Our Services - Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

General overview of the service:

Many sleep disorders are brain disorders. Central sleep apnea causes interruptions in sleep patterns and prevents people from getting enough sleep. Most people require 7 to 10 hours of sleep per day. The brain regulates sleep and is the only organ known to require or benefit from sleep. Not getting enough sleep can affect your quality of life. Sleep disorders can also be caused by restriction of the upper airway while sleeping. Left untreated, it can also cause serious safety problems and medical issues.

How the service is done:

Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that involves a decrease or complete halt in airflow despite an ongoing effort to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles relax during sleep, causing soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the upper airway. This leads to partial reductions (hypopneas) and complete pauses (apneas) in breathing that last at least 10 seconds during sleep. Most pauses last between 10 and 30 seconds, but some may persist for one minute or longer. This can lead to abrupt reductions in blood oxygen saturation, with oxygen levels falling as much as 40 percent or more in severe cases. The brain responds to the lack of oxygen by alerting the body, causing a brief arousal from sleep that restores normal breathing. This pattern can occur hundreds of times in one night. The result is a fragmented quality of sleep that often produces an excessive level of daytime sleepiness.

What methods are used:

Diagnosing sleep apnea is based on a detailed history from patient and perhaps a significant other who witnesses these events, physical examination and possible a polysomnography or sleep study. People who are at higher risk of OSA include those who are overweight, middle-aged, or smokers. Dr. Friedman will discuss all of these with you and he will most likely refer you to get a sleep study

Follow-Up treatments or next steps:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): CPAP is the standard treatment option for moderate to severe cases of OSA and a good option for mild sleep apnea.
• Oral appliances: An oral appliance is an effective treatment option for people with mild to moderate OSA who either prefer it to CPAP or are unable to successfully comply with CPAP therapy.
• Surgery: Surgery is a treatment option for OSA when noninvasive treatments such as CPAP or oral appliances have been unsuccessful.
• Behavioral changes: Weight loss benefits many people with sleep apnea, and changing from back-sleeping to side-sleeping may help those with mild cases of OSA.
• Over-the-counter remedies: Although some external nasal dilator strips, internal nasal dilators, and lubricant sprays may reduce snoring, there is no evidence that they help treat OSA.
• Position Therapy: A treatment used for patients suffering from mild OSA. Patients are advised to stay off of the back while sleeping and raise the head of the bed to reduce symptoms.

Contact our office:

To find out more about our Sleep Apnea Diagnosis service, visit Dr. Friedman’s office locations at 7545 E Angus Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 and 903 N. Beeline Highway, Suite A, Payson, Arizona 85541, or book an appointment by calling (480) 664-0125 today.