but technicians try to make patients feel at ease. “It’s fairly accommodating,” he says. Many sleep physicians express a preference for overnight evaluations in a controlled sleep lab. Helsper says cheaper at-home tests, measuring heart rate and oxygen levels, can show warning signs, but do not include as much observation or track certain variables. “The best thing that patients can do if they suspect that there might be a potential sleep disorder is they just need to seek a consultation with a sleep physician,” he says. “These board-certified sleep physicians are experts in what they do.” Once tested, patients can explore a variety of treatment options.
F
or the most severe cases of sleep apnea, sleep physicians almost always recommend Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatments, or CPAP. Coats calls the airway support system the “gold standard” in sleep apnea therapy. “It is the most effective treatment for most people,” he says. CPAP involves wearing a pressurized mask over the nose or mouth while sleeping to prop open the back of the throat with air pressure. While some find the mask uncomfortable, Coats says it offers the best results for the effort. Helsper says more than 200 different custom masks offer a wide variety of comfort options. Many medical plans will also cover machine rental fees. Some patients can seek a surgical solution, Coats says. Procedures include removing tonsils, cutting away sinus tissue or realigning the jaw. Sleep experts have also started to embrace the use of mouth guard-like oral appliances to hold the jaw forward. Spokane dentist Robb Heinrich, with Sleep Better Northwest, says oral appliances offer a versatile middle-ground option for patients who cannot get used to a CPAP mask. “We have a number of different appliances we use,” he says, noting that for patients on the go, an appliance is much more portable and does not require electricity. Heinrich says he does not make oral appliances for patients without a consultation from a sleep physician. He stresses the importance of continually working alongside physicians to pursue the best treatment for each person. “We don’t just make an appliance and that’s it,” he says. “We do the follow-up.” Heinrich and sleep experts agree those patients who take a holistic approach of eating healthier, exercising more and staying active see better results. Patients with mild
An oral appliance worn overnight can help some patients. JACOB JONES PHOTO to moderate sleep apnea may see improvements by losing weight. With the many increased health risks associated with the disorder, Helsper says
the old medical warning applies to diagnosing and treating sleep apnea. “It’s see me a little now,” he says, “or a lot later.” n
The Tax Credit is Back. May qualify for to up for 3 1 20 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT
$500
Save with a Fedral Tax Credit up to $500* Save with reduced energy bills for your home
Take advantage of a Federal Tax Credit opportunity and help lower your energy bills with Duette® Architella® Honeycomb Shades. Call for your free in-home consultation, today!
509.534.5064 | wallflwr@aimcomm.com | wallflowerdesigns.com Mon-Fri 9-5:30 | Saturday 10-3 | 2820 E. 30th Ave, Spokane
APRIL-MaY, 2013 INH_55+_04_13.indd 37
Health 37 3/26/13 12:44 PM