Sleep Apnea and Weight Management

Sleep apnea is a common condition that can have serious consequences if it is left untreated. If you are carrying excess weight, it can put you at greater risk of developing sleep apnea. Your ENT specialist can help. The doctors at Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy Specialists of Northwestern Pennsylvania in Erie, PA, provide a wide range of ENT services, including diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea.

What You Need To Know About Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is caused by the tissue at the back of your airway relaxing and collapsing while you sleep. The slack tissue can partially or totally block your airway, resulting in:

• Chronic, loud snoring
• Waking up with a headache in the morning
• Having a scratchy, dry, sore throat in the morning
• Waking up suddenly with a gasping or choking sensation
• Daytime grogginess, sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating

Excess weight can put you at greater risk of experiencing sleep apnea, so weight management is important to help reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Your ENT specialist can discuss weight management options with you.

Untreated sleep apnea causes a loss of oxygen to your vital organs, increasing your risk of:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Memory impairment

Sleep apnea treatment begins with a sleep test to determine if you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder. If you have sleep apnea, your ENT specialist may recommend a Continuous Positive Air Pressure machine, called a CPAP.

A CPAP machine has a mask that fits over your mouth and nose. The mask is connected to a machine that delivers a continuous flow of oxygen while you sleep.

Your ENT specialist may also recommend Inspire Treatment, If you are unable to handle CPAP, Inspire Treatment places a small implant and is used to help keep the airway open during sleep.

Want To Know More?

To find out more about sleep apnea, and why managing your weight is important in sleep apnea management, call the doctors at Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy Specialists of Northwestern Pennsylvania in Erie, PA. You can reach them in the office by calling (814) 864-9994, so call today.