How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Daily Life and What You Can Do About It

1. Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Daily Life and What You Can Do About It info@coastalhearing.com (732) 280-7855 www.coastalearnoseandthroat.com

2. About Snoring and Sleep Apnea At Coastal ENT, we provide comprehensive sleep services starting from diagnosis, to both medical and surgical treatment. We are performing the latest procedures on those who fail CPAP medical therapy, championed by Dr. Kenneth Newkirk. Sleep Study CPAP Therapy Diagnostic Polysomnography Gold Standard Airway Surgery Inspire Implant Uvulupalatopharyngoplasty (UPP) Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator

3. About Snoring Snoring is the sound created by vibrations of the soft palate when breathing is partially obstructed during sleep. Snoring is often a sign that the airway is partially blocked, usually by soft tissue in the throat. The flow of air causes the soft tissue to vibrate, which generates noise from the mouth or nose. While snoring is a common and usually harmless condition, it may sometimes indicate a serious health problem. Loud and habitual snoring can disrupt sleep and be irritating. Snoring is more common in men than women and occurs more often in older people and those who are overweight. Snoring that disrupts sleep may cause excessive daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating. Heavy snorers, especially those that experience gasping or choking, may suffer from sleep apnea, a condition where snoring is frequently interrupted by periods of completely obstructed breathing.

4. About Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that involves repeated breathing interruptions during sleep. These interruptions may occur hundreds of times each night, and may be the result of structural abnormalities or brain malfunctions. During normal breathing, air passes through the nose, past the flexible structures in the back of the throat, including the soft palate, uvula and tongue. When a person is awake, the muscles hold this airway open. When they are asleep, these muscles relax and the airway usually stays open. Sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway and airflow are blocked, causing the oxygen levels to drop in both in the brain and the blood, resulting in shallow breathing or breathing pauses during sleep.

5. How is Sleep Apnea Treated? For some of our patients at Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat, conservative treatment options could start with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. These could provide sufficient relief, but it is more likely that more involved treatments will be necessary. These are two common non-surgical treatments: CPAP The next step up from oral appliance therapy would be continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP is a breathing system that uses air pressure to keep the upper airway passages open. The patient wears a mask over his or her nose during sleep. The mask creates air pressure that is somewhat greater than the air pressure in the bedroom, and this difference in pressure keeps the airway open. The problem with CPAP, however, is that some people find it difficult to sleep with the tubes and mask. This can lead to a low compliance rate. Oral Appliance Therapy In some patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy can be successful. This involves fitting and ordering a custom-made mouthpiece for the patient to wear while sleeping. The mouthpiece is similar to a sports mouth guard. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help keep the airway open. Currently, there are over 100 FDA- approved oral appliances, and we help our patients find the option that is best for them.

6. Surgical Treatment If conservative treatment is unsuccessful in treating sleep apnea, there are other options available. Individuals who suffer from severe cases of sleep apnea that may lead to serious medical conditions, may benefit from surgery. The goal of most surgical procedures is to remove the excess tissue from the nose or throat and open upper air passages to facilitate breathing.

7. Inspire Implant Inspire works inside your body while you sleep. It’s a small device placed during a same-day, outpatient procedure. When you’re ready for bed, simply click the remote to turn Inspire on. While you sleep, Inspire opens your airway, allowing you to breathe normally and sleep peacefully. Our Head & Neck surgery expert Dr. Kenneth Newkirk, is one of the few surgeons in the state who performs this cutting edge and quality of life saving procedure. How does it work? Sleep apnea is caused by upper airway collapse, often when the back of the tongue falls back into the throat. This device gives just enough stimulation to the nerve that controls the tongue, that it prevents this collapse when you inspire. How is the procedure performed? There is a small incision placed in the neck to find the nerve and another over the chest. The implant is placed in a skin pocket similar to a pacemaker. What happens after? Once you have recovered from surgery, then we titrate the stimulation to effect, with a convenient remote control.

8. Neptune, NJ 3 700 Route 33 Neptune, NJ 07753 (732) 280-7855 (main) (732) 280-7815 Contact Us 1301 Route 72 Unit 340 Manahawkin, NJ 08050 (609) 978-0590 (732) 280-7815 Manahawkin, NJ Thank you for your time! Reach out to us for questions. Holmdel, NJ 100 Commons Way #210 Holmdel, NJ 07733 (732) 280-7855 (732)-280-7815 info@coastalhearing.com (732) 280-7855 www.coastalearnoseandthroat.com