Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder affecting more than 200,000 Americans each year. This treatable sleep condition can be potentially serious. When you have sleep apnea you snore, choke, or even stop breathing altogether while you are asleep. These symptoms lead to a lack of quality sleep and chronic fatigue. However, this sleep disorder can lead to serious medical conditions if not treated. For example, individuals with sleep apnea are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, liver problems, and metabolic syndrome according to the Mayo Clinic.

In order to diagnose you with sleep apnea Dr. Miller in Washington, DC will need to evaluate your condition. This might be as simple as doing a medical exam to look for signs or symptoms related to sleep apnea. Dr. Miller can also use more extensive sleep apnea tests including nocturnal polysomnography or home sleep tests. These tests require overnight evaluation for Dr. Miller to be able to best diagnose your sleep disorder. As Dr. Miller is also a board-certified internist and pulmonologist he is also able to evaluate your heart and nervous system, along with your ears, nose, and eyes. This provides you with the most comprehensive understanding of your sleep disorder.

If Dr. Miller in Washington, DC diagnoses you with sleep apnea he will provide you with the best sleep management solution for your needs. This may involve a continuous positive airway pressure machine, also known as a CPAP machine. You wear a breathing device over your mouth when you sleep, so to keep your airways open. Other options include oral appliances, as well as surgery, which is a last resort for most patients with sleep disorders. Contact Dr. Miller to schedule a visit to determine your sleep management solution for your sleep apnea.