Obstructive Sleep Apnea
While snoring if often thought to be a bothersome nuisance for both the patient and his/her family, it may be a symptom of a more serious problem known as OSA, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea. People with OSA are frequently tired throughout the day because of frequent episodes of difficulty breathing throughout the night. More importantly, however, OSA can negatively impact on a patient’s overall health and well being, and can adversely affect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health and fitness.
At Washington Ear, Nose and Throat, we believe in a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment of OSA. In conjunction with physicians board certified in Pulmonary Medicine, we diagnose OSA through polysomnography (PSG), popularly known as a “sleep study.” After a trial of nonsurgical management, which may include weight loss, a consultation with a nutritionist and the treatment of other medical problems such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and nasal disorders, we offer surgical treatments of OSA. These include uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or (UPPP), soft palatal coblation, Coblation-assisted tongue base reduction, and hyoid suspension.