Sleep apnea is a common yet serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. As defined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) defines it as a condition that warrants prompt medical evaluation.
Its most prevalent form, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when the upper airway is repeatedly blocked, restricting or completely stopping airflow. In contrast, central sleep apnea arises when the brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles controlling breathing.
Both types are sleep disorders that disrupt your natural sleep pattern, potentially interfering with your physical, mental, social, and emotional functioning. Dr. Ahmed offers expert diagnosis and advanced treatment options, ensuring you receive the specialized care needed to overcome sleep apnea and wake refreshed.
Sleep apnea can stem from a variety of factors. For some, it's a result of their physical anatomy, while for others, it's linked to an underlying medical condition.
Your risk for sleep apnea may increase in the following cases.
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea is the first step toward better sleep and health. While some indicators are noticeable to those around you, many are subtle and felt only by you.
Common indicators include:
It's important to note that women may experience sleep apnea symptoms differently. They tend to experience headaches, generalized fatigue, depression, anxiety, and insomnia or sleep disruption.
Symptoms of sleep apnea are different for children as compared to adults. Children may experience:
Children are also more at risk for sleep apnea if they have enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Sleep apnea causes your blood oxygen levels to drop, causing your body and brain to trigger a fight-or-flight response. This, in turn, increases your blood pressure and heart rate and wakes you from sleep so that your upper airway can open.
If left unaddressed, sleep apnea may increase your risk for the following conditions.
Sleep apnea can also cause your body to be in a chronic state of inflammation. During sleep, the cycles of decreased and increased blood oxygen levels can cause inflammation that may contribute to the buildup of plaque in blood vessels (atherosclerosis), which can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Chronic inflammation can also damage the pancreas and lead to type 2 diabetes.
Sleep apnea diagnosis can involve a review of your medical history, a physical exam, and your sleep study results.
Your medical history review will typically include a discussion about:
Your physical exam will involve a check for signs of other conditions that increase your risk for sleep apnea, including obesity, large tonsils, narrowing of the upper airway, or a large neck circumference. Typically, a size greater than 17” for men and 16” for women is considered large.
We may also look at your jaw size and structure, the size and position of your tongue, as well as your lungs, heart, and neurological systems to check for further complications.
A sleep study may be recommended for home or at a sleep center. A sleep study records the number of episodes of “slowed or stopped breathing” and the number of central sleep apnea events detected in an hour. The study also monitors blood oxygen levels and brain and heart activity during sleep.
The results of your sleep study can inform Dr. Ahmed on whether you have mild, moderate, or severe sleep apnea. It can also help determine the type of sleep apnea you have, obstructive versus central sleep apnea.
If you have OSA, your sleep test results will show an increase in breathing muscle activity when muscles try to open an obstructed upper airway.
If you have central sleep apnea, your sleep study results show decreased activity in chest muscles, which can lead to periods of slowed or no breathing. OSA is more common than central sleep apnea.
While snoring and sleep apnea are closely connected, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, anyone who snores loudly, nightly, and has other symptoms, like pauses in breathing at night or daytime sleepiness, should talk to a doctor to rule out sleep apnea.
Dr. Ahmed understands that sleep apnea is a highly individual condition, and effective treatment requires a personalized approach. Treatment options can include:
Dr. Ahmed is a leading provider of Inspire® therapy, an innovative, minimally invasive treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. This small device, implanted during a simple outpatient procedure, works with your natural breathing process. Inspire is an excellent alternative for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea or are experiencing symptoms, prompt evaluation and treatment are crucial to improving the quality of your sleep and reducing health risks.
Dr. Ahmed is dedicated to providing effective, personalized treatment options right here in Maryland, tailored to your specific needs so you can achieve healthier sleep and a better quality of life.
For a consultation with Dr. Ahmed, please give us a call or schedule an appointment online.
Gaithersburg Office
818 W. Diamond Ave, Ste. 120
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: (301) 963-6334
Fax: (301) 869-7204
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10801 Lockwood Drive, #360
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Phone: (301) 593-5200
Fax: (301) 593-7835
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