When Your Doctor Refers You to a Sleep Specialist
If you have snoring, morning headaches, or daytime sleepiness, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for evaluation and treatment of the underlying cause of the problem, which is often obstructive sleep apnea. This condition causes breathing interruptions in the night that can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health problems. Your primary care physician is typically the first healthcare professional you see about a potential sleep disorder. They will perform a comprehensive medical history and exam, including taking your sleeping patterns into account. In some cases, they will recommend additional diagnostic testing such as overnight polysomnography (PSG) and home sleep apnea doctor tests. In other cases, they will refer you to a sleep specialist such as an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, pulmonologist, or neurologist.
ENT specialists are experts in the structural problems that can lead to obstructive sleep apnea, such as enlarged tonsils and a deviated septum. They can provide targeted treatments that may include medications, CPAP machines, or surgery. Pulmonologists are physicians who specialize in respiratory diseases, and they can diagnose a range of conditions that affect the lungs, including obstructive sleep apnea. They can also provide effective therapies, such as lifestyle changes, oral appliances, and surgery.
Neurologists are specialists in the brain and nervous system. They can identify whether your obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a neurological condition, such as myasthenia gravis or Parkinson’s disease. They can also determine if your obstructive sleep apnea could be exacerbated by certain medications.
Dentists are not formally trained in sleep disorders, but they can treat sleep apnea in a number of ways. They can make a custom-fitted mouthguard to fit into your teeth, which can open your airway by holding the tongue forward in the jaw while you sleep. They can also provide a more advanced type of treatment called hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS), which uses a small device implanted into the chest to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve that controls tongue movement. They can also make recommendations for changing your sleeping habits or modifying your diet and weight to help manage obstructive sleep apnea. For more information, check out this article about the Penn Sleep Apnea Program.
