WHO SHOULD SEE A SLEEP SPECIALIST?
1.Patients who complain of:
- Interrupted breathing during sleep.
- Daytime Sleepiness and Fatigue.
- Snoring.
- Morning Headaches.
- Restlessness during sleep.
- Irritability, depression, trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, lack of energy.
- Sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking.
- Dry mouth or sore throat after awakening.
- Children complaining of irritability, poor concentration, hyperactivity, or bed wetting.
2.Patients who do not complain about sleep-related problems but belong to the “STOP-BANG” group and have two or more of the following:
- S-snoring.
- T-tiredness.
- O-observed stop breathing .
- P-abnormal blood pressure.
- B-badly obese/increased body mass index (MBI).
- A-age greater than 50.
- N-large neck size (for men and women).
- G-male gender.
3. Patients with common medical condition who fail to respond to unusual treatment should, at least be, considered for a consultation with a sleep medicine specialist. Many people who have obstructive sleep apnea have no sleep complains. Early studies suggest that moderate to severe OSA goes diagnosed up to 93% of women an 82% of men who have it. However, OSA has been identified as a risk factor for many illnesses.
Undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorders are strongly associated with, and often contribute to the following common conditions:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Stoke
- Obesity
- Depression
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Arrhythmias
- Epilepsy
- Mental and Physical Fatigue
- Headaches/Migraines
- Decreased Libido. Erectile Dysfunction
If you have have a patient with any of the above conditions that prove difficult to treat, please consider the possibility that the patient maybe suffering from OSA.
Successful treatment of OSA can make a very significant difference to patients quality and longevity of life.