Sleep Apnea Specialist

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a fairly common sleep disorder that affects about 18 million people in the United States. In broad terms, sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing throughout the night.

This cessation of breathing can happen dozens of times each hour while you sleep, causing your brain to rouse you each time. The net effect is that you don’t achieve the restorative sleep your body needs.

What are the types of sleep apnea?

There are three different types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea

By far the most common form of the disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles in your throat relax and obstruct your airways.

Central sleep apnea

This form of sleep apnea occurs as a result of improper signaling between your brain and the muscles that control your breathing.

Complex sleep apnea

Also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, this condition is a combination of OSA and central sleep apnea.

What are the risks of sleep apnea?

One main complication from sleep apnea is chronic fatigue, which can severely hamper your ability to perform during the day.

A good night’s sleep is much more than a simple chance to rest. Your body uses this time to restore itself by regenerating cells, regulating hormone levels, and consolidating information in your brain. All of these processes are interrupted when you aren’t sleeping well, and the results are evident in your waking life.

Some of the problems that can occur because of sleep apnea include:

• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular issues
• Type 2 diabetes

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Golden Gate Sleep Centers has state-of-the-art sleep labs that gather critical information while you sleep. If you can't spend the night in one of the sleep labs, rest assured that Dr. Thakkar will work with you to conduct an at-home study.

How is sleep apnea treated?

The treatment you may undergo depends on the specific type of sleep apnea you have. Dr. Thakkar will work with you to devise your treatment plan.

The most common treatment for sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. The CPAP is a mask that you wear while you sleep that delivers enough pressure to keep your airways open throughout the night.

Other types of ventilation or surgical treatment may be necessary to ensure that you breathe continuously throughout the night.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, call Golden Gate Sleep Centers for an evaluation. Or, use the online scheduling tool to request a consultation.