Sleep Apnea is a disorder that commonly affects more than 12 million people in the United States. While the exact cause of remains unclear, what’s known is that the site of obstruction in most patients is the soft palate, including the area at the base of the tongue. During the day, muscles in the region... »
Symptoms – Sleep Apnea Signs To Watch For
There are many symptoms sleep apnea that are cause for concern. The most dangerous one is quite often the least able to detect: pulmonary pressures that are transmitted to the right side of the heart. This occurs in prolonged and untreated cases of sleep apnea and can end up turning into severe congestive heart... »
How Successful is Surgery for Children With Sleep Apnea?
For many years the first line of defense for children with sleep apnea and other forms of sleep-disordered breathing has been to remove both their tonsils and adenoids in a procedure known as an adenoidtonsilectomy and follow-up studies normally carried out about six weeks and three months after surgery generally show positive results. However,... »
Tracheostomy Surgery For Sleep Apnea Sufferers
A tracheostomy is a type of surgery used in the treatment of sleep apnea. It is a serious treatment, used as a last resort for people who either haven’t had success with any other types of treatment or whose sleep apnea is severe enough to be life-threatening. This surgery has a high success rate but... »
Should We Have General Sleep Apnea Screening for All Surgical Patients?
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... »