Common Sleep Disorders
Sleep is a very important part of healthy living. Adequate sleep will help you get through the day with more energy and improved cognition, memory and even mood. Janning ENT Center works closely with the Sleep Center of Willmar, LLC staff to evaluate and treat sleep disorders. Our sleep experts will help you find out what it takes to get the best night’s sleep possible!
Common Sleep Disorders
Snoring
Snoring is palatal flutter. In some patients it also involves nasal congestion, but usually it is related to the back of the throat (soft palate, tongue). It is exacerbated by obesity, alcohol, back sleeping, sedatives and narcotics, thyroid disease and many other disorders. Simple snoring is a cosmetic disorder, and we are excited to help give options to treat this. The bed partner will be happy with the results! Other than weight loss, quitting smoking and side sleeping, we have performed several types of procedures on the throat and nose to improve snoring. A dental device (mandibular advancement device) can also be very effective.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a very common disorder in America. It is usually a progression of snoring to include obstruction in the back of the throat. OSA can cause heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, death, dementia and many other disorders. We will discuss work up and treatment options in detail. The most common work up is a sleep study. Some patients may qualify for a home sleep apnea test. There are many treatment options for OSA, but the most successful option is still continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP.
Sleepiness
Sleepiness is often called hypersomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness. This is a very common disorder and can be devastating to your life style. There are many causes of sleepiness (most often insufficient sleep and sleep apnea). Other causes include medications, alcohol use, tobacco, metabolic disorders (hypothyroidism), anemia and many others. At Janning ENT Center, we are very excited to help patients with sleepiness because the improvement in lifestyle is so dramatic! Other than treating the cause of sleepiness, stimulants can be discussed and are very effective for most patients.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy and cataplexy are rare sleep disorders and include sleepiness and (usually) fragmented sleep and frequent wakening during the night. Other symptoms may include hallucinations and total paralysis when falling asleep or waking up. It is a very treatable disorder.
Restless Legs Syndrome
This is not a sleep disorder per se, but it causes fragmented sleep and daytime sleepiness because of disrupted sleep. Restless legs syndrome is the urge to move the legs (sometimes arms), usually at night or in the evening and improves with movement. There are many causes and treatment options, and we would love to have you come in to discuss these with us at Janning ENT Center. Common causes include tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, standing in the cold, antidepressants and others. Treatment includes removing offending agents, warming legs and stretching/massaging them in the evening, adding iron supplement (most patients), and other treatment. Medications for restless legs syndrome can be very effective and help you get a better night’s sleep.
Janning ENT Solutions
Are you having trouble sleeping? Talk with the experts at Janning ENT Center. To get an accurate diagnosis, a sleep study may be performed. Once the results are in, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled to understand the diagnosis, and then one of our specialists will begin developing your unique treatment plan.
Snoring Treatments
There are many treatments for snoring. Lifestyle changes like sleeping on your side instead of you back, losing weight if you are overweight and quitting smoking, among others, will help snoring issues. There are also surgical options. Talk with our team to determine if surgery is right for you.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device, which provides continuous air flow through a mask and pump to keep your airway passage open. For those who don’t want to wear a mask, oral appliances are available as an alternative. There are also surgical options. Talk with our team to determine if surgery is right for you.