Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Remedies For Severe Sleep Apnea
Question: My 47 year old son in Fla. reported to me last night that he has to stand up and walk around every hour at work or he will fall asleep over his computer. He says he sleeps well at night, but I know for a fact that he snores like a freight train and feel that he has severe apnea. I feel he needs immediate medical treatment including some kind of breathing assistance for overnight. He is about 6'3" and weighs well over 300 lbs., probably 350. Your thoughts?
Brief Answer:
Possibility of obstructive sleep apnea due to obesity is more in his case.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So he is having obesity and this can cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
This is likely cause for excessive daytime sleepiness and snoring.
For confirmation on this diagnosis, sleep study is the only tool.
So first of all get done sleep study.
On the basis or sleep study, titration with CPAP (continuous positive Airway Pressure) machine is done. This machine is having box like thing (ventilator) and face mask connected to it. Machine delivers air via pressure, so that airways remain open and don't cause snoring.
This is the only immediate medical treatment.
Other long term treatment options are weight loss, exercise, dieting etc.
So please let me know
1. Since how many days he is suffering from this?
Please let me know answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Possibility of obstructive sleep apnea due to obesity is more in his case.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So he is having obesity and this can cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
This is likely cause for excessive daytime sleepiness and snoring.
For confirmation on this diagnosis, sleep study is the only tool.
So first of all get done sleep study.
On the basis or sleep study, titration with CPAP (continuous positive Airway Pressure) machine is done. This machine is having box like thing (ventilator) and face mask connected to it. Machine delivers air via pressure, so that airways remain open and don't cause snoring.
This is the only immediate medical treatment.
Other long term treatment options are weight loss, exercise, dieting etc.
So please let me know
1. Since how many days he is suffering from this?
Please let me know answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Do you think there is any answer at an emergency facility? He works in a high traffic facility and is planning a 7 hr. car trip after work later this week. This worries me.
Brief Answer:
At emergency, they will mostly give him CPAP machine.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, in emergency, they will mostly give him CPAP machine
But for this, he needs to admit in the hospital and get done sleep study.
Are you talking about self driving?
Is he going to drive by himself?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your son . Thanks.
At emergency, they will mostly give him CPAP machine.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, in emergency, they will mostly give him CPAP machine
But for this, he needs to admit in the hospital and get done sleep study.
Are you talking about self driving?
Is he going to drive by himself?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your son . Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Doctor - Yes, he is talking about driving alone. He says caffeine no longer helps keep him awake at work. He has been too heavy for about 4-5 years and has been snoring heavily all of that time. My fear is that it will take too long for medical treatment to address the problem, which ultimately is stress on the heart. Do you agree?
Brief Answer:
Sorry, I can understand your last question about medical treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Sorry to say but I don't understand your last question regarding medical treatment.
And please tell him, not to self-drive, this can be life threatening.
Please write your query in somewhat detail, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your son. Thanks.
Sorry, I can understand your last question about medical treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Sorry to say but I don't understand your last question regarding medical treatment.
And please tell him, not to self-drive, this can be life threatening.
Please write your query in somewhat detail, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your son. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Doctor, what I meant about medical treatment is that when he calls his dr. he will have to wait a few weeks to get in there, and when he gets the order for the sleep study, it will take a few more weeks (at least) to get that appointment. I will have him go to the pharmacy and pick up something for temporary relief. I will ask him not to drive alone for a long distance after work. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Best is not you drive alone for long distance.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, all these will take few weeks definitely.
And yes, you should take appointment at present.
Honestly speaking, best is to avoid driving alone for long distance.
Better to drive with someone who also knows driving.
But if he so much insisted on driving alone then telling him to keep tea, coffee, mint Lozenges, some chips, likable music CDs etc in the car, so that he cannot avoid sleeping and tiredness.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your son. Thanks.
Best is not you drive alone for long distance.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, all these will take few weeks definitely.
And yes, you should take appointment at present.
Honestly speaking, best is to avoid driving alone for long distance.
Better to drive with someone who also knows driving.
But if he so much insisted on driving alone then telling him to keep tea, coffee, mint Lozenges, some chips, likable music CDs etc in the car, so that he cannot avoid sleeping and tiredness.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your son. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
