Causes Of Sleep Apnea

Causes Of Sleep Apnea

Are you feeling tired even after a long night’s sleep? Do you receive complaints about loud snoring? If so, then you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when your breathing stops and starts repeatedly throughout your sleep. This breathing interruption usually lasts for at least ten seconds and can be problematic leading to complications such as daytime fatigue, drowsy driving, high blood pressure, heart problems, and type 2 diabetes. If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, our neurologist near Stony Brook, Dr. James Bruno can help you get the sleep you need and deserve.

There are three main types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: this is the most common form of sleep apnea which happens when your throat muscles relax while you are sleeping creating a narrow airway. When this occurs you may make a snorting, choking, or a gasping sound.

Central Sleep Apnea: this form of sleep apnea occurs when your brain isn’t transmitting the correct signals to the muscles that control your breathing while you sleep.

Complex Sleep Apnea: this form of sleep apnea is defined by having a combination of both central and obstructive sleep apnea.

No matter what type of sleep apnea you may be suffering from, our neurologist near Stony Brook can diagnose and designate a treatment plan. Depending on the nature of your condition, Dr. James Bruno will conduct a variety of tests including Polysomnography. This will monitor your body functions during sleep to not only distinguish the type of sleep apnea you are suffering from but also the severity.

Common treatment options for sleep apnea include:

  1. Lifestyle changes – Excess weight is a common cause of obstructive sleep apnea.
  2. Continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP) – this a mask that fits over your nose and or mouth and gently blows air into the airway to help keep your airways open.
  3. Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) – this is a small device that is placed in each nostril. It acts as a valve which allows air to go in and when you exhale the air goes through the small holes in the valve. This increases the pressure in your airways to keep it open.
  4. Surgery – This option is used as a last resort if other treatment options are not successful.

How We Can Help

Our neurologist near Stony Brook offers polysomnography to help study and diagnose your sleep disorder. We will examine your brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing while also monitoring eye and leg movements in order to determine the right treatment plan. If you are already being treated for sleep apnea but are not seeing any improvements, our study can help modify your current treatment plan to identify a plan that is right for you. Contact us today to make an appointment so you can get the sleep you deserve.

 

Neurologist near Stony Brook

Summary
Neurology
Service Type
Neurology
Provider Name
Three Village Neurology, Telephone No.1-631-751-0790
Area
Stony Brook
Description
Our neurologist near Stony Brook offers polysomnography to help study and diagnose your sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.