Sleep Apnea in U.S.A.
It is estimated that 1 in every 15 Americans (over 18 million people) suffer from Sleep Apnea. A sleeping disorder that results in lack of concentration and daytime drowsiness, Sleep Apnea can go undiagnosed for years. According to the records of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 100,000 car accidents, 40,000 injuries, and 1,550 deaths per year are caused by drowsy driving. Patients afflicted with Sleep Apnea are known to fall asleep while driving.
Most of the 263,000 tonsillectomy surgical operations done on children are owing to an affliction with Sleep Apnea, the tonsils being the obstructing irritant to the passage of air.
- Have any of your family members noted that you snore every night?
- Do you wake up all of sudden in the night perspiring, choking, and gasping for breath?
- Do you have a habit of waking up in the morning with a headache or a sore throat?
- Do you have a difficulty concentrating?
- Do you fall asleep during the day, at work, or while driving?
- Do you regularly experience a loss of memory?
- Are you suffering from obesity, acid reflux, or high blood pressure?
A permanent solution to Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea, a sleep disorder, at its worst, can cause death. That warning is for those who would like to hear bad news first and foremost. Here’s the good news: it can be cured permanently. Here’s one more piece of good news: we have done it and we do it. We are here to cure you of your Sleep Apnea.
Having said that, we must hasten to add, the primary reason for the treatment of Sleep Apnea isn’t the risk of death but improvement in the quality of life.
Excessive daytime sleepiness caused by Sleep Apnea is far from the ideal quality life. Falling asleep while reading, browsing web, watching TV, and most of all, driving don’t testify to ideal qualities of good health. Then again, loss of memory and poor concentration are far from the aspects of good life. You can get rid of all these adverse complications and lead a better quality life.
There are three types of Sleep Apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. The three types of Sleep Apnea, each has its own root cause. But then all three cause the same complication in sleep: abrupt break of breath that could go on for a minute or more and can potentially be fatal.
As at today no medical drugs are available for the treatment of Sleep Apnea. Patients with mild Sleep Apnea are treated with introduction of Lifestyle changes or mouthpieces or both of them. Patients with moderate or severe Sleep Apnea are treated with breathing devices or surgical operations.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea with Surgery
Sleep Apnea can be treated with surgery although the partial success or complete success would depend upon the root cause. By means of removing, shrinking or stiffing of excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw, the breathing passage of the patient is widened enabling regular process.
Children suffering from Sleep Apnea are treated with removal of tonsils too. However there could be a waiting time since the growth of a child could result in shrinkage of tissues on their own.
Dr. Marc Kerner performs a Balloon Sinuplasty to treat chronic sinus pain.
- My life has been completely changed! I´m breathing clearly through my nose, my headaches are gone and I can smell the flowers in the garden… R.S. 49 year old female.
–Nasal and Minimally Invasive Sinus Surgery - I had 16 previous surgeries for nasal polyps, asthma and infections. Dr. Kerner did my last surgery 7 years ago. I can breathe through my nose, smell the grass, and have had no return of polyps… G.W. 51 year old male
–Instatrak Guided Revision Sinus Surgery 2000
Dr. Marc Kerner, MD, FACS was named best ENT Physician and Surgeon by both the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and Los Angeles Times Magazine. For more sinus information, please visit his website at www.calwestent.com.
