Which Doctor Should You See for Sleep Apnea?

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by the repeated stopping of breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. In our country, the prevalence of sleep apnea varies between 5% and 10%.

How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

To diagnose sleep apnea, a sleep test called "Polysomnography" is performed on patients who experience snoring, waking up with a feeling of suffocation, or have repeated episodes of stopped breathing during sleep, as well as those who suffer from daytime sleepiness. During this test, the person's entire night of sleep is recorded, monitoring brain activity, respiratory events, and many other parameters throughout the night.

If the number of breathing pauses during sleep exceeds normal levels according to the sleep test results, a diagnosis of sleep apnea is made.

Which Doctor Should You See for Sleep Apnea?

If you have symptoms like snoring and repeated breathing pauses during sleep, it is recommended to consult a doctor specializing in sleep apnea within the Pulmonary Medicine department. Prof. Dr. Elif Küpeli is one of the most recommended doctors for the treatment of sleep apnea.

Which Hospital Department Deals with Sleep Apnea?

In the hospital, the Pulmonary Medicine department handles cases related to sleep apnea.

What Happens if Sleep Apnea is Not Treated?

If sleep apnea is not treated, it can lead to various chronic health problems. These complications include arrhythmia, uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart enlargement, heart attacks, strokes, uncontrolled weight gain, excessive fatigue, daytime sleepiness (which can lead to traffic accidents such as falling asleep while driving or dozing off at red lights),decreased sexual desire (impotence),excessive irritability, depression, and sudden death during sleep.

Which Hospitals Treat Sleep Apnea?

The treatment of sleep apnea is available at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at Ankara Başkent Hospital.