You may need a sleep specialist if you snore loudly most nights, stop breathing or gasp during sleep, or wake up tired even after a full night in bed. These can be signs of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that interrupts breathing during sleep and is linked to high blood pressure and heart rhythm problems.
At Sinus & Snoring Specialists in Austin, TX, Drs. Slaughter, Salvador, and Ojeaga evaluate snoring and sleep apnea with a focus on the nasal airway. Whether you need a sleep study, a closer look at nasal congestion, or a review of treatment options, an evaluation can help you understand what is affecting your sleep. Call (512) 601-0303 to schedule a consultation.
What Does a Sleep Specialist Do?
A sleep medicine specialist has subspecialty training and board certification in sleep medicine. This field is quite unique, as the primary field of medicine that your sleep medicine specialist may have been trained in can vary. Their main field may be internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, neurology, pulmonary medicine, or otolaryngology (ENT), among other fields. This means that although the base knowledge of sleep medicine will be similar for any sleep medicine specialist, their unique perspective on treatment options can be quite different.
What Signs Suggest You Should See a Sleep Specialist?
You should consider seeing a sleep specialist if snoring, breathing changes, or daytime fatigue happen regularly or begin to affect your health. Common signs may include:
- Loud, frequent snoring
- Pauses in breathing, gasping, or choking during sleep
- Daytime sleepiness, even after a full night in bed
- Morning headaches or a dry mouth
- Trouble concentrating, irritability, or mood changes
- High blood pressure that is difficult to control
- A partner who has noticed changes in your breathing at night
- Cardiac arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation
Is Snoring a Reason to See a Sleep Specialist?
Snoring on its own is not always a concern, but it is worth an evaluation when it is persistent or comes with other symptoms. Consider scheduling a visit if your snoring:
- Happens most nights
- Is loud enough to disturb others
- Comes with breathing pauses or gasping
- Leaves you feeling unrested in the morning
- Has gotten worse over time
How Can an ENT Help with Sleep Apnea and Snoring?
To successfully manage snoring and sleep apnea, the nasal airway has to be open and healthy. In some cases, simply correcting nasal congestion will entirely resolve these conditions. In other cases, there are additional factors that will still create snoring and sleep apnea, such as a large tongue.
In these patients, additional treatment with a dental appliance, CPAP, or the Inspire implant may be needed. These treatments are well tolerated and effective when the nasal airway is healthy and open and tend to be ineffective and poorly tolerated if it is not. An ENT can identify the reason why the nasal airway is congested and use medical or surgical therapy to resolve it. Common causes include:
- Deviated septum
- Enlarged turbinates
- Nasal polyps or chronic sinus congestion
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- Large tongue
What Happens During a Sleep Evaluation?
A sleep evaluation usually starts with a conversation about your symptoms and an exam, followed by a sleep test if necessary. Your visit may include:
- A review of your symptoms and sleep history
- An exam of the nose, mouth, and throat
- A home sleep test or in-lab sleep study
- A discussion of results and treatment options
Meet Our Physicians
Double Board-Certified Specialists
At Sinus & Snoring Specialists, our clinic brings together a dedicated Sinus & Nasal Center, Snoring & Sleep Apnea Center, Allergy Testing & Treatment Center, and Ear & Hearing Care services—all under one roof. Sinus & Snoring Specialists works very hard to provide one center that has everything needed for a full evaluation and treatment in one location.
What Sleep Apnea Treatment Options Are Available in Austin, TX?
Treatment depends on what is causing your symptoms, and some patients benefit from a combination of approaches. Depending on your evaluation, options may include:
Schedule a Sleep Apnea Consultation with Drs. Slaughter, Salvador, and Ojeaga
At Sinus & Snoring Specialists in Austin, TX, Drs. Slaughter, Salvador, and Ojeaga can review your sleep study, evaluate your nasal airway, and explain which treatment options fit your symptoms and goals.
Call (512) 601-0303 or schedule a consultation online to get started.