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Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a very serious problem that can severely impede your wellbeing. OSAS can be defined as a breathing disorder in which the sufferer actually stops breathing completely for 10 seconds or more (termed an apnea) for up to five times per hour spent asleep. To ensure that the body gets the oxygen it requires the person asleep is awakened enough to enable the re-commencement of his/ her breathing, after which sleep resumes. Being deprived of deep sleep life-long cardiovascular stress coupled with daily exhaustion has a large negative effect on the sufferers health.

OSAS can be due to an obstruction of a persons airways. When asleep peoples muscles relax, some to the point where, due to a particular set of physical characteristics, an airway is sufficiently reduced in size to allow habitual blocking. One of the commonest causes can be a deviated septum.

The septum is the wall of flesh and bone that separates each nostrils chamber. Whether due to an accident or genetic defect/ similar this part of the body can be altered with modern surgical techniques, if other techniques fail (e.g. nasal strips), to alleviate the nostril blockages. Narrowings of the nasal cavity potentially threaten the draining of the mucus from the sinuses. Infections can result from drastic build-up of waste matter in the nasal cavity, further restricting airflow. Allergic rhinitis, e.g. hay fever, can also obstruct the nasal air passages through tissue swellings.

Electrosurgical probes or lasers can be used by trained surgeons to literally burn enlarged areas of obstructing skin within the nose away, typically an office procedure. This surgery is usually directed at the surface tissue or underlying tissue (sub-mucosa). Recovery of the nose tissue when the surface was operated on tends to take 3 or more weeks. If sub-mucosal surgery was adopted the recovery is generally shorter, at around 10 days maximum.

The cartilage or bone in the nose can be broken and left to set in its new and usually more natural position. If the source of the obstruction was the thickening of nose tissue the moved tissue/ bone often returns to its original position unfortunately.

Surgical scissors or the use of a laser can remove just the flesh around the septum (turbinate excision), or the bone as well (turbinate resection). After this type of surgery a gauze soaked with antibiotics is placed in the nostrils about the surgery area for several days to prevent infection.

Of the potential complications that can occur with surgery such as this, over bleeding may result if the nose is not packed with enough sterile absorptive material. This is generally a potential problem with turbinate resections. Resections of the turbinate can also possibly end with the tissues being irreversibly dried out through too many of the blood supplying vessels having been damaged. General healing of the nose, often involving the accumulation of dried blood blocking the airways, can take longer than expected e.g. 4-6 weeks.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a very serious problem that can severely impede your wellbeing. OSAS can be defined as a breathing disorder in which the sufferer actually stops breathing completely for 10 seconds or more (termed an apnea) for up to five times per hour spent asleep. To ensure that the body gets the oxygen it requires the person asleep is awakened enough to enable the re-commencement of his/ her breathing, after which sleep resumes. Being deprived of deep sleep life-long cardiovascular stress coupled with daily exhaustion has a large negative effect on the sufferers health.

OSAS can be due to an obstruction of a persons airways. When asleep peoples muscles relax, some to the point where, due to a particular set of physical characteristics, an airway is sufficiently reduced in size to allow habitual blocking. One of the commonest causes can be a deviated septum.

The septum is the wall of flesh and bone that separates each nostrils chamber. Whether due to an accident or genetic defect/ similar this part of the body can be altered with modern surgical techniques, if other techniques fail (e.g. nasal strips), to alleviate the nostril blockages. Narrowings of the nasal cavity potentially threaten the draining of the mucus from the sinuses. Infections can result from drastic build-up of waste matter in the nasal cavity, further restricting airflow. Allergic rhinitis, e.g. hay fever, can also obstruct the nasal air passages through tissue swellings.

Electrosurgical probes or lasers can be used by trained surgeons to literally burn enlarged areas of obstructing skin within the nose away, typically an office procedure. This surgery is usually directed at the surface tissue or underlying tissue (sub-mucosa). Recovery of the nose tissue when the surface was operated on tends to take 3 or more weeks. If sub-mucosal surgery was adopted the recovery is generally shorter, at around 10 days maximum.

The cartilage or bone in the nose can be broken and left to set in its new and usually more natural position. If the source of the obstruction was the thickening of nose tissue the moved tissue/ bone often returns to its original position unfortunately.

Surgical scissors or the use of a laser can remove just the flesh around the septum (turbinate excision), or the bone as well (turbinate resection). After this type of surgery a gauze soaked with antibiotics is placed in the nostrils about the surgery area for several days to prevent infection.

Of the potential complications that can occur with surgery such as this, over bleeding may result if the nose is not packed with enough sterile absorptive material. This is generally a potential problem with turbinate resections. Resections of the turbinate can also possibly end with the tissues being irreversibly dried out through too many of the blood supplying vessels having been damaged. General healing of the nose, often involving the accumulation of dried blood blocking the airways, can take longer than expected e.g. 4-6 weeks.

Finding the right surgeon for you can be a challenge in any situation, but finding the right sleep apnea surgeon can be even more challenging since there are so many different procedures and there are no standard operations. I’m asked quite often by people in other states or other countries who they should go see to treat their sleep apnea condition, and over the years, I’ve come up with the following 10 thoughts and tips. These are suggestions that I would offer to a friend or relative in a remote state if they asked for my advice.

In most cases, an ENT surgeon will be the most appropriate person to see, as they are most qualified to perform surgical procedures of the upper airway. By definition, ENTs (otolaryngologists) are trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the soft tissues of the head and neck region. They are the specialists that other doctors call to manage complications of the upper airway. However, there are situations where oro-maxillo-facial surgeons and general plastic surgeons may also play a role.

1. Did you exhaust every other possible option for sleep apnea? Did you try CPAP? How much effort did you put into making sure you gave CPAP a chance to work? Did you consider dental appliances? A good surgeon doesn’t rush into surgery without trying conservative options first.

2. Can you breathe through your nose? Having a stuffy nose can definitely prevent you from benefitting from either CPAP or dental devices. Often, after optimizing nasal breathing via medical or surgical means, people are able to use CPAP or dental devices more effectively.

3. Make sure the surgeon is confident to a reasonable degree where your obstruction is happening. Performing major surgery to “see what happens” is not a reason to do surgery. There are three major areas: the nose, the soft palate and the tongue. The surgeon must be comfortable operating in all three areas. How thoroughly do they examine your upper airway? Do they look with the fiberoptic camera with you sitting up and lying flat? Do they look for movement of the space behind the tongue by having you thrust your lower jaw forward?

4. Can they give you their success rates and complication rates? What is their definition of success? What are their long-term success rates? Compare this with current success rates for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which has published success rates around 40%. Multilevel surgery approaches around 75 to 80%.

Can they honestly give you their complication rates? If they have no complications whatsoever, I’d be suspicious. Are they prepared to handle anything that may arise? Ask what his or her last complication was and how it was managed. It may seem counterintuitive, but if they don’t have any experience managing complications, you don’t want to be the first one.

5. Do they have a plan in case the surgery doesn’t work as planned? If the post-op sleep study shows less than a significant drop in the AHI score, what are your options? This should be discussed before your initial surgery. Do you stop there, or do you go back and do more (if there’s an obvious area to address), or do you go back to CPAP? Is a referral to an oro-maxillofacial surgeon an option?

6. Don’t focus too much on volume of cases. What’s important is how well it’s done and the appropriate location of the procedure, rather than total number of cases performed. Thousands of UPPPs alone are performed every year by surgeons with only a 40% success rate. If this is the only operation that’s offered, without a plan to address the tongue either simultaneously or at a later point, then your chances of success is no better than 40%.

7. Do they use the Friedman staging system? This is a simple screening tool where by looking at the size of your tonsils and your tongue position, you can predict whether or not a UPPP alone can have an 80% chance of success. Most people will fall into the “unfavorable” category, but if you meet the “favorable” criteria, a UPPP alone may be a good option, as long as you understand that there’s still about a 20% chance of failure.

8. How comfortable are they performing tongue base procedures? Do they have experience with multiple procedures or are they very good at just one? Are they able to perform any of the minimally invasive tongue base procedures in addition to the standard techniques?

9. How well do they work with your sleep doctor and/or dentist to coordinate your care? Is he or she willing to combine multiple treatment options if necessary? Sometimes dental devices or surgery can make CPAP more tolerable by lowering the necessary pressure.

10. Do you trust your surgeon? You must be comfortable and have a good rapport before you undergo any invasive procedure. Get second or third opinions. No matter how technically skilled the surgeon is, if there’s no bedside manner or if the staff is rude, it will eventually show in the quality of your care. As with any doctor, the focus must be on you as a whole person, rather than an isolated surgical procedure.

As you can see there’s no one best solution for treating sleep apnea. There are general recommended guidelines and conservative options must be tried before surgery, but even with surgery, many different paths can be taken, since every patient is different with individual needs. If you’re considering surgery, find someone that you’re comfortable with, and develop a good relationship with that surgeon.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by an obstruction of your airways during sleep. What tends to be the reason for the restriction in the air flow is either naturally small air passages or more collapsible and floppy tissues making up and surrounding these passages.

Ideally people undergoing surgery to reduce sleep apnea should be below 60 years of age, not overweight, have a moderate to mild OSA severity (i.e. a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of less than 30) and have an oropharyngeal (easier to operate regions of the palate, tonsils or uvula) instead of hypopharyngeal obstruction (more difficult to treat region of the head centered around the tongue base and hypopharyngeal structures).

Two (from a range of surgical treatment options) significant surgical sleep apnea operations are now detailed.

Nasal surgery

OSA sufferers commonly complain of obstructions within their own nose airways. Blockages may be from a collapsed or very narrow nasal valve. Surgery on the nose has been found to be very successful at furthering breathing, decreasing the turbinate size, enlarging the nasal valve or correcting deviations in the septum.

Mid to high severity OSA sufferers have been found to require more than nose surgery to alleviate their breathing problems. Nasal surgery can often be done to aid someone’s used of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

Taking around one hour to complete, nasal surgery is conducted under general anaesthesia. When the patient awakens only a slight discomfort tends to be felt, easily controlled with a few medications over a couple of days. Sometimes modified areas require structural support in the form of small pieces of sponge that are placed deep inside temporarily. Although potentially slightly uncomfortable and requiring removal at a later date, this method is not always required or used.

Rare infections or heavy bleeding have been the commonest of possible associated complications.

Radiofrequency surgery

Radiowaves are used to decrease the volume of soft tissues in the nasal turbinates, tongue or soft palate. This surgical technique is accurate and uses temperatures of 60-90 degrees celcius, limited to the are being operated on.

Local anaesthetics are injected into the areas to be modified, treatment probes that release the high energy radiowaves then getting inserted where the tissue requires reduction. Only small levels of discomfort are generally experienced during and after this procedure.

Healing tends to take 1-3 weeks. Scar tissue that then ensues actually shrinks the tissue which helps enlarge the airways.

Nasal turbinates are operated on in around 15 minutes. After the operation people are generally able to immediately resume their normal activities without any hindrance’s. A low level of nasal stiffening is all that may be felt for 3-5 days after the surgery.

Reducing the volume of the tongue tends to take around 20 minutes, again involving low levels of discomfort. Complications that have been known to occur are infections and strong swellings. Since these complications are increased with time spent receiving radiotherapy multiple sessions of treatments are generally conducted.

Soft palate reduction is largely only beneficial to people suffering from low to mid levels of sleep apnea. Radiowaves stiffen the problem tissue therefore enlarging the airways. Local anaesthesia via injection is used, the operation takes on average 10 minutes to complete with minimal discomfort. After the operation the patient tends to be able to engage in all their usual activities. For around 2-3 days swallowing and sleeping may be slightly more difficult than usual since the swelling of the soft palate will at first be a noticeable obstruction.

People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (experiencing repeated cessation of breathing during sleep) are at greater risk from surgery. For example, it is well known that surgical patients with obstructive sleep apnea often present difficulties with intubation in advance of surgery, run a higher risk of complications during and particularly after surgery, more often require admission to intensive care and frequently stay longer in hospital.The problem however is that in very many cases patients are not known to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea at the time of surgery and indeed it is only when complications arise as a result of their surgery that their condition comes to light and by then of course it is too late. So what can be done?The problem of course is that many people suffer from sleep apnea without even being aware of it and, although hospitals do screen patients for a variety of conditions, surgical patients are not routinely screened for sleep apnea because the only reliable way to diagnose it is using an overnight sleep study, which is far too time consuming and, of course, too expensive.The answer may however lie in a simple new questionnaire devised by a team of Canadian anesthesiologists.The four question form to be completed by surgical patients simply asks whether they snore loudly, they are tired and sleepy during the day, they have every had anybody witness the fact that they stop breathing during sleep and they are being (or have been) treated for high blood pressure. The answers to these questions are then taken together with other routinely collected information such as the patients gender, age and body mass index and an assessment is made about whether or not the patient is likely to pose a risk for surgery.In the case of high risk patients anesthesiologists can then not only select appropriate anesthetic techniques, but they can also ensure that the necessary equipment is to hand in the operating theater to cope with possible complications.Only time will tell how effective this new idea will work but, if the questionnaire proves successful it will certainly save hospitals a lot of time and money and patients a good deal of unnecessary suffering.

Soft palette revision is a type of surgical treatment that is sometimes used to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is very personal. Each person has several of their own factors that lead up to OSA. The reasons vary greatly, but there seems to be a cure for almost every cause.
People suffering from sleep apnea have many treatment options available which include invasive and non-invasive options. The challenge is finding the right treatment. Each one needs to address factors contributing to a person’s individual disorder.
Soft palate surgeries are becoming very popular and can help tremendously. After healing from soft palate revisions targeting sleep apnea, external appliance use such as CPAP or mouth guards may be unnecessary for many people.
The soft palette contributes to OSA in numerous people. When a person breathes, the uvula and soft palate gently vibrate. In OSA, they do so to a much higher degree causing loud snoring.
Sometimes the reason for the snoring is because the soft palate is too big due to anatomy. Other times tissue becomes big from excessive vibrating which causes “trauma” and swelling.
When the soft palate is over sized, it can partially or completely block the airway. This results in OSA. The treatment options for this particular cause of OSA are often surgical in nature, the most popular being surgeries to reduce the size of the soft palette. Soft palate revisions for sleep apnea seem to have good outcomes when they are performed on patients that actually need it.
LAUP – Laser assisted Uvulopalatoplasty, removes extra tissue from the uvula and soft palate with a laser over the course of several appointments until snoring has been decreased or no more tissue can be removed. This can be done in most offices under a local anesthesia.
Somnoplasty has basically the same outcome, removal of extra tissue, as LAUP, but radio frequency reduction methods are used instead of lasers. The tissue is burned away, by high radio frequencies, then the body absorbs to dead tissue over time. This procedure can be done several times until the desired outcome has been achieved or no more tissue can be safely removed. Patients report this method is less painful than LAUP.
Other soft palate revisions used for sleep apnea are the palate stiffening procedures. Some of these surgeries involve creating scar tissue that will function as rigid splints. Another stiffening surgery uses implants to create firmness of the soft palate which should keep it from collapsing during sleep. The implants are synthetic fibers that are placed midline to, and parallel to the midline of, the soft palate.
Three implant are inserted with a hollow needle under a local anesthesia. They can be removed with relative ease if necessary.
Soft palate revisions used for treatment of sleep apnea are minor surgeries and are mostly effective. In cases where they haven’t been successful in alleviating sleep apnea symptoms, it has been either because there have been other causes along with the oversized soft palate or the soft palate hasn’t been the reason for the obstruction.
The importance of a good investigative doctor well experienced in sleep apnea cannot be stressed enough when considering body altering surgeries involving the mouth and airway.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is an illness that many people fail to recognize until after the symptoms have caused grief to the family and employers. In fact, the spouse is often the first one to realize that there may be a physical reason for the odd behaviors and symptoms of someone suffering from sleep apnea (OSA).

Someone suffering from this sleep disorder will often snore very loudly. The snoring may be so loud, in fact, that his or her partner gets little sleep. Someone with OSA will also appear to stop breathing for a second or two during sleep, which looks like they’re temporarily holding their breath. The subsequent lack of oxygen causes them to be startled awake, but often they are completely unaware that they wake up many times during the night. Since the individual usually drops back to sleep almost immediately, and then begins snoring again, partners often believes they are the only ones missing sleep. This can be a severe strain on the relationship, especially if the person with OSA refuses to seek treatment.

It may look as though an individual with this sleep disorder is getting lots of sleep, so it seems strange to others if the individual has difficulty staying awake during the daytime, even dropping off to sleep at inappropriate times. They may have difficulty concentrating, and appear depressed. Because they really aren’t getting quality sleep during the night, they may also have a reduced interest in sex, and other personality changes can also occur. Some of these symptoms are similar to common mental health disorders, and others are seen by friends and coworkers as symptoms of laziness or sloth. This judgement can add to the individual’s stress, and can make relationship problems even worse.

If someone you know who suffers from these symptoms, it would be wise to encourage them to see their doctor. The snoring and obstructed breathing during sleep usually have a physical cause, which may vary from one individual to another. There may be an obstruction in the upper airway due to excess tissue caused by obesity, or the tonsils or tongue may be too large. In addition, the airway muscles are usually relaxed or collapse during sleep.

Some of the causes of sleep apnea are also associated with other life-threatening conditions. A proper diagnosis is important, because if the individual goes without treatment he or she will have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, and other forms of heart disease. In addition to the physical risks of this sleep disorder, relationships with families, friends and employers may continue to suffer. Productivity at work will go down because the individual is so abnormally sleepy, and it can become dangerous to work with heavy equipment or drive an automobile.

There are a number of ways that obstructive sleep apnea can be treated, including the use of a C-PAP (continous positive airway pressure) machine. This machine has a nose mask that is worn during sleep. The C-PAP machine keeps air blowing into the nose, which will keep the airway open. If obesity is a causitive factor in sleep apnea, as it often is, the patient will be advised to slim down. Weight loss is almost always accompanied by a complete cessation of sleep apnea symptoms, and for this reason some obese OSA patients are opting for gastric bypass surgery.

Because sleep apnea may be caused by a variety of factors, and because the symptoms could also be caused by sleep disorders other then OSA, a diagnosis by a qualified professional is needed before treatment can begin. Your doctor will usually prescribe a sleep test, which is done by a specialized clinic. This test is usually covered by medical insurance, but it is always a good idea to call your insurance carrier to see if they require you to visit a clinic that is contracted with them. The results of the sleep test will tell your doctor if any form or respiratory equipment is required, or if surgery is indicated. Experimental treatments, such as the Radio Frequency Procedure developed by Stanford University, will probably not be covered by your insurance.

Do you snore, or do you sleep with someone who snores so loudly that you can’t get any sleep? It’s time to see a doctor to find out if sleep apnea is to blame.

Your snoring can be more than an annoyance to your partner. It can also be a sign of a serious sleep disorder that can have long terms effects on your health. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when the upper airway becomes obstructed by a narrowing of the respiratory passages.
It can disrupt your breathing and unknowingly wake you up countless times during the night. Consequently, you won’t get the deep sleep that you need to function well when awake. In this article, we’ll detail the symptoms of this disorder and your apnea treatment options.
The most common complaints associated with obstructive sleep apnea are loud snoring, disrupted sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Patients with apnea suffer from fragmented sleep and may develop cardiovascular abnormalities because of the repetitive cycles of snoring, airway collapse and waking up.
Although most patients are overweight and have a short, thick neck, some are of normal weight but have a small, receding jaw. Because many patients are not aware of their heavy snoring and nocturnal arousals, this nocturnal sleep problem may remain undiagnosed.
Sleep apnea can come with other health conditions. Cardiovascular disease is common in patients. Hypertension and obesity increase the risk of cardiac disease and are frequent findings in patients with this type of disorder. Patients with apnea who are smokers may also have coronary artery disease and obstructive airway disease.
Psychosocial problems are common in patients who have apnea. These patients often have depression, mood changes, poor memory, irritability and impaired concentration. Nocturnal panic attacks have also been associated with this type of disorder.
Sleep medicine isn’t enough to treat apnea. Specialists usually recommend weight loss, and dental devices that modify the position of the tongue or jaw. Some doctors may prescribe the use of a CPAP mask. With this method, straps hold the mask firmly over the nose and the CPAP machine that generates the positive airway pressure sits on a table next to the bed.
CPAP treatment is used in most patients who have apnea. Jaw surgery is the most invasive surgical procedure used to treat this malady. The surgical procedure may be limited to pulling the tongue forward. An extensive procedure may entail moving both the mandible and maxilla. Extensive jaw surgery has a higher complication rate and a longer recovery time.
Sleepiness during the day is perhaps the least worrisome of all the side effects. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, anxiety disorders, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and heart disease. The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe but it’s best to consult a clinic as soon as possible for the appropriate apnea treatment.

Getting a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea scares a lot of people. They wonder how they will ever sleep with peace of mind, but getting good sleep isn’t as hard as you think. There are many things you can do to improve your sleep.

One tip doctors give patients is to raise the head of the bed to help prevent the tongue from falling back and blocking the airway. An adjustable bed helps sleep apnea sufferers get quality sleep by readjusting the airway naturally.

In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway collapses and/or gets blocked by the tongue. Lying flat promotes the collapse in sleep apnea sufferers. The tissues gets pulled to the lowest point by gravity. This narrows the airway or completely cuts off airflow through the passages. The apnea patient’s body then must arouse itself to reestablish breathing. Raising the head of the bed allows gravity to work in a positive manner and will help keep the tongue and airway in an open position.

Overweight people tend to have more issues sleeping due to painful pressure points and airway compromise. The tissues in and around the neck gain weight just like the rest of the body. This weight gain makes the airway smaller and harder to breathe through. An adjustable bed can relieve areas of tenderness and increase the airway size by adjusting to a position that is comfortable for the user. The beds are sturdy and most are rated to adjust a weight of up to 650 lbs. Some studies claim that using adjustable beds for sleep apnea have shown positive results.

Adjustable beds are perfect for people who need to keep the head higher than the feet. These beds are automatic, no more hand cranking, and they can also be bought as split units. These units allow both sides of the bed to be adjusted differently. This keeps both people in a relationship happy. They can also be purchased with memory foam mattresses which will increase the comfort level of the user(s).

Most of these beds now take up less room with a wall hugging frame. They are a lighter weight so average people can move the bed if needed. Most of them come in sizes ranging from twin to king. Prices have come down tremendously and are now affordable. Insurance companies sometimes cover the cost of an adjustable bed when sleep apnea is a diagnosis and a doctors prescribes it.

An adjustable bed can be a lifesaver for sleep apnea sufferers. They come in many sizes and are available with several options from massage and heat to split frame and memory foam mattresses. These beds raise the head and increase airway passages by utilizing gravity in a positive manner.

Some insurance companies may cover the cost of adjustable beds for sleep apnea sufferers if a doctor clearly states the need. Check with your doctor to see if he or she believes an adjustable bed will help, and ask your insurance company if they cover the cost partially or in full.

Upon suspecting that you might have sleep apnea it is advisable that you read through your insurance policy to see if you are in any way covered. Costs can reach anything up and beyond $1000 per person. Certain insurance policies only cover specific procedures/ consultations, some policies don’t cover durable medical equipment (the most commonly used devices to treat sleep apnea).
Once having visited your local primary care physician you may be referred to a sleep specialist and also a sleep testing facility. In some cases the physician will order the sleep tests themselves, collecting the results. Testing areas can either be laboratory based, or in the comfort of your own home. Split-night studies do occur in sleep labs. This type of study involves testing for sleep apnea in the first half of the night. If you are found to have the sleeping condition then the second half of the night is spent using methods to treat it.
The range of doctors that can have the required knowledge in sleep science is wide. Suitable practitioners can have specialized in other areas e.g. neurologists, pulmonologists, otolaryngologists, psychiatrists or primary health carers (e.g. family practitioners or interns).
Sleep knowledge could have come from studying sleep medicine via a residency program, training with other sleep specialists, continued medical education (CME) courses, or scientific meetings. Various individuals may have opted for further tests in sleep studies so that they became certified by a well known body, such as the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM). Sleep doctors may therefore hold a lot of degrees meeting the ABSM requirements, e.g. a DO, MD, MB, PhD or PsyD in a related health field. Dentists have even been known to practice sleep apnea research and treatment since they can be called on to fit oral sleep apnea preventing appliances.
When ever you meet with a sleep professional you should still make the effort to enquire about their past experience and qualifications. Ensure you are pleased with their answers to your questions and that you know exactly how they plan to diagnose and treat your potential ailment.
Complete lists of all competent sleep doctors and sleep facilities don’t exist, the ABSM not endorsing any healthcare provider, product or company. A physician, sleep center and laboratory list does exist, produced by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), containing those companies and/ or people that pay their membership fees. You can see the up-to-date list on their website. Do remember that perfectly good practices may not be on the lists, for what ever reason e.g. they are still being approved, or have chosen not to be.
Sleep activity can be measured in tests using devices like electroencephalograms (EEG) which measure brain waves, and electroculograms (EOG) to evaluate eye and chin movements. These two devices monitor the various sleep stages that occur. Electrocardiograms take the heart rate of the patient, recording the rhythm, breathing movements are measured with chest bands. Other monitoring devices look at blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, and leg movements. No degree of pain is typically seen with the use of any of these practices, not single injection needle is used either!
A negative result after testing may simply mean you need further tests to elucidate whether you have sleep apnea or not, particularly if you still display the symptoms (e.g. falling to sleep a lot, even after good nights sleep). Further, more elaborate and sophisticated contraptions may be necessary which aren’t often used in sleep tests.
For further information regarding sleep testing any treatment consult your local doctor or sleep expert.