Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Treatments in Charleston, SC

What Is Sleep Apnea?

relatively common sleep disorder

Sleep apnea is a relatively common sleep disorder that is defined by brief pauses in breathing while sleeping. Sometimes, the pauses can be minutes long, until you choke or cough and continue breathing normally. This can be very restrictive and make getting a good night’s rest very difficult. As you can imagine, it’s hard to get a diagnosis of sleep apnea because it happens when you’re asleep, so you may
go months or even years without realizing that you have sleep apnea.

Why Choose Us?

Board-certified ENT & sinus specialists
State-of-the-art endoscopic technology
In-office minimally invasive options like Balloon Sinuplasty
Comprehensive care plans: diagnosis, surgery, and long-term management
Proven results: 85% success rate with sinus surgery

Types of Sleep Apnea

common forms of Sleep Apnea

1

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The most common form of Sleep Apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which causes an airway to be blocked or pinched during sleep, causing breathing to be labored. This can cause snoring because something is physically blocking the air from passing through the airways. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is more common in patients with an elevated body mass index (BMI), because there are additional pressures on the respiratory system throughout the body.

2

Central Sleep Apnea

Central Sleep Apnea is much more uncommon. This is the type of sleep apnea that occurs because of a neurological dysfunction that causes the brain to not send the proper signals to trigger proper breathing while asleep. It can be caused by a natural neurological dysfunction, or it can even be caused by medication, or as a secondary symptom of a different condition. If your breathing stops while asleep, but there is no snoring or obstruction, it’s possible it’s Central Sleep Apnea.

3

Mixed Sleep Apnea / Complex Sleep Apnea

Sometimes, a patient will have both Central Sleep Apnea and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. In these cases, separate treatments may be needed to treat the Obstructive side of their Sleep Apnea versus their Central Sleep Apnea.

Patient Testimonials

"I hate to leave a "Dr Russell and his staff was Great!" or "He was awesome!" review, except both of those things are true. I felt Dr Russell really listened to my complaint and concerns. "

"Great Dr! He always takes time to explain whatever is going on. I've been a patient of his for about 8 years. Treated for sinusitis, nose polyps, and ear problems. Would never consider going to another ENT. Thanks Dr Russell"

"This is the first time in my life I haven't been to the doctor for a sore throat in over a year. I appreciate Dr. Russel for helping me. I am so glad he is my doctor. What a difference you've made in my life!"

Side Effects of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea, if left untreated, can cause very serious cardiovascular damage and disease. It also interrupts the natural balance of the sleep cycle and makes it very difficult for your brain to actually regenerate you. This leaves you groggy, impaired, and prone to exhaustion-related accidents (car,
machinery, etc.)

If you’re experiencing symptoms of Sleep Apnea, it is very important for you to see a sleep specialist, such as one of the ENT physicians at the Charleston Sinus Center, to find answers and a solution that works for you. If you have sleep apnea and do not treat it, you can cause irreversible damage to your body and require even more dire treatment.