Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction. While it can lead to daytime drowsiness and lethargy, it can be potentially life threatening if left untreated. Sleep apnea is a condition where the blockage of the airway prevents air from getting into the lungs. This leads to snoring at regular pace and short periods of time where the breathing ceases.
This is followed by sudden attempts to breathe with a loud gasp and snort. Consequently this condition affects the sleep and the person is not well rested. Besides the oxygen levels remain low leading to drowsiness and tiredness. Severe sleep apnea is likely to cause pulmonary hypertension. A large neck or collar size can be one of the causes of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be potentially life threatening since it can cause heart attacks or strokes.
Diagnosis of sleep apnea
- ECG to show arrhythmia during sleep
- Echocardiogram to study the heart functioning
- Thyroid function tests
- Sleep studies
Sleep apnea treatment
Treatment for sleep apnea can range from lifestyle modification, medication to even surgery in some cases. Weight loss and avoiding smoking are some of the changes that may need to be introduced into the lifestyle to prevent episodes of sleep apnea. Obesity
Obesity is a condition where a person has much greater body weight than is healthy. A person is said to be obese when he has a BMI above 30. When there is a BMI of 40 and more, it is morbid obesity. The world statistics show that there has been an alarming rise of nearly 50% in the number of obese adults. Another disturbing trend is the increase in the number of obese adolescents. Obesity occurs due to eating too much food coupled with lack of exercise. Sedentary lifestyle coupled with poor eating habits are most often to blame for obesity. A diet that includes processed foods, trans fat and too much alcohol will make a person overweight. Other factors contributing to obesity are stress, depression, medications, illness and emotional problems. Emotional comfort eating can pile on the weight.
Medical conditions such as Cushings' Syndrome and PCOS can lead to obesity. In some cases, hypothyroidism might be the cause for weight gain. Medications like antidepressants can lead to added weight. Health problems that can arise due to obesity are heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea. Obesity can be tackled by checking if there is any underlying medical condition. When dealing with an obese person, thyroid test and endocrine tests are done. Embark on a weight management program after checking with your health professional or nutritionist. A healthy body weight is a combination of exercise and good nutrition. Extreme diets and fad diets only worsen the condition by leading to yo-yo weight and improper nutrition. Weight that is lost by very low calorie diets is not permanent and has disastrous consequences.
Otolaryngologist
Also known as otorhinolaryngolongists or ENT specialists, otolaryngolongists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the ear, nose and throat. After completing medical school, a one year residency in general surgery is compulsory further followed by four years of residency in otolaryngology. Being specialists in the ENT organs, otolaryngolongists perform the following functions:
- Primarily treat disorders related to ear, nose, and throat.
- Treat conditions like sinus and problems with nasal cavities by either prescribing medicines or performing surgery.
- They treat allergies and help improve the shape and look of the nose (rhinoplasty).
- They treat hearing problems, ear infections, balance disorders of the ears, tinnitus (ear noise), cranial nerve disorder etc.
- They treat conditions like sleep apnea.
- They cure tonsils either through medication or surgery, they treat throat disorders including voice and swallowing disorders.
Modern techniques used in the field of otolaryngology
ENT field has seen a lot of innovations in use of equipments and technology, modern methods have paved avenues for better treatment methods.
- Modern equipments have paved ways for these specialists to perform reconstructive surgeries for nose, jaw, ear and facial areas.
- RAST (radio-allergosorbent-test) is used for curing allergies.
- Technique called the skin endpoint titration is used to cure allergies.
- Endoscope technique is used to treat sinus and other blockages.
- Modern audio logic equipment is used to diagnose and treat hearing problems.
Guide to choose the right otolaryngologist
- Ask your family physician to refer to the right specialist.
- Check if the specialist you have chosen is certified by an authorized board.
- Check if the hospital where your specialist practices has the required infrastructure and modern equipments needed for your treatment.
Bibliography / Reference
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