Sleep apnea causes your breathing to stop for brief moments while you are asleep. These episodes last for roughly ten seconds, but can frequently occur throughout the night. While sleep apnea can cause snoring, not all patients who snore have sleep apnea. SFENTA can help patients determine the cause of their snoring and offer treatment for patients with snoring or sleep apnea. 

Our Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Lifestyle changes are often recommended as the first treatment approach for obstructive sleep apnea. They include losing weight, exercising more, minimizing alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and using a nasal decongestant and allergy medication.

Inspire Therapy

One recent development for sleep apnea treatment is Inspire® therapy, an FDA-approved medical device that treats sleep apnea while being much less bulky than CPAP. Find out more about our Inspire therapy by clicking the button below.

Inspire procedure

Airlift

The Airlift™ procedure uses an implant beneath the chin to help patients open and stabilize their upper airways. This stops patients from snoring and allows them to sleep through the night peacefully.

Airlift

CPAP

If lifestyle modifications are not sufficient, the most common medical treatment approach is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This machine keeps the airways open to prevent OSA episodes and snoring.

CPAP

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What is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a potentially serious medical condition that is characterized by breathing pauses during sleep. Sufferers can experience 30 to 300 “events” a night that lasts for at least ten seconds each. It is prevalent among overweight people, those with high blood pressure, or a strong family history of the condition. In addition, men, smokers, and individuals with asthma are at an increased risk for OSA.

When breathing intermittently stops during sleep, the blood receives less oxygen and the heart has to work harder. These episodes also disrupt the natural sleep cycle, so you feel tired no matter how much time you’ve spent in bed. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious complications and may increase your risk of a heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.

man laying in bed with a mask on his face

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

  • Breathing pauses during sleep
  • Loud and disruptive snoring
  • Feeling tired during the day
  • Gasping or choking in sleep
  • High blood pressure
  • Morning headaches

About SFENTA

SFENTA’s network of board-certified physicians has been providing comprehensive ENT care to patients throughout South Florida for over 30 years. Our office provides each patient with:

Patient-Centered Care

We offer genuine one-on-one care for patients of all ages.

Continuity of Care

Our goal is to help patients find long-lasting relief from even their most chronic symptoms.

A Network of Highly Trained Physicians

We have over 50 providers within our network, covering the full spectrum of ENT specialties and sub-specialties.

The Security of a Community Staple

With over 30 locations across the area, we’ve made finding quality care easier and more accessible.

Sleep Apnea FAQs

Who can sleep apnea affect?

While sleep apnea can affect anyone, certain factors can increase your risk. This includes:

  • Excess weight
  • Smoking 
  • Age
  • Certain medical conditions
  • Family history

Why do people snore?

Snoring happens when air is unable to flow freely through the back of the mouth and nose. When the airway collapses during sleep, the tongue and upper throat collide with the soft palate and uvula, resulting in vibrations and snoring noises.

How is OSA diagnosed?

If you discover that you snore regularly, it’s important to make an appointment with an ENT to determine if obstructive sleep apnea is the underlying cause of your problem. During your visit, your doctor will examine your nose, mouth, throat, and neck with a scope to look for signs of the condition. If OSA is suspected, a sleep study at home or in a laboratory may be recommended.

With 37 convenient locations across the South Florida area, we’re never far away.

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