Sleep Apnea Treatment in Lansdowne, VA

If you are looking for a sleep apnea specialist in the Lansdowne, VA area, then you’ve come to the right place! Sleep apnea is incredibly common, but it can also be incredibly dangerous. If you suspect that you or a loved one suffers from this condition, please seek care at with one of our board certified doctors quickly! Treatment can ease your symptoms and help prevent further, more severe complications such as heart problems.

    • We have an affiliation with Lansdowne, VA based Inova Loudoun Hospital.

    • We pledge to give you our best quality care for sleep disorders, respiratory illness, pulmonary and critical care.

    • We are an affordable option for you and your family, accepting all forms of insurance. We do not refuse treatment for any patient.

    • Our top rated physician, Dr. Aditya Dubey is highly rated by patients throughout the Northern Virginia area.

    • Located 5 minutes away from nearby Lansdowne Town Center Shopping Mall

Getting to Know the Risk Factors and Causes

While everyone is at risk of developing sleep apnea, there are some factors and certain physical traits can enhance this risk.

Risk Factors for Developing Sleep Apnea May Include:

  • Excess Weight
  • Thicker Neck Circumference
  • Narrowed Airways
  • Being Male
  • Being Older
  • Family History
  • Smoking
  • Narcotics Use
  • Strokes
  • Heart Disorders
  • Alcohol Use
  • Sedative or Tranquilizer Use
  • Nasal Congestion

Sleep apnea is categorized as one of three common types:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea – The most common type, caused by relaxed throat muscles
  • medical clinic lansdowne vaCentral Sleep Apnea – The brain is not sending proper signals to muscles that control breathing
  • Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome – Aka treatment-emergent central sleep apnea; obstructive and central sleep apnea combined

How to Recognize Potential Sleep Apnea

One complication in determining which sleep apnea you have is that symptoms of the two main kinds often overlap. However, realizing you have it is the first step in the diagnosis.

Symptoms to watch for include:

  • Dry mouth when you wake
  • Episodes during sleep where you stop breathing
  • Gasping for air during sleep
  • Loud snoring
  • Hypersomnia – excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Insomnia – difficulty staying asleep
  • Irritability
  • Morning Headaches
  • Trouble focusing or paying attention

Sleep Apnea can also lead to other health complications like Daytime Fatigue, High Blood Pressure, Heart Trouble, Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Complications with Medications and Surgeries, Liver Problems, and Sleep-Deprivation in partners. Click here to learn more about the pulmonary disorders and illnesses that come if your sleep apnea is not addressed properly.

Diagnosis

The more information you and/or your partner can provide about symptoms and sleep history will help us recognize the signs of sleep apnea. The most common test is Nocturnal Polysomnography. These take place overnight at the sleep center; patients are hooked to equipment that allows us to track your breathing and other body functions.

The second testing option is Home Sleep Testing. These tests typically measure your airflow, blood oxygen level, breathing patterns, and heart rate. Abnormal results may lead to therapy prescriptions without further testing. Some portable monitoring devices are not 100% accurate, so you may still undergo the polysomnography despite home testing results.

Patients diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea may need to undergo ear, nose, and throat testing to rule out blockages. Patients with Central Sleep Apnea may undergo cardiologist testing or neurologist testing to rule out potential causes.

Treatments

Some cases of only require a few lifestyle changes for relief– e.g., losing weight or quitting smoking. Nasal allergy treatments can also help. When these are not enough, you can be prescribed a therapeutic device which opens blocked airways or undergo surgery.

Therapies

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure – Commonly known as the CPAP machine, this involves a mask that delivers air pressure while you sleep. This pressure keeps your airways open, preventing both snoring and sleep apnea. CPAP is the most common and reliable treatment, but many patients find it uncomfortable or cumbersome. It takes time to become used to the machine; you may need to adjust the tension on the mask’s straps. Masks also come in different styles, so you may find comfort with another style. Whatever the case, do not stop using the machine without speaking to your doctor about any issues.

Airway Pressure Devices – If the CPAP machine proves unsatisfactory, you may need a different device. An Auto-CPAP, for example, adjusts the air pressure while you sleep. A BPAP machine supplies bilevel positive airway pressure, providing more pressure when you inhale and less when you exhale.

Oral Appliances – These are easier to use than a CPAP, though not as reliable. Oral appliances are designed to keep your throat open. Some bring your jaw forward, which can relieve snoring and mild OSA. Dentists offer a variety of these devices that can be attuned to your mouth. You may need to try a few different types to find the right one for your apnea.

Surgeries

When lifestyle changes and therapies fail after a three-month trial, it’s time to consider surgical corrections. Certain jaw structure problems will find this assigned as the first option. Depending on your personal sleep apnea diagnosis, Dr. Dubey will discuss which surgery may best assist you in detail during your consultation appointment.

Potential surgeries include:

  • Tissue Removal
  • Tissue Shrinkage
  • Jaw Repositioning
  • Implants
  • Nerve Stimulation
  • Tracheostomy
  • Tonsil or Adenoid Removal
  • Bariatric Surgery

Your Lansdowne, VA Sleep Apnea Specialists

Every patient is different, and everyone deserves personalized care. Our amazing team at NOVA Pulmonary is here to help answer any of your questions and personalize your treatment plan. If you suspect that you or a loved one suffer from sleep apnea, or if you are having trouble sleeping, please contact our office and set up an appointment!

If you are struggling with sleep or tired during the day that is the first symptom of a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders are a medical condition that can affect sleep patterns at night. Many sleep disorders are adverse to your overall health and general well being. The best way to diagnose a sleep disorder is to have a sleep study. But what is a sleep study? How is it performed? What can it tell you to improve your rest? Here we walk you through all of the important things you need to know about sleep disorders, diagnosis, and treatments.

If you’re reading this, chances are you already suspect something is wrong with your sleep. Have you documented your symptoms and what may be causing your sleep issues? Most people recognize the symptoms during the day (tiredness, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, etc.), but may not be able to pinpoint what is happening at night that could be symptoms of a sleep disorder.

One of the best ways to find out what may be happening before a sleep study is to as your partner. Ask if you snore, move fitfully, if you stop breathing and resume with loud gasps or snorts, or any other sleep pattern that seems unusual. Knowing what happens during sleep helps your provider determine the right sleep study and testing for you.

In addition, starting a sleep diary with bedtimes, how long to fall asleep, hours slept, night wakings, grogginess in the morning, day tiredness, and medication, caffeinated or alcoholic beverages consumed during the day. A diary will help you discuss your sleep symptoms with your doctor.

When you’re ready to discuss your sleep issues, you’ll want to discuss your symptoms with a pulmonary and sleep specialist or ask for a referral from your primary care doctor. Bring and documentation regarding your sleep patterns and issues to these appointments. Depending on the symptoms, your doctor can help decide if a sleep study is right for you.

Previously, you would have to look for a sleep clinic that is close to your home or work and stay overnight. Special technology in our office allows you to take most sleep studies home with you! That is a big advantage because you don’t have to stay overnight at a hospital. The testing is also more accurate of what is going on in your home environment.

At our office you pick up your machine and fill out the paperwork ahead of time. We discuss with you the procedures so that you feel comfortable with all of the equipment.

So what are the different kinds of sleep studies? Depending on the suspected disorder, your symptoms and insurance coverage, your doctor will recommend the sleep study for you.

There are four types of sleep studies:

  • Polysomnogram (PSG). An overnight sleep study that measures a large variety of information including brain activity, eye movements, heart rate, blood pressure, body movements and more. PSGs are the go-to sleep study for almost all sleep disorders including sleep related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, sleep related movement disorders, circadian rhythm disorders, parasomnias, hypersomnia, insomnia, and many more.
  • Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). A MSLT is a sleep study during the day to measure how sleepy you get or to discern whether breathing treatments for your disorder are working properly. MSLT’s follow a polysomnogram and record whether you fall asleep during the test, and if so, which stages of sleep you enter. During a MSLT you are generally given five 20-minute nap opportunities spaced 2 hours apart while a sleep technician monitors your brain activity and eye movements. A MSLT is used to test for narcolepsy.
  • Maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT). A MWT is a daytime sleep study that measures how alert you are during the day and your ability to stay awake. They are usually performed after a PSG and can help determine if your sleepiness is a safety concern. Results of an MWT can be critical if a person’s job involves public transportation or driving for work.
  • Home Sleep Test. For a home sleep test you show up to the clinic during the day and receive a small device with instructions on how to use it. If moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is the most likely cause of your sleep troubles this is an easy test to diagnose the condition.

It will usually take about a week for the doctor to analyze your results. Based on the findings your doctor will determine the sleep disorder and treatment for your disorder.

If sleep apnea is diagonsed, you may need a second sleep study called a CPAP titration. This study uses the same at-home equipment. However, this time the device will determine the positive airway pressure (CPAP) needed while sleeping to eliminate your apnea. Sometimes this study can be done during the first test if apnea has been previously diagnosed.

The treatments depend upon the sleep disorder and the severity of the disorder from the sleep study. With sleep apnea you may either be prescribed a CPAP device, get referred to a dentist for a specially designed oral device. In addition, there are alternative treatments available.

For other disorders such as circadian rhythm disorders and insomnia, often cognitive behavioral therapy is recommended with a clinical psychologist and behavioral sleep medicine specialist.

Other sleep disorders may be treated with medication, lifestyle changes, treating another medical condition that may be causing it, or a combination of treatment types. As there are a variety of sleep disorders, there is also a range of treatment options. Its important to go to a pulmonologist and sleep specialist to determine the best treatments for you.

Read more about Dr. Aditya Dubey and Pulmonary Treatment out of his office near Dulles Airport and Stone Springs Hospital in Sterling Virginia.

Questions? Contact NOVA Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Associates, LLC

Office Locations

NOVA Pulmonary – Dulles
24430 Stone Springs Boulevard
Suite 200
Dulles, VA 20166

NOVA Pulmonary – Lansdowne
19415 Deerfield Avenue
Suite 301
Landsdowne, VA 20176