Can Surgery Improve Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Insights and Considerations
Can severe obstructive sleep apnea be improved with surgery? I have a problem with loud snoring, and after being examined at a sleep center, I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea, averaging 67 events per hour. The doctor assessed that it is likely a structural issue...
Dr. Ji Zhaoyun Reply:
Based on your description, you have been diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea, and your doctor has recommended the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to improve your symptoms. You also inquired about the possibility of surgery, but your doctor men...[Read More] Can Surgery Improve Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Insights and Considerations
Understanding Your Sleep Apnea Report: Key Insights and Concerns
Could you help me review the results of my sleep apnea report? Can you help me review the sleep apnea report results? Are there any abnormalities? Height: 177 cm Age: 32 Weight: 92.6 kg Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS): 14 Body Mass Index (BMI): 29.6 Nasal Obstruction S...
Dr. Li Jiaxuan Reply:
AHI: 7.9 /hr, mild obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep stages: N1: 20.0%, N2: 53.7%, N3: 5.6%, REM: 20.7%. Sleep depth is relatively shallow. It is recommended to follow up with an otolaryngology clinic for treatment. Wishing you well.[Read More] Understanding Your Sleep Apnea Report: Key Insights and Concerns
Can Surgery Remove Tonsils for Chronic Tonsil Stones and Odor?
Can chronic and foul-smelling tonsil stones be treated with a tonsillectomy? Hello Doctor, my tonsils have been developing stones every few days since high school. A few years ago, I consulted a doctor who advised me to avoid dairy products for a while. I have also been maintaini...
Dr. Ji Zhaoyun Reply:
Hello, regarding the conditions for tonsillectomy that you mentioned, they are generally as follows: 1) Enlarged tonsils causing respiratory issues or conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea; 2) Presence of malignant tumors; 3) Recurrent tonsillitis (as you mentioned). Interna...[Read More] Can Surgery Remove Tonsils for Chronic Tonsil Stones and Odor?
Awakening Gasping for Air: Understanding Sleep-Related Breathing Issues
Waking up suddenly due to difficulty breathing during sleep? Hello Doctor, recently I have been experiencing episodes during sleep where I suddenly can't breathe, causing me to wake up gasping for air. This lasts for a few seconds, and initially, I feel a warm sensation in m...
Dr. Li Jiaxuan Reply:
Your concerns are valid, but it is still recommended that you visit an otolaryngology clinic for a detailed examination and evaluation. Wishing you good health.[Read More] Awakening Gasping for Air: Understanding Sleep-Related Breathing Issues
Why Lying Flat Affects Breathing: Insights on Sleep and Allergies
Difficulty breathing while lying flat? I have severe nasal allergies and post-nasal drip, making it difficult for me to sleep. In recent years, I've noticed that whenever I lie flat on my back to sleep, my nasal passages narrow, and I start snoring and have trouble breathing...
Dr. Zheng Jueyi Reply:
Hello, your symptoms may be related to sleep apnea. Common factors could include airway obstruction, such as narrowing in the nasal passages, oropharynx, or at the base of the tongue, or insufficient muscle tone in the oropharynx. It is recommended to visit a hospital's otol...[Read More] Why Lying Flat Affects Breathing: Insights on Sleep and Allergies
Understanding High-Frequency Tinnitus: Causes, Effects, and Next Steps
High-frequency tinnitus Hello Dr. Chi, I appreciate the various tinnitus issues and the advice from the physicians on this webpage. I do not have hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol, and my lifestyle and diet are normal. I smoke a little and walk 5,000 steps daily. In my ...
Dr. Ji Zhaoyun Reply:
Hello, the issues you mentioned could be due to: 1) Eustachian tube dysfunction: This is the most common cause and can occur not only during flying, climbing, or diving, but also when forcefully blowing your nose or bending over. 2) Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (commonly ref...[Read More] Understanding High-Frequency Tinnitus: Causes, Effects, and Next Steps
Breathing Issues During Sleep: Understanding Nighttime Discomfort
Breathing problems during sleep? In recent days, I've been experiencing difficulty breathing while sleeping, and my throat feels a bit dry. I have to take a deep breath to feel more comfortable, but this keeps me from falling asleep. (Before this situation occurred, I had a ...
Dr. Zheng Jueyi Reply:
If you are concerned about sleep apnea or other throat issues, it is recommended to visit an otolaryngologist for a thorough examination.[Read More] Breathing Issues During Sleep: Understanding Nighttime Discomfort
Understanding Breathing Difficulties: Causes and Solutions for Nasal Issues
Hello doctor, I have been experiencing shortness of breath for the past two years? Hello Doctor, I have visited two major hospitals without any results, and the doctors were quite impatient and had a poor attitude. Later, I went to an ENT clinic where a doctor finally examined me...
Dr. Zheng Jueyi Reply:
Hello, a deviated septum or hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates generally affects nasal congestion but does not typically cause respiratory distress. If there is severe respiratory distress, it is recommended to promptly seek evaluation from a pulmonologist and a cardiologist to ...[Read More] Understanding Breathing Difficulties: Causes and Solutions for Nasal Issues
Understanding Non-Painful White or Yellow Patches on Tonsils
The tonsils have white (or yellow) patches, but there is no pain? Hello, Doctor. I had a case of purulent tonsillitis due to influenza at the beginning of June 2023 (which often happens whenever I get sick). After that, I was diagnosed with COVID-19 before fully recovering from t...
Dr. Ji Zhaoyun Reply:
Hello, regarding the conditions for tonsillectomy that you mentioned, they are generally as follows: 1) Enlarged tonsils causing respiratory issues or conditions such as sleep apnea; 2) Presence of malignant tumors; 3) Recurrent tonsillitis (as you mentioned). Internationally rec...[Read More] Understanding Non-Painful White or Yellow Patches on Tonsils
Breathing and Sleep Issues: Understanding Dreams and Sinus Problems
Respiratory issues, sleep disturbances? Recently, I have been experiencing dreams within half an hour of falling asleep, accompanied by a sensation of breathlessness and a persistent feeling of suffocation. I try to wake myself up in the dream, but it turns into a dream within a ...
Dr. Ji Zhaoyun Reply:
Hello, based on your description, it can be inferred that you have issues such as shallow sleep and nasal congestion. It is recommended to visit a sleep center and an otolaryngology department for relevant examinations to rule out conditions such as sleep apnea, REM sleep behavio...[Read More] Breathing and Sleep Issues: Understanding Dreams and Sinus Problems
Understanding Sleep Apnea: Why You Might Wake Up Gasping for Air
Waking up suddenly due to an inability to breathe during sleep? Hello Doctor, sometimes when I sleep at night, I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I can't breathe, experiencing a sensation of suffocation, which causes me to wake up gasping for air. I went to a ...
Dr. Ji Zhaoyun Reply:
Hello, it is recommended to schedule a sleep study at a hospital and follow up with a sleep specialist in the outpatient clinic. Alternatively, you can consult a physician who specializes in sleep medicine as mentioned in the institution's introduction. If the lowest blood o...[Read More] Understanding Sleep Apnea: Why You Might Wake Up Gasping for Air
Understanding Sleep Disturbances: Causes and Solutions for Sudden Awakening
Sleep apnea leads to awakening? Hello Doctor, yesterday while I was sleeping, I woke up gasping for air due to a lack of oxygen. This situation occurs about once every six months; although the frequency is low, it is always very uncomfortable, and I worry about the possibility of...
Dr. Zheng Jueyi Reply:
Hello, an AHI of 1.9, while not meeting the definition of obstructive sleep apnea (which is >5), indicates that there are still an average of 1.9 episodes of breathing cessation lasting more than 10 seconds per hour. Additionally, the lowest blood oxygen saturation drops to 84...[Read More] Understanding Sleep Disturbances: Causes and Solutions for Sudden Awakening
Understanding Da Vinci Tongue Reduction Surgery: Risks and Benefits
[Language Issue] Could you please explain the Da Vinci tongue reduction surgery? Hello, Doctor. I was previously diagnosed with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, which was later found to be caused by enlarged base of the tongue. I have been using a CPAP machine for a while, but I...
Dr. Zheng Jueyi Reply:
Hello, the Da Vinci tongue reduction surgery primarily aims to reduce the lymphatic and muscular tissue at the base of the tongue to improve obstructive sleep apnea. Potential complications may include postoperative bleeding, swelling affecting the airway, and difficulty swallowi...[Read More] Understanding Da Vinci Tongue Reduction Surgery: Risks and Benefits
Understanding Throat Dryness and Breathing Issues During Sleep
Dry throat, affecting breathing during sleep? Hello, doctor. I have been experiencing this condition for about 9 months. While sleeping, I feel a sensation of pressure in my throat, and sometimes I wake up suddenly because I can't breathe. (I have a normal body weight with n...
Dr. Li Jiaxuan Reply:
First, assess the qualitative issues of the internal evaluation tool. If there are no problems, you can proceed to check for sleep apnea. Wishing you well.[Read More] Understanding Throat Dryness and Breathing Issues During Sleep
Can Sedatives Affect Sleep Test Results for Sleep Apnea?
Sleep study Hello doctor, I would like to ask a question. I usually experience a lot of work-related stress and have been seeing a psychiatrist who prescribed me alprazolam (Xanax) to take three times a day. However, I only take it before bed and have been doing so for several ye...
Dr. Li Jiaxuan Reply:
Sedatives can cause muscle relaxation. If you do not usually take them, it is best not to take sedatives just for the purpose of undergoing an examination. Individuals who experience severe sleep apnea should refrain from taking medication, as they may still have sleep apnea with...[Read More] Can Sedatives Affect Sleep Test Results for Sleep Apnea?
Post-Tonsillectomy Complications: Understanding Swelling and Breathing Issues
Tonsillectomy Doctor, I recently underwent a tonsillectomy due to chronic tonsillitis and was discharged after two days in the hospital. My surgical site is still swollen, and the uvula may have been affected during the procedure, resulting in a white swollen area. Over the past ...
Dr. Li Jiaxuan Reply:
Based on your description, the wound is currently quite swollen and has not fully healed. The swelling is expected to persist for about another 10 days after discharge. It is recommended to elevate your pillow a bit to help alleviate the swelling. Wishing you a safe recovery.[Read More] Post-Tonsillectomy Complications: Understanding Swelling and Breathing Issues
Understanding Chronic Tonsillitis and Throat Inflammation: Causes and Concerns
Tonsillitis and pharyngitis? Hello Doctor, I have been experiencing recurrent inflammation of my tonsils, which sometimes improves but then flares up again. Additionally, I have had persistent throat inflammation for a long time. I previously consulted a traditional Chinese medic...
Dr. Ji Zhaoyun Reply:
Hello, the situation you described may be chronic pharyngitis. It is recommended to seek medical attention for a laryngoscopy to rule out any masses and to consider pharmacological treatment. In addition to medication, daily lifestyle precautions include: avoiding lying down for ...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Tonsillitis and Throat Inflammation: Causes and Concerns
Understanding Septoplasty: Your Questions Answered on Surgery and Recovery
Consultation for Septoplasty Surgery Hello Doctor, I recently underwent an examination and was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and it was determined that I have a severely deviated septum on one side, so surgery has been recommended. However, I am a bit afraid of the surgery and have...
Dr. Zheng Jueyi Reply:
Hello, the details of the surgery may vary depending on the procedures of each hospital and the preferences of each physician. For related questions, it is advisable to consult directly with the surgeon for more accurate information. Wishing you safety and health. Sincerely, Dr. ...[Read More] Understanding Septoplasty: Your Questions Answered on Surgery and Recovery
Post-Operative Care for Sleep Apnea Surgery: Nutritional Guidance and Concerns
Postoperative care for sleep apnea? Hello Doctor: I recently underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and tonsillectomy five days ago due to long-term obstructive sleep apnea issues. My postoperative recovery has been slow, and I am currently unable to swallow regular food (I still ca...
Dr. Zheng Jueyi Reply:
Hello: Some studies suggest that turmeric has anticoagulant effects, and it is recommended to start using it two weeks post-surgery for safety, or to choose other health supplements that do not contain turmeric. Wishing you safety and health. Sincerely, Dr. Cheng Jue-Yi, Director...[Read More] Post-Operative Care for Sleep Apnea Surgery: Nutritional Guidance and Concerns
Understanding Snoring: Causes and Solutions for Better Sleep
Snoring during sleep? Hello, Doctor. I find it troubling that I snore whether I'm sleeping lying down or napping on my desk. I previously underwent testing, but the facility said I do not have sleep apnea. However, I still feel tired every day regardless of how much sleep I ...
Dr. Li Jiaxuan Reply:
Snoring and sleep apnea can both lead to a decrease in blood oxygen levels, but the severity may vary. Based on your description, it seems that snoring and nasal congestion are affecting your sleep quality. Surgery or weight loss should have a certain degree of effectiveness, but...[Read More] Understanding Snoring: Causes and Solutions for Better Sleep