Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatments (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea also known as OSA is a sleep related breathing disorder. It can be a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep.

OSA can be treated and has some obvious symptoms:

• Loud snoring
• Tired & Lethargic when you awake
• Morning headaches
• Having a difficult time concentrating or focusing
• Waking up regularly to urinate
• Mood swings and irritability
• Sore throat and dry mouth when you wake up
• Gasping and/or choking while you are asleep

You should also be aware of some of the risk factors that are associated with OSA:

• Diabetes and those with high blood pressure
• Smoking and alcohol use
• Other family members with OSA
• Overweight and out of shape

Hawkeye Sleep Center recommends that treatment options be discussed with your sleep specialist or doctor. We work with many of the best physicians in sleep disorders in Eastern Iowa. There are many options that may include:

• CPAP which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. This pressure is delivered via a mask from a small machine that sits next to your bed. The pressurized air keeps the airway open and should allow for uninterrupted sleep and the elimination of snoring.
• Weight Loss and exercise. Often times improving your diet and introducing an exercise routine can greatly decrease the severity of your OSA.
• Dental appliances reposition the lower jaw and are an excellent choice for less severe types of OSA.

If you would like more information or to schedule a meeting to find out the best options if you believe that you may be suffering from OSA, please contact us at Hawkeye Sleep Center today.

How to Determine What Snoring Treatment You Need

If you or someone in your family is snoring on a nightly basis, you should make an effort to discover the root of the problem. Here are some possible causes of snoring, and how you can deal with each.