Sleep Apnea Testing & Treatment in Washington, DC
If you regularly wake up tired despite spending enough time in bed, snore heavily, or have been told that you stop breathing or gasp during sleep, testing can determine whether obstructive sleep apnea is the cause.
Sleep Well DC helps Washington, DC patients take that first step without automatically requiring an overnight stay in a sleep lab. Home sleep apnea testing allows appropriate patients to complete a diagnostic study in their own bed, with the results reviewed by a board-certified physician. Once the cause and severity of your sleep problem are better understood, Dr. Sareeta Gupta can help you determine the appropriate next step.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent breathing disorder that can profoundly impact one's sleep quality and overall health. It manifests as brief interruptions of breathing during sleep caused by a blockage in the airway. These blockages can be attributed to various factors, including the relaxation of throat muscles, the tongue, tonsils, or the soft palate falling backward into the throat.
Diagnosis and Treatment
To accurately diagnose OSA, a polysomnogram or "sleep study" is typically conducted. During this study, a skilled sleep technician monitors brain activity and physiological functions while the patient rests, either at a sleep clinic or in the comfort of their home. Subsequently, a sleep physician carefully evaluates the data collected during the sleep study to diagnose sleep disorders, including OSA.
How Do I Know if I Should Be Tested for Sleep Apnea?
Snoring is one possible warning sign, but it is not the only one. Some people with sleep apnea do not realize anything unusual is happening until a spouse or partner notices pauses in their breathing.
Signs that may warrant a sleep apnea evaluation include:
• Loud or persistent snoring
• Gasping, choking or snorting during sleep
• Witnessed pauses in breathing
• Waking frequently during the night
• Morning headaches
• Dry mouth upon waking
• Feeling tired despite getting what seems like enough sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty concentrating or staying alert
• Irritability or changes in mood
Daytime symptoms matter because sleep apnea is not simply a nighttime breathing problem. Repeated sleep disruption can affect alertness, concentration and reaction time throughout the following day.
You do not need to have every symptom to justify being evaluated.
Sleep Apnea Testing Can Often Be Done at Home
Many patients picture a sleep study as spending the night in a laboratory connected to extensive monitoring equipment. In-lab polysomnography remains an important diagnostic option, but it is not necessary for every patient.
For appropriate adults with suspected obstructive sleep apnea, a home sleep apnea test can collect breathing-related information while you sleep in your own bed.
Sleep Well DC provides a non-intrusive home sleep testing device for patients who are appropriate candidates. After the study is completed, the results are reviewed by a board-certified physician.
That distinction is important: a home sleep study is not simply a consumer sleep tracker or an app estimating how well you slept. It is diagnostic testing that produces data for professional interpretation.
Why Getting a Diagnosis Matters
It can be tempting to treat snoring or poor sleep as an inconvenience, particularly if the symptoms have developed gradually. Obstructive sleep apnea is different from simply having an occasional bad night's sleep.
Repeated airway obstruction can cause blood oxygen levels to fall and repeatedly activate the body's stress response during the night. OSA is also associated with health conditions including high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
There is also a more immediate concern: daytime impairment. Someone who is chronically sleepy may have difficulty maintaining attention and reacting quickly while driving, working or performing other tasks that require sustained concentration.
Testing replaces guesswork with information. It can determine whether sleep apnea is actually present and provide a basis for choosing appropriate treatment.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Facts
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Anything that can narrow your airway, such as obesity, large tonsils, or changes in your hormone levels, can increase your risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
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Congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes are some of the conditions that may increase the risk of OSA.
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Doctors estimate 9.1% of men and 4% of women have sleep apnea. That translates to 18-25 million Americans (1 in every 15) with sleep apnea.
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Possibly, as few as 5% of sleep apnea patients have been diagnosed or have taken a sleep study.
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Approximately 50% of all patients with hypertension or high blood pressure are also afflicted with obstructive sleep apnea.
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Because sleep apnea affects your sleep, it also affects your daytime alertness and performance. Untreated sleep apnea can make it difficult to stay awake, focus your eyes, and react quickly while driving. Studies show that people with untreated sleep apnea have an increased risk of being involved in a fatigue-related motor vehicle crash.
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Snoring doesn't necessarily mean you have a medical condition, but it can sometimes be a sign of a serious sleep disorder, including sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring followed by a few seconds of quiet because of a pause in breathing.
Dr. Gupta's Approach
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale
At Sleep Well DC, our dedicated team, led by Dr. Gupta, specializes in treating obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. This non-invasive approach can significantly improve your sleep quality, making restless nights and disruptive snoring a thing of the past.
Take a short questionnaire to measure your sleepiness with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. You can then upload your results to Dr. Gupta. Our office will contact you to schedule a free 30 minute consultation.