Title: Sleep Apnea Doctor in Beaver County – Dr. William Hoch
1http//westpennsylvaniasleep.com
WELCOME TO WEST PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE
Have you ever been told that you sometimes stop
breathing while asleep, or that your snoring is
interrupted by pauses, gasps and snorting noises?
Do you wake up in the morning feeling tired,
groggy, and as if you have not slept at all? If
you answered, yes to one or more of these
questions, it is possible that you may have
obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder in which a
person stops breathing multiple times throughout
the night.
2ABOUT OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA
- Have you ever been told that you sometimes stop
breathing while asleep, or that your snoring is
interrupted by pauses, gasps and snorting noises?
These are all signs that you may be suffering
from sleep apnea. This condition can be extremely
disruptive and frustrating to a bed partner, and
can also be quite harmful to your health. - An apnea is the suspension of breathing
- Each stoppage in breath results in drops in
blood oxygen levels - Patients may have dozens to hundreds of apneas
each night - The sleeper is momentarily startled awake, but
may not remember - The bodys nervous system triggers a stress
response to resume breathing after each - apnea event
3SYMPTOMS
- The ongoing release of stress hormones and
repeated instantaneous awakenings throughout the
night rob sleep apnea suffers of the benefits of
restorative rest. Though they are sleep deprived,
many sufferers have no idea how severe their
condition is, and believe they are sleeping
soundly through the night. - There are immediately recognizable effects,
however, which can include - An ongoing sense of listlessness, irritability
or depression - Awakening in the morning with a sort throat or
a headache - Decreased visual acuity
- Experiencing sudden unexplained awakenings
during the night - Nodding off when sitting or driving
- Poor memory or an inability to maintain mental
focus - Poor performance at work or school
4HEALTH RISK
- In addition to these immediate symptoms, sleep
apnea can create long-term health problems, and
increase the risk of developing a number of
conditions. - Cardiovascular disease, including stroke
- Gastric reflux disease
- High blood pressure
- Increased risk for a range of cancers
- Increased weight gain
- Thyroid problems
- Type two diabetes
5ABOUT SNORING
As many as half of adults snore nightly, and
about half of those who snore nightly actually
have obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when
a persons airways are obstructed during sleep,
causing them to make the harsh sounds that many
of us know all too well. Some important facts
about snoring
- Those who are at the most risk for snoring are
males and people who are overweight. - While many men snore, snoring is still a
problem affecting both genders - As people age, the effects of snoring increase
drastically, creating breathing problems - for them during the night
- Snoring may or may not be associated with sleep
apnea, but that its necessary for - health reasons to determine first if a person
has sleep apnea - If you experience benign snoring, which is
snoring without sleep apnea, then the - treatment plan may be different. In any
event, we can still provide relief.
6OSA DIAGNOSIS
- A sleep physician must then interpret the results
of the sleep test, and a doctor will subsequently
prescribe the treatment options. Our team works
closely with local sleep doctors, as well as your
family doctor, to coordinate care if an oral
appliance is necessary. - Our office offers a home sleep study. We instruct
the patient on how to begin the study at the
start of sleep, end the study when awake in the
morning, and then return to us for
interpretation. We also refer cases to a
hospital-based sleep lab. - Once the data is reviewed, you will receive an
apnea/ hypopnea index (AHI) number. - The sleep study will reveal how many times you
experienced hypopnea, which is shallow - breathing, and apnea, the stoppage of breath.
- These two events are examined to create what is
known as the AHI. - Depending on that AHI score, the severity of
your OSA will be determined and relevant - treatment options will be discussed.
7Contact Us
WEST PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE
300 Walnut Place South, Beaver PA,
15009724-774-0383 -or- 888-845-4624
http//westpennsylvaniasleep.com/