There have been tremendous advancements in telehealth appointments over the past few years, and access to airway and sleep professionals is now easier than it’s ever been before. For those suffering from restless sleep, constant fatigue, chronic headaches, and other sleep-related breathing disorder symptoms, help is one virtual airway assessment away. Rather than physically visiting a sleep and airway center to start on your journey to better health, you can partake in a virtual airway assessment instead. Here’s what you can expect during the virtual consultation with Dr. Turner at the Bloom Center for Sleep & Airway Health. This allows you to have some of your questions answered prior to coming into the office!
Why Should I Schedule a Virtual Airway Assessment?
Sleep-disordered breathing is surprisingly at the root of many common symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, headaches, snoring, and more. It affects as many as 49.7% of men and 23.4% of women around the world, and can lead to poor health outcomes if left untreated. Many people are unaware that they have a sleep-related breathing disorder, as our health community is just now tapping into the connection between quality sleep, airway structure, and overall health.
Most often, sleep-related breathing disorders cause similar symptoms among those who have it, such as:
- Snoring (contrary to common belief, snoring is not normal!)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
- Lack of concentration and/or forgetfulness
- Headaches in the morning
- Feeling depressed
- Night sweats
- Weight gain
- General fatigue
- Sexual dysfunction
- Nocturia (waking to urinate)
- Stress
- Neck, shoulder, and back tension
- Suddenly stopping snoring and resuming snoring several times during sleep
- Difficult breastfeeding for babies
- Chronic nasal congestion in older children
In short, those who have a sleep-related breathing disorder don’t get the quality of sleep they need because their airway is obstructed throughout the night (whether they are aware of it or not). If a sleep-related breathing disorder is suspected, it’s wise to get a virtual airway assessment to see if one is at play.
What Happens During a Virtual Airway Assessment?
During a virtual airway assessment, you will meet with Dr. Elizabeth Turner, via a video call, from the comfort of your own home. Dr. Turner will ask you questions about your health history and ongoing symptoms. She will also ask questions about your habits in a wide range of daily functions, such as speech, eating, sleeping, and more. She will also be on the lookout for signs of:
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring
- Sleep apnea
- Daytime fatigue
- Nasal congestion
- Head posture
- Tongue rest & posture
- Tongue-tie or restriction
The purpose of the appointment will be to identify any underlying breathing and health problems, and then to work together to formulate a treatment plan to improve and eliminate the underlying issue. In some cases, that might mean changing the shape of the jawbone through myofunctional therapy, and in others, a tongue-tie release. Regardless of the solution, we’re here to help you sleep and breathe better.
What If I Think My Child Has a Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder?
Do you think your child may be suffering from a sleep-related breathing disorder? Ask yourself these questions:
- Are your child’s lips parted during the day, or during the night?
- Does your child wet the bed?
- Do they snore or gasp?
- Do they get up often during the night, or sleep restlessly or noisily?
- Do they have bags under their eyes?
- Do they struggle with attention or behavior?
- Do they grind their teeth?
- Have they struggled with eating or breastfeeding?
- Are they a picky eater?
- Are their tonsils and adenoids enlarged?
- Do they have trouble forming certain words or sounds?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you should schedule a virtual airway assessment for your child. You and your child will meet with Dr. Turner via a video call, from the comfort of your own home. She will ask questions about your child’s sleeping, feeding, speech, and other habits to help identify any signs of a sleep-related breathing disorder. She will also be on the lookout for signs of a tongue-tie, as the two are often related.
Schedule Your Virtual Airway Assessment Today!
When your sleep and breathing is compromised, your health can take a major toll. Through a virtual airway assessment, however, you can work with Dr. Elizabeth Turner to find the root issue and get on the path to better health. Schedule a virtual consultation today!