Sleep specialists come from a variety of medical backgrounds. They may be pulmonologists (lung specialists), otolaryngologists (ears, nose, and throat), neurologists (brain and nerves), psychiatrists (mental health), or primary care physicians–internists and family practitioners.

Which type of doctor is best for sleep apnea?

What kind of doctor can treat sleep apnea?

• Pulmonologists. A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in the lungs and respiratory system. ...
• Otolaryngologists. Otolaryngologists are doctors who diagnose and treat issues relating to the ears, nose, and throat. ...
• Neurologists.
• Psychiatrists. ...
• Dentists.

What is a sleep doctor specialist called?

The formal name for a sleep doctor is “somnologist” – from the root 'somnus', meaning sleep. American Sleep Association – Providing information about Dr. Sleep since 2002. Visit the ASA Ask the Sleep Doctor Section to find out more about sleep doctors, sleep psychologists, sleep dentists and other sleep specialists.

Do pulmonologists treat sleep apnea?

Pulmonologist. Pulmonologists are very familiar with sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) because it's basically when you stop breathing while sleeping due to a blockage in the airway (learn more about that here).

Why would you see a neurologist for sleep apnea?

Many Sleep Disorders are Related to Neurological Conditions

Another reason why you should see a neurologist for sleep disorders is because many sleep disorders actually occur in coordination with neurological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, and stroke.

Sleep apnea - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

18 related questions found

Can sleep apnea be neurological?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that is common among neurological patients. If undiagnosed and untreated, it may lead to hypertension, coronary heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, psychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, and, ultimately, death.

Can ENT diagnose sleep apnea?

See the ENT for sleep apnea treatment

The ENT may be able to determine the cause of the airway obstruction causing the apnea and help you breathe easier day and night. You can't sleep if you can't breathe; so call the ENT today for better breathing.

Why would you need to see a pulmonologist?

While primary care doctors can handle mild or short-term conditions, such as those caused by a cold or respiratory infection, you'll need to see a pulmonologist to diagnose, treat and manage more complex illnesses that primarily affect the lungs.

Can a dentist diagnose sleep apnea?

Dentists are not permitted to diagnose sleep apnea. Diagnosis should be done at an accredited sleep center, but that doesn't mean the dentist can't do some screening and provide treatment for sleep apnea.

Is sleep apnea curable?

CPAP and oral appliances work well, but they're not cures for sleep apnea. The only sure way to rid yourself of the condition for good is to either lose weight or have surgery to remove excess tissue from the palate or throat.

Do Endocrinologists treat insomnia?

If you are experiencing persistent insomnia, consider seeing an endocrinologist, a physician who specializes in hormone disorders. Establishing hormone balance can lead to normal, refreshing sleep which is the body's own way of healing a myriad of health problems.

What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that happens when your breathing stops and starts while you slumber. If it goes untreated, it can cause loud snoring, daytime tiredness, or more serious problems like heart trouble or high blood pressure.

What problems can sleep apnea cause?

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that can lead to serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart trouble, if untreated. Untreated sleep apnea causes breathing to stop repeatedly during sleep, causing loud snoring and daytime tiredness, even with a full night's sleep.

What are the 3 types of sleep apnea?

A person with sleep apnea stops breathing during sleep. There are three forms of sleep apnea: central, obstructive, and complex. The most common of these is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

How does the VA check for sleep apnea?

To confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis for VA disability compensation purposes, VA requires that a sleep study be conducted. If you have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea, but have not undergone a sleep study, VA will not consider that diagnosis enough evidence to verify eligibility for compensation.

Has anyone died of sleep apnea?

Eighty deaths were recorded, including 37 deaths attributed to cancer and 25 deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease and stroke. About 19 percent of participants with severe sleep apnea died (12 deaths), compared with about four percent of participants with no sleep apnea (46 deaths).

Do snore guards work for sleep apnea?

Mouth guards are not effective when used for central sleep apnea, which is less common than OSA. It is important that you get a custom mouth guard designed specifically for your mouth and jaw shape. To do this, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and send it away for the appliance to be fabricated.

How do dentists help sleep apnea?

Their role is often to help manage a patient's snoring and OSA symptoms through oral appliance therapy. There are two dental appliances which may be recommended, together with CPAP therapy, to treat sleep apnea: mandibular advancement devices (MADs) and tongue-retaining mouthpieces.

Does sleep apnea make your heart stop?

Obstructive sleep apnea might also increase your risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If you have heart disease, multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.

What does a pulmonologist do at your first visit?

What Can I Expect During a Visit? First, you'll answer questions about your symptoms and have a physical exam. The doctor might need tests to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment. The tests might include blood work and a chest X-ray or a CT scan.

What does a pulmonologist look for?

Pulmonologists treat medical conditions such as bronchitis, COPD, and sleep apnea. They also do testing to find the causes of symptoms involving shortness of breath and chronic coughing. Sleep apnea treatment and pulmonary function testing are also performed by pulmonologists.

What tests will a pulmonologist do?

Pulmonary function tests, or PFTs, measure how well your lungs work. They include tests that measure lung size and air flow, such as spirometry and lung volume tests. Other tests measure how well gases such as oxygen get in and out of your blood.

Can an ear, nose and throat specialist help with sleep apnea?

ENT specialists treat sleep-disordered breathing, nasal and airway obstruction, snoring and sleep apnea, and more.

Will removing tonsils and adenoids help sleep apnea in adults?

For adults, a tonsillectomy can be effective, as long as the tonsils were swollen and causing the apnea episodes. Adults who get a tonsillectomy may not experience a complete resolution of their sleep apnea symptoms, but their symptoms may improve.

What does a sleep specialist do?

A sleep specialist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats sleep disorders. Most sleep specialists train in internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, or neurology during residency. After completing residency, they complete a fellowship program in sleep medicine.