Sleep Apnea Specialist

Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center

Adult Sleep Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep & Pediatric Neurologist located in San Antonio and New Braunfels

Sleep apnea affects more than 18 million adults in the United States and between 2% and 20% of children may also suffer from the disorder. Sleep apnea not only prevents you from getting the sleep you need, but it may also lead to serious health complications, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. At Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center, the qualified team of sleep specialists helps patients of all ages in the San Antonio area get the restorative sleep they need with effective sleep apnea treatments. To learn more, call one of the offices in Nix Alamo Heights, Shavano Park, or Lockhill-Selma, or book online.

Sleep Apnea Q & A

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition in which you stop breathing throughout the night. There are two main types of the condition:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

This form of sleep apnea accounts for the majority of diagnoses and occurs when the soft tissues in the back of your throat relax to the point where they block your airways.

Central apnea

This form of sleep apnea is far less common than OSA and is caused when your brain doesn’t signal your breathing muscles properly.

While not getting the right amount of restorative sleep each night is certainly bad enough, sleep apnea has been linked to several serious health conditions, including:

High blood pressure
Heart attack and stroke
Abnormal heart rhythms
Type 2 diabetes

To avoid these complications, it’s important that you seek treatment at Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

The symptoms of any sleep disorder are often difficult to pin down because they happen while you sleep. That said, your bedmate or anyone close to your bedroom may report the problem to you as snoring or loud gasping noises are the hallmarks of sleep apnea.

Other indicators that sleep apnea may be present include:

Excessive fatigue during the day
Dry mouth
A headache in the morning
Memory impairment
Frequent urination during the night

The best way to find out whether you’re suffering from sleep apnea is to see one of the sleep specialists at Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center.

How is sleep apnea treated?

When you see a sleep specialist at Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center, they review your health, your symptoms, and your medical history to determine whether you may have sleep apnea. Sleep studies also play a vital role in identifying the problem.

If your sleep specialist diagnoses sleep apnea, they design a treatment program that likely includes a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or an oral appliance. These devices keep your airways open so that you can breathe easier at night.

As well, certain lifestyle changes can go a long way toward improving your sleep apnea, especially losing weight, as well as curbing your alcohol consumption and tobacco use.

For quality care of your sleep apnea, call Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center or use the online scheduler.

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