Sleep Apnea Questions

1. Which doctor do I see for dizzy spells?

   Unfortunately, dizziness can have numerous causes, especially when it is ongoing. It is good that your MRI was normal, which rules out most serious neurological diseases. However, dizziness can also be caused by inner ear disorders, metabolic disorders, medication side effects, blood pressure problems, or anemia (just to name a few)...
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2. What can make sleep apnea get worse?

   Unfortunately, your mother's experience is not too uncommon. The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty procedure by itself has a 40% chance of success, and the main reason why it doesn't work for many people is that tongue collapse wasn't addressed. If you perform multilevel surgery, then success rates can be as high as 80%...
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3. What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

   What you describe is a common symptom of sleep apnea. Snoring, made worse by even slight weight gain, with progression into breathing pauses, is a typical symptom of sleep apnea. Poor sleep can aggravate weight gain, and weight gain aggravates sleep apnea. You don't have to even snore or be overweight to have significant obstructive sleep apnea...
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4. My husband with sleep apnea can't use a mask, what other treatments are available?

   Sleep apnea occurs when a person's breathing stops and starts during sleep, usually from an obstruction in the airway. This means that the brain is not getting enough oxygen during sleep, causing daytime fatigue and headaches. The sleep quality is poor, as the person will wake up alot at night, causing insomnia...
   1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

5. What's the Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

   If you've been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, it's likely your doctor will first suggest fitting you with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, a specially designed nasal mask that blows air directly into your airways...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

6. How Can I Find Out if My Snoring Is Sleep Apnea or Something Else That's Serious?

   Start by asking him or her if your snoring is very loud and erratic; that's the most common clue to what's called obstructive sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea tend to snore loudly and make a characteristic snorting sound, as if they're catching their breath...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

7. How Can I Get My Doctor to Take My Sleep Problems Seriously?

   You've done the right thing by talking to your primary care doctor about your sleep concerns, but, unfortunately, what you've encountered is a common problem. Many primary care doctors, faced with a host of health issues, too quickly dismiss sleep problems. And that forces you to advocate for yourself...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

8. What's Wrong if I Get Poor Sleep but Don't Have Sleep Apnea?

   It sounds like you might have a sleep problem called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), and the good news is that it's very treatable. But you'll need to be proactive and seek treatment from a knowledgeable expert, because many doctors aren't familiar with this disorder.
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

9. FAQ: Can Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) Cause Sleep Problems?

   Yes, people with COPD can have many sleep-related problems. These can range from sleep interruptions and insomnia to severe sleep apnea. Some problems are fairly mild; others require help from a sleep specialist who can perform testing in a sleep lab. There's also sleep-testing equipment available that you can use at home...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

10. Is There a Solution for Insomnia Caused by Waking up to Use the Bathroom?

    Yes, but to find a solution to this sleep problem -- officially known as nocturia -- you'll need to start by identifying and treating the underlying health conditions contributing to it.
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 12 Community Answers

11. Could loud snoring indicate a medical problem?

    Loud snoring can be a sign of a medical disorder or something more benign. It can be caused by any of the following:
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

12. Can you overcome fatigue from medication?

    Many of the medicines that improve heart function and survival in heart failure patients also lower blood pressure. All three of the medicines your mother is taking are often used to treat high blood pressure. In patients with heart failure and a low EF, this can lead to a difficult balancing act...
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13. Are there safe sleep aids for seniors?

    In the treatment of sleep problems, it is always best to first try non-pharmacologic options so there is no danger of side effects. The first step is to adopt standard sleep hygiene techniques that have been shown to be effective. These include, first, maintaining a regular sleep wake cycle, so that...
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

14. Can you get disability for sleep apnea?

    If you are unable to work as a result of your sleep apnea, you may qualify for disability. This type of assistance is need based and therefore a need for assitance must be demonstrated. The application process, although rather complex, can be started by submitting an application to the social security administration...
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15. Does the VA cover sleep apnea?

    Yes, the VA does cover sleep apnea. This includes, diagnosing the disorder and treating the issues. My father personally is under the care of the VA for his sleep apnea and all of his medical issues. He has nothing but glowing recommendations for the VA...
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16. What is the ICD9 code for sleep apnea?

    This is just a medical coding used to diagnose sleep apnea. This is then followed by a 780-799 number which explains which type of apnea you may have. Such as: ICD-9-CM 780.57 is unspecified sleep apnea, ICD-9-CM 780.53 would be hypersomnia with sleep apnea. There is a range of types for apnea and therefore there is a number of codes that can be used...
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17. Does sleep apnea cause headaches?

    There are a variety of symptoms that can be caused by sleep apnea. Generally about half of all individuals with sleep apnea report morning or evening headaches as one of the symptoms. Other symptoms caused by sleep apnea are as follows: excessive sleepiness during the day, waking unrefreshed, lack of...
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18. Is sleep apnea a military disability?

    The simply answer to this question is yes, sleep apnea is a military disability. However, military disabilities are not classified as simple yes or no. Disabilities have rankings based on its affect on your ability to perform military duties as well as whether or not the disability was caused by your enlistment...
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19. What is the VA rating for sleep apnea?

    The Veterans Administration rates different disorders based on the percentage of how it disables them from performing their service duties. Sleep apnea can cause a person to not be able to function properly being sleep deprived, therefore it has a high rating even if it is a mild form of sleep apnea...
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20. Are PTSD and sleep apnea related?

    Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a category which covers a very broad range of symptoms, all of which can be a result of a person undergoing a severely traumatic experience or series of experience. Most often we hear about this disorder in relation to soldiers and warfare, but it can be a result of any significant trauma...
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