Best TCM Doctor Treat Sleep Apnea (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)

 Best TCM Doctor Treat Sleep Apnea 

We have four branches:

1) Yong Kang Medical Hall Telok Blangah branch, Tel: 6272 6400, 9663 5600.

2) Eastern Healing TCM Clinic Telok Blangah branch Tel: 69573033 or 8125 5212.

3) Eastern Healing TCM Clinic Clement branch at Tel:6276 6872 or 9299 9168.

4) Eastern Healing TCM Clinic Macpherson branch at Tel:60411055 or 8096 9866.

We do by appointments to reduce waiting time.  Please call for appointments.

Our group of companies has a team of highly skilled and experienced physicians. Most of our physicians are bi-lingual and have many years of clinical experience in the treatment of Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not uncommon, although not many people suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by repetitive collapse of the airway, resulting in low oxygen levels and an elevated blood pressure. Sometimes a patient may experience stoppage in breathing for 10 seconds or longer.  A patients with severe OSA, may stop breathing many times a night. They may experience having to gasp for air during sleep. They may complain of tiredness, poor concentration, daytime sleepiness, poor memory, irritability and frequent urination etc.

Many of these patients may have to wear a nasal mask with a CPAP machine throughout the night to sleep. CPAP is a machine which has a function of giving a continuous positive airway pressure, thus preventing collapse of the airway.  CPAP is an effective treatment for OSA, however, compliance is an issue. 

Sleep apnea is a condition that makes you stop breathing while you’re sleeping.  This happens either because of blockage of your airway (obstructive sleep apnea) or because your brain doesn’t control your breathing as expected (central sleep apnea).

A lack of oxygen activates a survival reflex that wakes you up just enough to resume breathing. While that reflex keeps you alive, it also interrupts your sleep cycle. This prevents restful sleep. It can also put stress on your heart that may be life-threatening if untreated.

 What are the types of sleep apnea?

There are three types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)-- In this condition, the muscles in your throat relax while you’re asleep, causing surrounding tissue to press on your windpipe. This blocks air movement.
• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). With this condition, your brain doesn’t send signals to keep breathing-related muscles working while you sleep.
• Mixed/complex sleep apnea. This type is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea types.
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How common is sleep apnea?

Study estimates that about 1 billion people (between ages 30 to 69) around the world have obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is less common than OSA but it’s not a rare condition.

 Symptoms and Causes

Sleep apnea causes symptoms that affect you at night and during the day.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Waking up repeatedly in the middle of the night
• Breathing pauses while asleep (a sleeping partner may notice this)
• Unusual breathing patterns (fast breathing that gets deeper, then shallower again until breathing stops before starting again)
• Snoring
• Waking up feeling short of breath or like you’re choking
• Daytime fatigue, sleepiness or exhaustion when waking up

Other symptoms you might experience may include:

• Headaches, especially when waking up
• Night sweats
• Mood changes (depression and anxiety)
• Feeling restless at night
• Sexual dysfunction

 What causes sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea happens because of:

• An airflow blockage in your upper airway during sleep
• A problem with how your brain regulates your breathing during sleep

 What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?

Anyone can develop this condition. It affects children and adults. Some common risk factors of sleep apnea include having:

• A biological family history of sleep apnea
• Heart conditions, a stroke or elevated blood pressure
• Large tonsils
• Obesity

Your risk increases as you get older. Males are more likely to receive a diagnosis before age 50.

Also, while you have a higher risk of sleep apnea with obesity, anyone of any body size can develop this condition.

 What are the complications of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea may cause several different complications, many of which are severe or life-threatening. These include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness or “microsleeps” where you fall asleep for very brief periods during the day (dangerous while driving or operating machinery)
• Arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation or left atrial appendage);
• High blood pressure
• Heart damage and heart failure
• Sudden cardiac death

 Diagnosis and Tests

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will diagnose sleep apnea by asking you questions about your symptoms and medical history. If they suspect the condition, they’ll recommend testing to confirm a diagnosis.

 What tests diagnose sleep apnea?

The most common tests for sleep apnea include:

• Polysomnogram --This is an overnight test that involves wearing sensors that monitor your heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels, brain waves and more.
• Home sleep apnea testing. This is the at-home version of a sleep study, but it doesn’t involve brain wave monitoring. There are some limitations to this test; for example, it can’t diagnose central sleep apnea.

What organ does sleep apnea affect?

Sleep apnea isn’t limited to only one organ in your body. In fact, it affects many different body systems. The two most affected include your circulatory system (heart) and nervous system (brain).

 MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How is sleep apnea treated?

A healthcare provider will recommend different treatment options based on the type of sleep apnea and the severity. These may include:

• Using a breathing device like a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine
• Managing any underlying conditions that cause or increase your risk of sleep apnea
• Changing your sleeping position (not on your back) to avoid putting pressure on your airways
• Wearing an oral appliance (mouthpiece) to keep your airway open
• Using a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device to prevent your tongue and upper airway muscles from blocking your airway during sleep
• Taking medications
• Undergoing surgery

 SLEEP APNEA SURGERY

Surgeries on your nose, mouth and throat may help prevent airway blockages during sleep. These surgeries include:

• Jaw surgery-- Different procedures can change the position of your jaw so soft tissue can’t press back on your airway.
• Nasal surgery. One common form of nasal surgery is septoplasty. This straightens the soft tissue in your nose, making it easier for air to travel through your nose and nasal passages.