Obstructive sleep apnea treatment in Glen Allen, VA
The most common sleep-breathing disorder, and one of the most treatable once it's found.
Obstructive sleep apnea is when your airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, so breathing pauses and oxygen drops. A sleep physician diagnoses it, usually from a home sleep test. At A-Z Sleep & Airway Center in Glen Allen, Dr. Ashlee Goodman-Tabari treats it with custom oral appliances, alone or alongside CPAP.
Diagnosed with a simple test, treated for the long run
What obstructive sleep apnea is
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when the soft tissue at the back of your throat relaxes and blocks your airway during sleep. You stop breathing briefly, again and again, and each time your body has to rouse itself just enough to start again. To be diagnosed, you stop breathing at least five times an hour; some people stop far more than that.
How it affects your health
Because it interrupts both your oxygen and your sleep, OSA is linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and depression, and it can leave you exhausted and foggy during the day. It can also make conditions you already have, like blood pressure that won’t come down, harder to control.
How we treat it
Treatment starts with a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis and its severity. For mild to moderate OSA, a custom oral appliance is often the answer. For severe cases, a CPAP or a combination approach may be best. We work with sleep physicians and keep your other doctors informed so your care is coordinated.
What you can count on
At-home testing for clear answers
Oral appliance or CPAP options
Coordinated with your physicians
Treatment that’s actually verified
What patients ask us
How is obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed?
With a sleep study. Ours is a simple at-home test that measures how often your breathing is interrupted overnight. A sleep physician reads the results, which show whether you have OSA and how severe it is, and that guides your treatment.
Can sleep apnea really be that serious?
Yes. Untreated, it raises the risk of serious problems like heart attack and stroke. The reassuring part is that once it’s found, it’s very treatable.
Do I need a CPAP, or can I use an oral appliance?
It depends on severity. Mild to moderate OSA often responds well to a custom oral appliance, while severe cases may need CPAP or a combination. We’ll base the recommendation on your sleep study and work with your physician.
More questions, answered
What happens if obstructive sleep apnea goes untreated?
Untreated obstructive sleep apnea raises your long-term risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and depression, and leaves you exhausted day to day. Because it strains your heart and body every night, getting diagnosed and treated protects both how you feel now and your future health.
Can obstructive sleep apnea be cured, or only managed?
For most people, obstructive sleep apnea is managed rather than cured, much like blood pressure. The good news is that consistent treatment, such as a custom oral appliance or CPAP, controls it very effectively, so you get the benefits of healthy sleep every night you use it.
Is obstructive sleep apnea the same as central sleep apnea?
No. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when your airway physically collapses and blocks airflow. Central sleep apnea is different, your brain briefly stops signaling your muscles to breathe. They need different approaches, which is why proper testing matters. We'll coordinate with a sleep physician if your results point to a central cause.
Can obstructive sleep apnea affect my heart?
Yes. Each time your breathing stops, your oxygen drops and your heart works harder, which over time is linked to high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and heart disease. Treating your apnea eases that nightly strain, which is one of the biggest reasons not to put it off.
How do I know how severe my sleep apnea is?
Your sleep study measures how often your breathing is interrupted each hour, which places your apnea in the mild, moderate, or severe range. That number guides treatment, since milder cases often do well with an oral appliance while severe cases may need CPAP or a combined approach.
Ready to stop guessing about your sleep?
If you snore, wake up tired, or have been told you stop breathing at night, the first step is simple. Call us and we will get you scheduled.