Sleep Apnea

If loud snoring keeps your household awake at night or you often wake up suddenly in the night gasping for air, it’s time to schedule diagnostic testing for sleep apnea. StatCare offers comprehensive sleep studies to identify the type of sleep apnea you have. The experienced physicians design a treatment plan using lifestyle changes, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and other strategies to improve your quality of sleep. Call the office in Knoxville, Oak Ridge, or Athens, Tennessee, to schedule a sleep apnea evaluation or book an appointment online today. 

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing periodically throughout the night. These pauses in breathing can negatively affect your sleep quality and increase your risk for long-term health complications.

There are three types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much and obstruct the flow of oxygen while you sleep.

Central sleep apnea

Central sleep apnea occurs when there’s dysfunction in the signals from your brain to the muscles that control your breathing.

Complex sleep apnea

Complex sleep apnea occurs when you have a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea-related breathing issues.

Without treatment, sleep apnea can increase your risk for hypertension (high blood pressure), heart problems, Type 2 diabetes, and liver disease. You may also be at an increased risk for injuries due to sleep deprivation.

When should I seek treatment for sleep apnea?

The most notable symptom of sleep apnea is loud snoring. If your partner or loved ones complain about your loud snoring or if you wake up frequently during the night gasping for breath, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at StatCare.

Other warning signs of sleep apnea can include:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Waking with a dry mouth
• Frequent morning headaches
• Difficulties falling or staying asleep

StatCare offers an outpatient sleep clinic to evaluate your breathing when you sleep and confirm the type of sleep apnea you have. Based on diagnostic testing results, the providers customize a treatment plan to improve your breathing and sleep quality.

How is sleep apnea treated?

If your sleep apnea symptoms are mild or occasional, you might be able to manage your condition with lifestyle changes. The StatCare physicians can provide resources that help you lose weight, quit smoking, and improve your sleep habits to ensure a better quality of sleep.

When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, the providers may recommend using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. The CPAP device delivers supplemental oxygen through a facemask you wear while sleeping. 

StatCare also offers bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) machines that supply more oxygen to your lungs but use more pressure when you inhale and less when you exhale.

In some cases, you may need a referral to a dentist to correct the position of your jaw or a surgeon to remove excess tissue from the back of your throat. The StatCare physicians can discuss your options for dental appliances or surgery if other therapies aren’t working well. 

To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for sleep apnea, call the StatCare office near you or book an appointment online today.