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Who Is Best To Approach For A Treatment On What
Question: Who is best to approach for a treatment on what seems like a Sleep Apnea condition for my dad? he's been struggling to sleep at night for no apparent reasons and feels sleepy in the morning and also developed forgetfulness. he's quite healthy on all other aspects with no BP, Sugar or any other ailments. Is it a good to idea to get a sleep study? also would a dentist treat Sleep apnea or pulmonologist? please advise.
Brief Answer:
This should be diagnosed properly.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for using ask a doctor service.
I can understand your concern. Sleep apnea results in sudden awakening from sleep and is usually seen in obese elderly individuals. Multiple awakening from sleep occur and this results in day time drowsiness.
Speep study or polysomnography should be done in order to diagnose sleep apnoea.
Could you please elaborate what kind of symptoms he has?
If this is sleep apnoea then this should be dealt by a good pulmonologist.
Thanks
This should be diagnosed properly.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for using ask a doctor service.
I can understand your concern. Sleep apnea results in sudden awakening from sleep and is usually seen in obese elderly individuals. Multiple awakening from sleep occur and this results in day time drowsiness.
Speep study or polysomnography should be done in order to diagnose sleep apnoea.
Could you please elaborate what kind of symptoms he has?
If this is sleep apnoea then this should be dealt by a good pulmonologist.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you doctor.
At times (Not every day) he gets up from a deep sleep struggling to breathe for few seconds. When he gets up like this, drinking some water will resolve the problem and he can go back to sleep afterwards. This only happens once in awhile but have noticed it few times till date.
He does have daytime drowsiness and no matter how much he tries, he's not able to sleep for a continuous 6-8 hours on any given day.
He is very tired most of the time but still tries his to be as active as he can.
I had him checked for heart, kidney conditions through master health check recently and everything was normal.
He's not obese but is 60+ in age.
The only other condition he has apart from these symptoms is Osteoarthritis for which he's taking medicines.
Apart from that he does not have any medical conditions.
He used to smoke tobacco 10 years ago (has left it since then)
Please advise.
At times (Not every day) he gets up from a deep sleep struggling to breathe for few seconds. When he gets up like this, drinking some water will resolve the problem and he can go back to sleep afterwards. This only happens once in awhile but have noticed it few times till date.
He does have daytime drowsiness and no matter how much he tries, he's not able to sleep for a continuous 6-8 hours on any given day.
He is very tired most of the time but still tries his to be as active as he can.
I had him checked for heart, kidney conditions through master health check recently and everything was normal.
He's not obese but is 60+ in age.
The only other condition he has apart from these symptoms is Osteoarthritis for which he's taking medicines.
Apart from that he does not have any medical conditions.
He used to smoke tobacco 10 years ago (has left it since then)
Please advise.
Brief Answer:
Pulmonologist opinion should be sought
Detailed Answer:
Hello again
Awakening from sleep, struggling to breath and this is occurring in episodes followed by day time drowsiness could be due to sleep apnoea. In such situation this should be ruled out. He is not obese but is more than 60 this could be obstructive or central sleep apnoea.
If he is on any sedative medicine then that too could be the reason of these episodes.
Please take an appointment from a pulmonologist and get his evaluation done. Polysomnography can be done if poor response to medicines is seen.
Thanks.
Pulmonologist opinion should be sought
Detailed Answer:
Hello again
Awakening from sleep, struggling to breath and this is occurring in episodes followed by day time drowsiness could be due to sleep apnoea. In such situation this should be ruled out. He is not obese but is more than 60 this could be obstructive or central sleep apnoea.
If he is on any sedative medicine then that too could be the reason of these episodes.
Please take an appointment from a pulmonologist and get his evaluation done. Polysomnography can be done if poor response to medicines is seen.
Thanks.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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