Sleep Apnea Treatment in Coeur d’Alene, ID

Sleep apnea is a common and potentially serious sleep disorder that involves repeated pauses in breathing. There are different types of sleep apnea, including:

• Obstructive sleep apnea: the most common type of sleep apnea. This condition occurs when your throat muscles relax and block your air passages.
• Central sleep apnea: This type of sleep apnea involves abnormalities in the way your brain sends signals to the muscles that control your breathing.
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome: also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, happens when you have obstructive and central sleep apnea at the same time.

Central and obstructive sleep apneas share similar signs and symptoms, which can make it difficult to determine the type you have. Common signs of both types of sleep apnea include:

• Loud, persistent snoring
• Breaks in breathing witnessed by another person
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Excessive daytime sleepiness

Sleep apnea affects more than just the person with the condition. Chronic loud snoring can interfere with your partner’s sleep and disturb others in the house. Dr. Johnson opened Northwest Snoring Center to help people with sleep apnea improve quality of life for themselves and their families.

First, Dr. Johnson reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical exam. If he thinks you have sleep apnea, he may recommend you take a home sleep test. This test involves using a portable device to monitor your sleep in the comfort of your own home.

After your condition is diagnosed, Dr. Johnson recommends the best treatment for you. Traditional sleep apnea treatment typically focuses on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This therapy requires you to wear a sleep mask to bed, which many people find uncomfortable.

Dr. Johnson provides oral appliances as an easy-to-use, effective alternative to CPAP. These form-fitting appliances don’t need electric power, which makes them great for camping, hunting, and traveling. The oral appliances Dr. Johnson uses at Northwest Snoring Center are recommended by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

To learn more about comfortable alternatives to CPAP for treating sleep apnea, call Northwest Snoring Center or book your consultation online today.