Ear, Nose, and Throat Issues - Sleep Apnea

1. Ear, Nose, and Throat Issues
- Sleep Apnea
By: Frank Brettschneider

2. Ear, Nose, and Throat Issues - Sleep Apnea
Leveraging decades of experience in otolaryngological care, Dr. Frank Brettschneider
helps Michigan patients experiencing sleep apnea and other respiratory problems at Port
Huron ENT, his private practice. To prepare for his medical career, Dr. Frank
Brettschneider completed his residency and internship training through Mt. Clemens
General Hospital.

3. Ear, Nose, and Throat Issues - Sleep Apnea
When physicians inform patients that the latter have sleep apnea, it means that their
breathing is interrupted during sleep. Depending on the case, sleep apnea may interrupt
breathing for stretches of over a full minute. Breathing eventually resumes as normal,
though the constant push and pull between normal and interrupted breathing tends to
result in very low quality sleep, leading to exhaustion. If left untreated, sleep apnea can
even raise the risk of life-threatening conditions such as heart failure and stroke.

4. Ear, Nose, and Throat Issues - Sleep Apnea
The most frequent form of sleep apnea is the obstructive variety. People with this
condition experience breathing problems caused by the tongue falling against and
pushing on the soft palate, which in turn causes the airway to close. Risk factors for
obstructive sleep apnea include being male, obese, and preferring to sleep on one’s
back.