Elliot Sleep Medicine

---

Welcome to Elliot Sleep Medicine

Welcome to Sleep Medicine, a specialty practice within Elliot Health Systems. Whether it’s sleep apnea or narcolepsy, our sleep specialists are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of sleep disorders. Our process begins with a physician consult to help identify and meet the needs of each patient. Please contact us to learn more. Call us at 603-663-3770.

Do you think you might have sleep apnea?

Take our quiz to evaluate your level of risk.
Answer the questions below and record how many times you anwser yes.

1. Do you snore?

2. Have you been told that you stop breathing while you are sleeping?

3. Are you excessively tired throughout the day?

4. Do you have high blood pressure?

5. Are you overweight (I have a body mass index of 30 or more)

Supplied by BMI Calculator USA

Your BMI is 30 or more = Yes, Your BMI is under 30 = No

6. Your neck size is 16 inches or more, and you are female.
Or your neck size is 17 inches or more, and you are male.

7. Are you male?

8. Are you over 50 years old?

How many times did you answer yes?

Low Risk : 0 - 2 questions answered as Yes
Medium Risk : 3 - 4 questions answered as Yes
High Risk : 5 or more questions answered as Yes

Are you at high risk for sleep apnea? For any questions or concerns, please contact us today! 603-663-3770

---

Are there different types of sleep apnea?

Yes. There is obstructive sleep apnea (which is the most common), central sleep apnea, complex sleep apnea syndrome, among others.

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea, or simply sleep apnea, is a common yet serious sleep disorder. Apnea, or a temporary pause in breathing, occurs when your airway becomes blocked. This causes your brain and body to become oxygen deprived and results in your breathing to momentarily stop. Consequently, you may snore loudly, choke, or wake up periodically throughout the night.

What causes sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea has many potential causes. However, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea occurs from collapsed muscles in the back of your throat. As you sleep, especially if you sleep on your back, the muscles in the back of your throat relax while gravity pushes your tongue back, which obstructs your airways.

What are some symptoms of sleep apnea?

• Daytime fatigue
• Morning headaches
• Loud and chronic snoring
• Occasional waking up choking or gasping
• Forgetfulness or change in mood

What’s my risk for obstructive sleep apnea?

Take our apnea evaluation to assess your risk. (Link)

What are the long-term consequences of sleep apnea?

• Disturbed sleep
• Daytime fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Depression
• Heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

How do we test for sleep apnea?

We test for sleep apnea through a sleep study, either in-lab or at home. The sleep study, which requires overnight observations, will monitor your heart rate, eye movement, muscle activity, and respiratory efforts in order to diagnose and better understand the severity of your sleep disorder.

How is sleep apnea treated?

The most common treatment for sleep apnea is with a positive airway pressure device, or CPAP. A CPAP device fits over the nose (and sometimes mouth) to provide a constant air pressure to help keep the airway open. Other treatments vary; however, they depend on the specific needs of each individual patient. Some of those treatments include dental appliances, weight loss, and stopped use of alcohol and cigarettes. However, always check with your doctor to make sure which treatment is the best for you.

Can sleep apnea go away on its own?

Unfortunately, it does not. Sleep apnea is a serious condition which rarely resolves on its own. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, contact us to see how we can help!