Sleep Apnea

Thomas J. Purgason, MD, FACP, PA

Internal Medicine located in Arlington, TX

According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 18 million adults in the United States have Sleep Apnea. In Arlington, Texas, friendly internist, Thomas J. Purgason, MD, offers proven-successful treatments for Sleep Apnea to help you get that much-deserved refreshing sleep that can improve your quality of life.

817-200-4429

Sleep Apnea Q & A

What is Sleep Apnea?

With Sleep Apnea, your breathing starts and stops repeatedly during sleep. This disorder often stops you from reaching the beneficial deeper stages of your sleep cycle.

If it isn’t properly treated, Sleep Apnea can lead to an increased risk of life-threatening conditions, like heart disease and stroke.

Sleep Apnea can affect both adults and children. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most prevalent type of Sleep Apnea and involves the temporary relaxation of your throat muscles, such as your soft palate and tongue. This temporary muscle relaxation narrows or closes your airway and inhibits breathing.

When you can’t get sufficient air supply, it can lower the amount of oxygen present in your blood. Your brain detects your breathing difficulty and abruptly wakes you from sleep, so you can open your airway.

What are the symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

If you have Sleep Apnea you might experience a range of symptoms, such as:

Irritability
Poor sleep quality
Insomnia
Dry mouth
Sore throat
Loud snoring
Excessive fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Morning headaches
Waking with shortness of breath

Sleep interruption can occur anywhere from 5 to 30 times an hour or even more and you might not even remember the interruptions.

What causes Sleep Apnea?

There isn’t a definitive cause of Sleep Apnea, but there are a number of risk factors that might be involved, such as:

Aging
Obesity
Smoking
A narrowed airway
Sedatives and alcohol
Allergies and nasal congestion

Sleep Apnea is much more common in men. Call the office today to schedule your appointment.

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