Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can impact almost every facet of your life. As such, sleep apnea treatment is essential. While the condition might not seem like anything more than an annoyance, it could actually be doing an incredible amount of damage to your body. Those who have sleep apnea should carefully consider all of their treatment options if they want to avoid long-term medical issues.
An Overview of Sleep Apnea
This condition occurs when an individual’s air passages become blocked while they are sleeping. The blockage usually occurs near the throat, but it can also take place in the nasal passages. When the individual falls asleep and their respiratory muscles relax, the airways will collapse for short periods of time. That can result in a wide variety of obvious side effects ranging from gagging noises to snoring. A loved one or partner might notice that the individual stops breathing every few seconds as well.
Making unusual noises doesn’t seem like a big deal to most people, but this condition is very dangerous. Any medical issue that closes off the airways is going to result in less oxygen getting to the brain. Over the course of a few months, a patient who has this condition might notice any number of secondary problems. Untreated sleep apnea increases one’s risk of lethargy, obesity, depression, and high blood pressure.
Do I Need to Be Treated?
Sleep apnea is usually the result of a few different variables including one’s weight. Those who are overweight or obese are much more likely to develop this condition. Tobacco products and depressants such as alcohol might play a role as well. At the very least, you should schedule a consultation if think that you might have sleep apnea. Our team will take a close look at your medical history and overall health to get a better idea of what is taking place before deciding whether or not sleep apnea treatment is right for you.
Most sleep apnea treatment options are designed to lessen the side effects of sleep apnea, but our team believes that the root causes need to be addressed as well. For many patients, bariatric surgery is the best treatment option. To learn more about our sleep apnea treatments, schedule an appointment at The Center for Metabolic and Obesity Surgery in Maitland. Contact us today to book your consultation!
