Sleep Apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood. There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common and severe. The muscles at the back of the throat relax to the point of obstructing the upper airway. Breathing can actually stop for 10 seconds or more causing mini-awakenings (usually not remembered) several hundred times a night as the sleeper chokes or gasps for air. Loud snoring is common. Though, not everyone who snores has this condition.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs in men and women of all ages, but is more common in men. An estimated 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. See our sleep disorders checklist on our Patient Information page for symptoms. Those most likely to have sleep apnea include those who snore loudly and are overweight, or those with high blood pressure, or those with a physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or other parts of the upper airway.

Central Sleep Apnea is less common and results from a failure of the brain to send proper breathing signals to the muscles of the diaphram and muscles around the lungs.

During sleep, all muscles in the body profoundly relax. The muscles in the throat and the tongue are no exception. OSA can occur during sleep when these muscles become slack and partially block the opening of the upper airway. Obesity, a narrow airway, or certain phycial abnormalities in the nose and throat are likely to severely exaggerate or even cause OSA. Unknown to the person, this results in heavy snoring, periods of no breathing, and frequent arousals (causing abrupt changes from deep sleep to light sleep). Alcohol and sleeping medications often make symptoms of OSA worse.

The specific therapy for sleep apnea is tailored to the individual patient based on medical history, physical examination, and the results of polysomnography. Oxygen is sometimes used in patients with pulmonary disease or central apnea caused by heart failure.

CPAP Therapy - Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard treatment for sleep apnea. In CPAP therapy, the patient wears a mask over the nose during sleep, and pressure from the CPAP inflates the upper airways to prevent them from collapsing and to allow breathing to continue. CPAP therapy has the advantage of causing no surgical changes to the airway and it may be adjusted over time as symptoms of apnea increase or decrease, especially with weight loss. Apnea episodes return when CPAP is stopped or it is used improperly.

Inspire - Inspire is an electro-stimulation device that is implanted in the body. It stimulates the tongue to move and clear space for breathing at night. Patients seeking this treatment are referred to a trained Inspire surgeon for evaluation and possible surgery. Most insurance covers the Inspire device.

Other Therapies - Behavioral changes that result in weight loss can be effective in treating OSA. Also, apnea sufferers should know that alcohol, pain medications and certain sleeping pills can aggrivate apnea by further relaxing airway muscles and worsening apnea. In patients with mild sleep apnea, sometimes avoiding sleeping on the back can alleviate symptoms.

Periodic limb movements in sleep are characterized by uncontrollable movements of legs and even arms during sleep. These movements are often felt as twitches, jerks, or kicks. They tend to cluster into episodes lasting for minutes or even hours.

Symptoms of PLMS - Individuals with PLMS may experience twitches, jerks, or kicks. They may also have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), an irritation or uncomfortable sensation in the calves or thighs when awake, during sleep onset or during awakenings in the night. However, many people with PLMS may not be aware of the symptoms because they are asleep. In fact, bed partners often notice PLMS symptoms more than the one suffering from symptoms. Men and women both experience PLMS with equal frequency, but those over age 65 are much more likely to have the disorder.

Effects of PLMS - PLMS is implicated as a contributing factor in chronic insomnia and/or daytime fatigue because they may cause awakenings during the night. PLMS can decrease the quality of sleep because leg twitches and kicks are often accompanied by arousals from deeper sleep and may be followed by apneas.

While not medically serious, PLMS can negatively effect sleep quality. PLMS responds to several medications. Providers usually only treat PLMS in individuals that also have restless legs (RLS), insomnia or daytime fatigue.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restful sleep, while parasomnias are a group of sleep disorders that involve abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, or dreams that occur during sleep, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, or REM sleep behavior disorder.

OmniSleep specializes in diagnosing and treating both insomnia and parasomnias through a comprehensive approach tailored to each patient's unique needs. Our expert medical team utilizes advanced diagnostic tools and conducts thorough assessments to identify the root causes of sleep disturbances. We offer individualized treatment plans that can include behavioral therapies, lifestyle adjustments, and medication management. Additionally, OmniSleep provides continuous support and follow-up care to ensure patients achieve successful, lasting sleep improvements. Trust OmniSleep to help you regain control of your sleep and improve your overall quality of life.

We do treat and perform medication management for any previously diagnosed narcolepsy patients that are on medication. OmniSleep doesn't provide testing and diagnostic services for narcolepsy. If you or your provider think you have narcolepsy, and you need testing to rule it out (to diagnose it), you should get a referral to either UNMH or Presbyterian Sleep Centers.