Sleep Apnea Treatments at Florida Sinus and Snoring Specialists
A sleep disorder is a condition that negatively impacts your ability to get consistent, restful sleep. It can be something as simple as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or something more complex such as experiencing abnormal behaviors during sleep.
We often encounter patients who are unaware that their interrupted sleep patterns might be due to a condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is not just about loud snoring or feeling tired during the day; it’s a sleeping disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Imagine trying to sleep while someone intermittently holds a pillow over your face!
Failure to diagnose and properly treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can result in significant health repercussions. This includes the potential for adverse physiological effects, such as heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, workplace errors, vehicular accidents, and even fatal outcomes. It is crucial to recognize the serious implications of not treating OSA to safeguard your overall well-being.
Some of the most common sleep disorders we treat at our sinus and snoring center are:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (interruptions in breathing during sleep due to airway obstruction)
- Allergic rhinitis-induced sleep disturbances (allergies causing nasal congestion leading to disrupted sleep)
- Chronic snoring (often related to nasal blockages or obstructions)
Sleep apnea testing and treatment offered at our center include:
Home Sleep Testing
The first step to a successful medical outcome is comprehensive and thorough testing. With that in mind, we’re proud to offer home sleep testing.
While many doctors order laboratory-based sleep studies, Dr. Mandel uses a different type of diagnostic study. His specialized home sleep testing kits give you all the benefits of laboratory testing from the comfort of your bed.
Our home sleep testing protocol measures airway obstruction (in both your mouth and nasal cavity), electrical activity, and blood oxygen saturation. This allows Dr. Mandel to get a detailed picture of your respiratory and airway function. This data is invaluable in creating your individualized treatment plan.
Minimally Invasive Palatal Stiffening (MIPS)
Minimally Invasive Palatal Stiffening, or MIPS, is a proprietary sleep apnea treatment only available at Florida Sinus and Snoring Specialists.
Dr. Mandel uses a diode laser to stiffen the soft palate. This is non-bone tissue found on the roof of your mouth. It includes the uvula, which, if overextended, can be a cause of obstructive sleep apnea. The procedure is performed under IV sedation, so patient discomfort is minimized as much as possible throughout. It can be completed in as little as 5 minutes, and our patients report minimal post-operative discomfort. That’s right, a lifetime of better sleep can be yours in as little as 5 minutes.
Minimally Invasive Nasal Procedures
Often performed alongside MIPS, our range of Minimally Invasive Nasal Procedures offer you an alternative to traditional sleep apnea treatments or surgeries.
Depending on your anatomy, your obstruction may be caused by a deviated septum, swollen turbinates, narrow sinus passages, and more. No matter what combination of procedures you may need, they are all performed at the same time and take around 15-20 minutes to complete altogether.
Sleep Apnea Information
Also known as sleep-disordered breathing, sleep apnea is a complicated medical issue. This is due in no small part to the number of people affected, the varying types of sleep apnea, and how symptoms present themselves in patients.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea actually refers to a variety of distinct illnesses – OSA, CSA, and CompSAS.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by tissue-related apnea (the medical term for cessation of breathing). It occurs when something physically narrows or completely obstructs your airway.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is caused when your brain fails to send the necessary signals to your respiratory muscles (including the diaphragm). These are the muscles responsible for controlling your breathing during sleep.
Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CompSAS) is the combination of both OSA and CSA. It’s still newly-recognized by the medical community, and as a result, some doctors aren’t convinced it should have its own designation. Instead, many physicians suggest it should be referred to as “treatment-emergent central apnea” – though it’s thought to affect as many as 19 percent of OSA and CSA sufferers of OSA and CSA sufferers.
OSA Signs and Symptoms
Like any illness, obstructive sleep apnea has a range of symptoms. Common OSA symptoms include:
- Daytime Drowsiness
- Headaches
- Fogginess
- Insomnia
- Sudden Mood Changes
- Dry Mouth and Sore Throat upon Waking
- Episodes of Stopped Breathing
- Persistent Snoring
Consequences of OSA
If left untreated, OSA can lead to a variety of other health issues. These can include:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart Disease including Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Central Obesity
Choose Florida Sinus and Snoring Specialists for Freedom from Sleep Apnea
The procedures performed by our Florida Sinus and Snoring Specialists have been proven to eliminate snoring and sleep apnea symptoms in over 90% of our patients. Most of our treatments are the result of Dr. Mandel’s own innovation over the course of three decades; as a double board-certified rhinologist and otolaryngologist, he is considered one of the top specialists in Florida when it comes to snoring, sinus, and allergy-related-issues.
Our sleep clinic has two locations in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale, and Plantation, so you don’t have to travel far to find the best care. All treatments are performed in our own surgical suites, which are certified by the state and meet the highest standards of safety. Call us at (954) 613-8837 or request an appointment online with our qualified sleep specialist today.
