.
If a CPAP does not help you, some surgeries may also help control sleep apnea. However, all surgeries come with risks. You should always talk to your physician before undergoing sleep apnea surgery.
The team at Michigan Avenue Primary Care provides personalized care to ensure you receive the right sleep apnea treatment for you. To learn if you have sleep apnea, call the office or request an appointment online today.