Sleep Apnea

Call your doctor if:

• You or your bed partner snores loudly and heavily and feels sleepy during the day.
• You notice that your bed partner stops breathing, gasps, or chokes during sleep.
• You sometimes fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while you are talking or eating.
• Your child snores, has trouble breathing while sleeping, sleeps restlessly, wakes up often, and is very sleepy during the day.

Watchful waiting

Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If you get better on your own, you will not need treatment. If you get worse, you and your doctor will decide what to do next. Watchful waiting may be right for you if you snore but are not Reference excessively sleepy during the day.

Watchful waiting may not be right if you notice that your sleep partner snores loudly and heavily, is restless during sleep, and is sleepy during the day. If you think your sleep partner may have periods when breathing stops, suggest that he or she talk with a doctor.

Who to see

Health professionals who can check people who have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:

• Reference Family medicine physicians Opens New Window.
• Reference Internists Opens New Window.
• Reference Sleep disorders specialists Opens New Window.
• Reference Pediatricians Opens New Window.
• Reference Nurse practitioners Opens New Window.
• Reference Physician assistants Opens New Window.

Other health professionals may be able to help you if you have other problems that are caused by sleep apnea. If you:

• Have heart problems, you may see a Reference cardiologist Opens New Window.
• Need surgery to remove excess tissue or to correct a defect or injury, you may see an ear, nose, and throat doctor Reference (otolaryngologist) Opens New Window.
• Need Reference oral breathing devices, you may see a Reference dentist Opens New Window.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Reference Making the Most of Your Appointment.

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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.