Sleep Apnea Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is sleep apnea treatment?
Snoring is the sound of air vibrating the soft tissues of the throat as you breathe during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea goes a step further: the airway narrows so much, or closes completely, that breathing pauses for a few seconds or longer. The brain rouses you briefly to reopen the airway, often with a snort or gasp, and this can repeat many times an hour without you remembering it.
Sleep apnea treatment brings together three steps: finding out whether you have apnoea and how severe it is, identifying where in the nose and throat the narrowing happens, and choosing the treatment that keeps the airway open through the night. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, this care is led by the ENT surgeon, who focuses on the structures of the airway itself.
Who needs it
Assessment is worthwhile if a partner hears you stop breathing, gasp or choke in your sleep, if you wake unrefreshed after a full night, or if you fall asleep easily during the day, in meetings or behind the wheel. Other clues include morning headaches, waking at night to pass urine, a dry mouth on waking, poor concentration and irritability. Sleep apnoea is linked with high blood pressure that is hard to control, heart rhythm problems and type 2 diabetes, so doctors in other specialties often suggest an ENT review.
Risk rises with weight gained around the neck, a naturally narrow jaw or throat, large tonsils, a blocked nose, smoking and shisha, which irritate and swell the throat lining, and alcohol or sleeping tablets in the evening, which relax the throat muscles. Children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids can have apnoea too, and in children it often shows as restless sleep and daytime hyperactivity rather than sleepiness; see adenoid removal.
The choice of treatment depends on the sleep study result and on what the examination finds. Weight loss, sleeping on your side and nasal treatment suit milder cases. CPAP is the standard treatment for moderate and severe apnoea. Surgery is considered for a clear structural cause, such as large tonsils or a bent septum, or to make CPAP easier to use. Your surgeon talks through each option with you before any decision is made.
What happens
Your first appointment covers your sleep, your daytime alertness, your medical history and your medicines. The ENT surgeon examines your nose, mouth and throat, and a thin flexible camera is often passed through the nose to see the airway behind the tongue and soft palate.
A sleep study is then arranged to measure breathing, oxygen levels and pauses overnight. For many adults this is a home study, with small sensors worn in your own bed for a night; others are referred to a dedicated sleep centre for a fuller study. The result shows whether you have apnoea and grades its severity, which guides treatment:
- Weight and lifestyle: gradual weight loss, stopping smoking and shisha, and avoiding alcohol close to bedtime
- Positional therapy: simple aids that keep you on your side, for apnoea that happens mainly on your back
- CPAP: a small bedside machine that delivers gentle air pressure through a mask to hold the airway open; it is prescribed after the study and supplied by referral to an equipment provider
- Nasal treatment: sprays for a swollen nasal lining, or septoplasty for a bent septum, to improve nasal breathing and CPAP comfort
- Surgery for selected causes: such as tonsillectomy for large tonsils, usually as a day case
A mouth guard that holds the lower jaw forward, made by a dentist, suits some people with milder apnoea.
Preparing for it
Ask your partner to note or record your snoring and any pauses in breathing, since this is valuable evidence. Keep a short sleep diary for a week, including bedtime, waking time, naps and daytime sleepiness. Bring a list of your medicines, your blood pressure readings and any earlier sleep study reports.
On the night of a home study, follow your normal routine and sleep in your usual position so the result reflects a typical night.
Afterwards
Most people using CPAP each night notice clearer thinking and more energy within weeks, and partners notice quieter nights. The first weeks are a period of adjustment, and mask fit, pressure and humidity can all be tuned at follow-up. Air conditioning dries the nose and throat, so ask about humidification if you wake with a dry mouth. Take your machine in hand luggage when flying, and plan ahead for travel and Ramadan so treatment continues.
Do not drive when you feel sleepy. On long drives, such as between emirates, stop and rest at the first sign of drowsiness, and wait until treatment has taken effect before driving long distances.
Contact your ENT surgeon if daytime sleepiness returns, if the mask causes sores or leaks, or if your weight changes a lot, since pressure settings may need review. Seek urgent care for chest pain, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or severe breathlessness.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE insurance plans cover the ENT consultation and examination. Sleep studies, CPAP machines and surgery often require insurance pre-approval, and cover for equipment varies between plans. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of untreated sleep apnea?
Untreated obstructive sleep apnoea raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, stroke and road accidents caused by drowsiness. Treatment reduces these risks, which is why assessment is worthwhile even if snoring seems to be the only problem.
What are the risks and limitations of sleep apnea surgery?
Surgery works best when there is a single clear cause, such as large tonsils or a bent septum, and it may reduce apnoea without removing it completely, so some people still need CPAP afterwards. Risks depend on the operation and include pain, bleeding and infection, and your surgeon explains them before you decide.
Is all snoring a sign of sleep apnea?
No, many people snore without having apnoea. Snoring together with pauses in breathing, gasping or daytime sleepiness is the pattern that suggests apnoea and needs a sleep study.
Is the sleep study done in the hospital?
The sleep study is arranged rather than carried out in a sleep laboratory at the hospital. Many adults have a home study with sensors worn overnight in their own bed, while others are referred to a dedicated sleep centre when a fuller study is needed.
Will I have to use CPAP for the rest of my life?
CPAP controls sleep apnoea while you use it rather than curing it, so most people continue using it long term. Significant weight loss or treatment of a structural cause can reduce or sometimes remove the need, and a repeat sleep study shows whether that has happened.
Can losing weight cure sleep apnea?
Weight loss often reduces the severity of sleep apnoea and sometimes resolves mild cases, because fat around the neck narrows the airway. The effect varies between people, so a repeat sleep study is the way to check.
Can I take my CPAP machine when I fly?
You can usually carry a CPAP machine in your hand luggage, and most airlines treat it as a medical device. Check your airline's policy before travelling and carry a copy of your prescription.
Is sleep apnea treatment covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover the ENT consultation, while sleep studies, CPAP equipment and surgery often need pre-approval and equipment cover varies. Call Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777 to confirm your cover.
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