Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects up to 20% of people who carry excess weight. At NY Metro Sleep in the Bronx, New York, double-board-certified sleep medicine specialist Rajendra M. Rampersaud, MD, and his team boast years of experience diagnosing and treating sleep apnea. They can determine your type of sleep apnea and help you sleep better. Call the New York City-based office to request a sleep apnea consultation, or book online today.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea causes you to stop and start breathing multiple times during sleep.

If you stop breathing while sleeping, your brain wakes you up. When you have sleep apnea, this happens dozens of times a night, preventing you from getting the rest your body needs to thrive. 

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Feeling exhausted upon waking up
• Snoring
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Waking up feeling short of breath

As the condition worsens, you might also experience sexual dysfunction or morning headaches.

When should I see a specialist about sleep apnea?

Make an appointment with the NY Metro Sleep team if you have symptoms of sleep apnea, such as loud snoring, unrefreshing sleep, or trouble thinking. That’s especially true if your symptoms last more than a few weeks.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

To diagnose sleep apnea, your NY Metro Sleep provider asks about your symptoms, reviews your medical charts, and has you fill out a questionnaire about your lifestyle. Next, they order a sleep test. They might recommend:

An overnight sleep study (polysomnogram)

An overnight sleep study occurs at a hospital or sleep lab. Before the test, your provider attaches electrodes to your head, arms, legs, and chest. The electrodes monitor your heart rate, brain waves, breathing, blood oxygen levels, and muscle movements during sleep.

Home sleep apnea testing

Home sleep apnea testing monitors your heart rate, breathing, and blood oxygen levels. It isn’t as accurate as a polysomnogram, but it allows you to undergo sleep apnea screening from the comfort of your home. The NY Metro Sleep team might recommend a home sleep apnea test if your symptoms are mild.

The team reviews the results of your sleep test the next day. They develop a custom treatment plan if they confirm you have sleep apnea.

How is sleep apnea treated?

At NY Metro Sleep, the team offers various treatments for sleep apnea. They might recommend:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy
• Medically supervised weight loss
• Surgery to remove excess tissue blocking your airway
• A custom oral appliance to help you breathe during sleep
• Positional therapy to open your airway

The goal of treatment is to help you breathe more clearly and get more restful sleep. 

Call NY Metro Sleep to receive treatment for sleep apnea, or book online today.