Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. While this sometimes occurs because the brain fails to send the proper messages to the body to continue breathing (central sleep apnea) the most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea – where the tongue, soft palate, and throat muscles relax and obstruct the airway during sleep.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
The most common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea is loud snoring. You may also experience headaches, insomnia, and irritability. During the day, people with sleep apnea may find it difficult to stay awake, concentrate, and pay attention. It can lead to quality of life issues as well as danger for the person while driving or on the job.
Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The most common – and most successful – treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. However, use of the machine is not tolerated by many people. Either it is cumbersome and uncomfortable to wear at night or it also keeps them up, interfering with sleep so that it does not actually resolve the problem. In these cases, other treatment options are needed. One such option may be septoplasty.
What Is Septoplasty?
Septoplasty is a minor surgery to repair a deviated septum. A deviated septum happens when the partition between the two nostrils is crooked. This can cause the nasal cavity to be constricted or completely blocked. Taking less than an hour, this outpatient surgery is useful if the patient’s sleep apnea obstruction is caused or partially caused by a deviated septum.
Is Septoplasty Right for Me?
If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea that is caused by a deviated septum and have CPAP intolerance, a septoplasty may help. As with any surgery, you should be a non-smoker in reasonably good health for the best outcome.
If you are suffering from sinus-related health problems and believe you may benefit from nasal septoplasty, the first step is to consult with an ear, nose, and throat expert. Specialists at eos sleep have extensive experience in performing septoplasty surgery. Call 1-212-873-6036 today or fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment or to learn more about eos sleep treatment options.