You may be thinking, I snore and am tired a lot, so what do I do next? The answer is an Airway Evaluation. There can be a variety of patients that can come in for an Airway Evaluation. These patients can range from someone who is trying to discover for the first time why they are snoring or someone who has already done a sleep study and is looking for an alternative treatment to a CPAP.
At KC Sleep Health, an Airway Evaluation is similar to a consultation, which may include first asking some questions to find out what the patient is experiencing in their sleep or the problems they are wanting to handle. Then there will be some educational steps to help enlighten the patient on how snoring occurs and what could be causing the patient to feel tired during the day. Dr. Drake will then come in to exam the patient in the head and neck area. He will go over with the patient what he recommends the next step should be. For patents that have never had a sleep study, this is usually the next step. A sleep study can be done in the comfort of your own home or in a lab. Both tests are interpreted by a doctor of sleep medicine. No matter which option you chose, Dr. Drake will be happy to go over the results with the patients, so they understand how each part relates to their health. He also goes over the treatment options that the sleep doctor recommends based on the sleep study results.
If a patient has a mild or moderate case of sleep apnea, an oral appliance may be suggested for the patient to try first. This can also be an option for patients who have had difficulty wearing a CPAP.
The next step is taking impressions for the oral sleep appliance, done with a special machine. After fabrication, the appliance is fitted and is adjusted for each patient. There are then a series of follow-up visits to assure maximum benefit and comfort.
For patients that have severe sleep apnea, it is recommended that the patient wear a CPAP. A suitable CPAP can be found through a variety of different styles of equipment if fitted properly. Dr. Drake partners with several sleep physicians in the Kansas City area who can help the patient on their CPAP journey.
No matter, where your sleep path leads, the first step starts with an Airway Evaluation, and we are here to help you get started. The sooner you start, the sooner you can start getting a better night’s sleep.