Question 1

removing my tonsils for sleep apnea: will i have a lot of pain and how long will it take to recover?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Depending on how severe the surgery is, or how large your tonsils are will determine how long it will take to heal.
It should fill like a bad sore throat.

Question 2

do a lot of people get obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

Yes: About 1-5% of us population has sleep apnea and the trend is increasing with increase weight gain in last 1-2  decade. Neck size greater than 17 inch in male and 16 inch in females with history of snoring, sleep symptoms like fatigue, daytime sleepiness,  and high blood pressure are some of the screening sign/symptoms one may want to consider for evaluation of sleep apnea.

Question 3

do lots of people get obstructive sleep apnea, or is it unusual?

Accepted Answer

Lots of people do: 24% of men and 9% of women 30-60 years of age in the USA will qualify for OSA if allcomers are studied by an overnight sleep study. If only people who complain of daytime sleepiness are included, then the number drops precipitously to: 4% of men and 2% of women. Still, a pretty high prevalence, isn't it?

Question 4

do doctors see a lot of patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

I do: I do, but my practice is limited to sleep disorders, so there is selection bias. Primary care physicians (pcp) see a lot of people complaining of difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying awake, and of generally unsatisfatory sleep quality. Some of these are sent to sleep centers for further evaluation and some are managed by the pcp. 10% of people suffer from insomnia; 9-24% from sleep apnea.

Question 5

i have obstructive sleep apnea after gaining weight from steroids. lately i drool a lot and sometimes foam at the mouth. why?

Accepted Answer

See your provider: You can get a referral to a sleep specialist or perhaps your PCP can help you with all of these including ways to get the weight down. It's possible to stop the problem - then you can ask them why. Best!

Question 6

what is obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

OSA: Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when breathing stops (apnea) during sleep usually as a result of a temporary obstruction such as a narrowing and closing in the oropharynx. When the brain detects that breathing has stopped, an alarm goes up that wakes the person so that he starts breathing again. Often the person does not know why he has woken. An observer may note snoring or gasping in the night.

Question 7

is obstructive sleep apnea painful?

Accepted Answer

No: Sleep apnea can cause headaches, dry mouth, mood and personality changes, excessive sleepiness. It is not a painful condition.

Question 8

how can i treat obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

CPAP: The  treatment involves sleeping with a pressurized mask called cpap. In sleep apnea, excessive soft tissue in the throat, can relax during deep sleep, this blocks the airway and drops oxygen levels , disrupting sleep and causing other problems. A mask hooked to a machine that applies a low level of air pressure keeps the airway open. Many with osa are overweight and weight loss also helps much.

Question 9

can you die from obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

Indirectly: Untreated sleep apnea causes drops in oxygen levels during sleep, this causes a release of catecholamines which are of "stress hormones". Over time this can increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and pulmonary hypertension. Overtime these can lead to death. In addition the sleep deprivation leads to increase car accidents, which can be fatal. Treatment helps avoid this.

Question 10

how do i eliminate an obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

Consultation: You should speak to your physician for a referral to a specialist who can properly evaluate you and discuss treatment options.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Do people with obstructive sleep apnea have a lot of pain

A member asked:

Removing my tonsils for sleep apnea: will i have a lot of pain and how long will it take to recover?

A member asked:

Do a lot of people get obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

Do lots of people get obstructive sleep apnea, or is it unusual?

A member asked:

Do doctors see a lot of patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

I have obstructive sleep apnea after gaining weight from steroids. lately i drool a lot and sometimes foam at the mouth. why?

A member asked:

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

Is obstructive sleep apnea painful?

A member asked:

How can i treat obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

Can you die from obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

How do i eliminate an obstructive sleep apnea?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?