Sleep Apnea

Texas Multi-Specialty Group

Pulmonologists, Allergists, & Sleep Medicine Doctors located in Houston, TX & Cypress, TX

Sleep apnea is a common, potentially dangerous disorder where your breathing becomes shallow or repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep. The team at Texas Multi-Specialty Group, is a one-stop-shop for sleep consultations, sleep testing, and treatments for sleep apnea. They offer at-home sleep tests and polysomnography (PSG) sleep test in a private, comfortable sleep center. With locations in Cypress and Houston, Texas, you can get high-quality care at your convenience. Call or schedule your visit online today.

Sleep Apnea Q & A

What are the types of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea comes in three primary forms. The first is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious condition caused by overly relaxed throat muscles.

The second type is central sleep apnea, which happens when communication breaks down between your brain and the muscles that regulate your breathing. The third form, complex sleep apnea syndrome, occurs when you have both OSA and central sleep apnea.

What are the signs of sleep apnea?

Common symptoms of this condition include:

Daytime sleepiness

Snoring
Fatigue
Headaches

It’s also hard to concentrate when you have sleep apnea.

Who is at risk for sleep apnea?

Almost anyone can develop sleep apnea, although men tend to have the condition more often than women.

Being overweight increases your risk. About 50% of people with OSA are overweight or obese. Having large tonsils or adenoids also is a risk factor.

If you’re experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, or have some of these risk factors, the team at Texas Multi-Specialty Group recommends coming in for an evaluation.

How do I know whether I have sleep apnea?

Your sleep specialist at Texas Multi-Specialty Group recommends a sleep study to diagnose sleep apnea. Some sleep studies take place in a sleep center; others you can do at home.

Polysomnography (PSG) test is a sleep study that takes place in a comfortable, private room in a sleep center. As you sleep, the PSG device records your brain waves, heart rate, and breathing. It also charts your eye movements, blood oxygen levels, and leg movements.

Your sleep specialist uses the PSG data to diagnose or rule out sleep disorders such as obstructive and central sleep apnea or related conditions, such as restless leg syndrome.

In other cases, you take a sleep-test device home with you for your sleep test. This is a great option if illness prevents you from staying overnight in a sleep center.

After your results are ready, your sleep specialist goes over them with you. They recommend an appropriate course of treatment to address your sleep apnea and help you sleep better.

How is sleep apnea treated?

Your sleep specialist tailors your treatment to your type of sleep apnea. With OSA, they typically recommend a medical device called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). A CPAP opens your airway by delivering small doses of positive air pressure.

In some cases, your sleep specialist recommends a slightly different machine to address sleep apnea, such as a bilevel positive airway pressure device (BIPAP) or an auto-titrating pressure airway device (APAP). These devices also help you breathe better.

Rely on the sleep medicine experts at Texas Multi-Specialty Group. Call or book a consultation online today.