What are the different types of sleep apnea?

There are two main types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is when something in your airway, from the palate and the tongue to the voice box, blocks your airway and causes obstructive events. This restricts your airflow and, therefore, your oxygen while sleeping. The other type is central apnea, where your brain is not sending a stimulus to your lungs to take a breath. As Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors, or ENTs), we see and treat patients mainly with obstructive sleep apnea.

What causes obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea can be caused by an obstruction with your tongue, the soft tissue at the back of your throat, the palate, the epiglottis, or even your tonsils – any of these can block your airway. Excessive relaxation while asleep can lead to obstruction. This can occur as we age and can sometimes present as snoring. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath; then, the body falls back asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor, disruptive sleep. When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death.

Who is most at risk for sleep apnea?

Studies show that in America, up to nearly 10 percent of women and 25 percent of men can be affected by some form of obstructive sleep apnea as is currently defined. Other risk factors include being overweight, diabetic, specific cardiac conditions, and age.

What are some of the warning signs of sleep apnea?

There are a variety of signs to watch out for, including excessive fatigue throughout the day, falling asleep unintentionally, morning headaches, bruxism (clenching your jaw or teeth), and reflux. Others can include a history of hypertension and atrial fibrillation. If you have these symptoms and snore, you should see your healthcare provider, who may refer you to get a sleep study done.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

A polysomnogram diagnoses sleep apnea, or what is more commonly known as a sleep study. This monitors your brain activity, heart rate, oxygen level, respirations in and out of your nose, and the pressure in which the air is moving inside and outside your nose, as well as your chest cavity moving up and down, all while you are sleeping. This can be done at home with testing through Colorado ENT & Allergy or occasionally needs to be done in a sleep laboratory.

How can sleep apnea be treated?

The use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine remains the gold standard in treating sleep apnea; however, there are many patients who cannot tolerate using a CPAP for a variety of reasons. Alternatively, a mandibular oral appliance, which moves your jaw forward, is another non-surgical option. Surgical options can also involve soft tissue surgery depending on your anatomy or possibly implanting a device called Inspire. Inspire is a newer technology that is a hypoglossal nerve stimulator – essentially, it’s a pacemaker for your tongue. While asleep, the Inspire device sends small pulses to your tongue to open the airway and prevent obstructive events.

Why choose Colorado ENT & Allergy?

We have a focus on treating obstructive sleep apnea for all patients that can’t tolerate CPAP. We can do this conservatively with non- surgical options such as Excite OSA or via soft tissue surgery, hyoid suspension, or through hypoglossal nerve stimulator therapy (Inspire). The most important focus is that you understand the severity of the disease and your options for treatment.

Plus as the only recognized Inspire provider of excellence in the Southern Colorado region our team is committed to making sure every implant patient is treated with the best care, and with the best team, in the region.

Inspire® sleep apnea innovation:

If you struggle with CPAP, Inspire® may work for you. Learn how tens of thousands of sleep apnea patients have gone from counting sheep to better sleep.

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Simple & effective sleep apnea system:

The AIRLIFT™ Hyoid Suspension, an advanced procedure offered at Colorado ENT & Allergy, Colorado Springs, is an innovative surgical procedure designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and it is the first new surgical option for this condition in many decades.