Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatments in Rockwall, Forney & Wylie

How does Lakeside Allergy ENT treat sleep apnea?

Lakeside Allergy ENT is home to the top doctors and specialists in Texas who diagnose and treat all ear, nose, and throat disorders, including snoring and sleep apnea. Our snoring and sleep apnea treatment centers serve patients of all ages at our three convenient locations in Rockwall, and Forney, TX.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below, you may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our board-certified otolaryngologists and sleep specialists will first diagnose your condition and then suggest treatment options, which include non-invasive treatments such as CPAP and surgical options such as the pillar procedure.

Request an appointment with our snoring and sleep apnea doctors today using the form on this page, or learn more about our snoring and sleep apnea treatment options below.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that significantly disrupts your natural sleep rhythm. Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. Each pause (apnea), can last from a few seconds to minutes and may occur 30 times or more each hour. One telltale sign of sleep apnea is chronic snoring that may include audible choking noises or pauses in breathing during sleep.

People with sleep apnea spend more time in light sleep and less time in the deep, restorative sleep that’s needed to feel well rested. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to health problems and other health risks, including high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, weight gain, depression, and a higher incidence of automobile accidents.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. Our sleep apnea doctors and specialists provide many treatments to address the underlying source of the disorder, in addition to improving the accompanying chronic snoring symptoms.

What causes obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea may be caused by a variety of anatomical, health and lifestyle factors, including:

• Having a deviated nasal septum
• Having a large tongue or tongue with poor muscle tone
• Having excess tissue in the soft palate
• Having enlarged tonsils
• Being overweight
• Having nasal allergies
• Having chronic sinusitis
• Smoking
• Consuming alcohol before bed

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

One of the most common signs of obstructive sleep apnea is chronic snoring. However, there are numerous other signs and symptoms that can indicate that you may have this sleep disorder. Evaluation and treatment by a sleep specialist who can offer both sleep apnea treatment as well as chronic snoring treatment is important to finding relief.

Sleep apnea symptoms may include:

• Loud snoring
• Excessive sleepiness or lack of energy throughout the day
• Morning headaches
• Waking up to the sensation of choking or gasping
• Restless sleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth or a sore throat
• Memory loss
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability, depression and mood swings

A bed partner or roommate may be the first to notice the symptoms of sleep apnea, as a person with sleep apnea is often unaware of the signs that are occurring while they are asleep. If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, contact our board-certified sleep doctors for diagnosis and treatment today.

How is sleep apnea treated?

To evaluate a patient for sleep apnea, the board-certified sleep apnea doctors and sleep specialists at Lakeside Allergy ENT may recommend a sleep study (also known as a sleep test) to first diagnose your condition. Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, the sleep specialist may recommend treatments ranging from simple lifestyle changes, sleep devices, minimally invasive procedures or even sleep apnea and snoring surgery, when the condition is severe.

Lifestyle Changes

Simple lifestyle changes may be effective at improving sleep apnea and snoring symptoms. These changes may include:

• Sleeping on your side to prevent airway obstruction
• Propping up the head during sleep
• Losing weight, which can open up the throat and improve sleep apnea symptoms
• Stopping smoking, as it can contribute to increased inflammation and fluid retention
• Avoiding alcohol, sedatives, and sleeping pills because they relax the throat and make airway obstruction worse

Non-Invasive Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

If lifestyle changes are not effective in improving symptoms, there are a number of sleep devices that can help to improve sleep apnea symptoms and reduce snoring. These include:

• CPAP and APAP masks – For moderate to severe sleep apnea treatment, the most common is the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine or an Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) device, both of which help keep your airway open during sleep by pressurized air that goes into your throat.
• Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) – Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is a sleep apnea and snoring treatment that involves using a custom-made mouthpiece that shifts the lower jaw forward and stabilizes the tongue, effectively opening up the airway and reducing the chance of tongue obstruction.