What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder that diminishes sleep quality. A common type of sleep apnea, called obstructive sleep apnea, generally causes loud snoring and impaired breathing without treatment. Fortunately, non-invasive treatments can help restore airflow and help you sleep easier without requiring a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea can cause:

• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Snoring
• Episodes of stopped breathing
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Irritability
• Problems paying attention

Sleep apnea also increases your risk of car accidents and workplace or school errors.

What may increase my risk of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea risk factors include:

• Excess body weight
• Thick neck circumference
• Narrowed airway
• Older age
• Family history of sleep apnea
• Alcohol or sedative use
• Smoking
• Some medical conditions
• Nasal congestion
• Being male

Men are 2-3 times more likely than women to struggle with sleep apnea.

Type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, hormone issues, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women, stroke, and chronic lung diseases also boost your chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea.

How does my provider diagnose sleep apnea?

Diagnosing sleep apnea involves a review of your health history and symptoms, a medical evaluation, and often a sleep study. If you have a sleep apnea diagnosis, your BP Royal Medspa provider can consider you for NightLase treatment.

How is sleep apnea treated with NightLase?

BP Royal Medspa offers NightLase laser technology to improve your breathing and sleep quality. This treatment is an alternative to obtrusive CPAP appliances and uses laser-induced tightening to decrease the severity of snoring. It causes collagen contraction in targeted tissues.

Fotona NightLase technology increases airway size to reduce tissue turbulence. The gentle laser energy heats tissues at the back of your throat, allowing airflow to move more freely.

Additional ways to improve sleep quality include wearing an oral appliance, not smoking, maintaining an ideal body weight, exercising regularly, eating nutritious foods, and avoiding alcohol. Sleep on your side or your stomach instead of your back to reduce snoring and optimize airflow.

If you're experiencing sleep difficulties, schedule a sleep apnea evaluation at BP Royal Medspa by phone or request one online today to determine if you're a candidate for treatment.