Sleep Apnea - Tampa, FL
Reclaim Your Rest, and Your Health, with Better Airflow
How Sleep Apnea Disrupts Your Breathing and Your Sleep
If you have the most common form of sleep apnea, known as obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles in your airway can relax to the point of becoming partially or fully blocked. When this happens, your body experiences repeated drops in oxygen, resulting in multiple interruptions to your sleep throughout the night.
Several factors can increase the risk of sleep apnea in Tampa, FL, including obesity, genetics or family history, lifestyle habits such as smoking or alcohol use, a larger neck circumference, jaw structure issues, and an excess of soft tissue in the mouth or throat.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Loud, persistent snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
- Pauses in breathing, often followed by choking sounds
- Excessive daytime sleepiness, even after a full night’s rest
- Morning headaches upon waking
- Dry mouth or sore throat from mouth-breathing
- Restless or disrupted sleep, including frequent insomnia
- Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or “brain fog”
- Moodiness, including irritability, depression, or anxiety
Improve Your Sleep with Our Customized Sleep Apnea Treatment
CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, is a device that delivers a steady stream of air through a mask while you sleep. This gentle pressure keeps your airway open, preventing the collapse that causes obstructive sleep apnea.
By maintaining consistent airflow, CPAP in Tampa, FL, helps eliminate snoring and reduce nighttime breathing interruptions. Many patients experience deeper, more restful sleep and improved daytime alertness with regular use.
Oral appliance therapy uses a custom-made device that fits comfortably in your mouth while you sleep. The appliance shifts your lower jaw or tongue forward to help keep your airway open. This prevents airway blockage and reduces snoring and apnea episodes throughout the night. It’s an effective, noninvasive alternative for patients who prefer not to use a CPAP machine.
Lifestyle changes can significantly improve sleep apnea by addressing common contributing factors. Weight loss, avoiding alcohol before bed, quitting smoking, and improving sleep positions can all reduce airway obstruction.
These adjustments help decrease inflammation and promote muscle relaxation in the throat, which can lead to breathing problems. While not always a complete cure, lifestyle improvements often enhance the effectiveness of other treatments.
Surgical treatment for sleep apnea focuses on correcting physical blockages or structural issues in the airway. Procedures may remove excess tissue, reposition the jaw, or open nasal passages to improve airflow.
Surgery is typically recommended when other solutions, such as CPAP or oral appliances, are not effective. By directly addressing the cause of airway obstruction, surgery can significantly reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of sleep apnea.
How Sleep Apnea Impacts Your Overall Health
Obstructive sleep apnea in Tampa, FL, can vary widely in severity, causing anywhere from a few breathing interruptions each hour to several dozen. Over time, these repeated disruptions can have a significant impact on your overall health.
When sleep apnea goes undiagnosed or untreated, it has been linked to a higher risk of heart complications, metabolic issues, and diabetes. Research also shows increased rates of depression and even higher mortality related to low oxygen levels among those suffering from chronic sleep apnea.