Approximately 30 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea.  Apnea is a Greek word meaning, "without breath." 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea  is a condition in which a person stops breathing repeatedly through the night. Breathing stops because the throat or "airway" collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs. Sleep patterns are disrupted, resulting in excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day.

If you have sleep apnea, this cycle may repeat hundreds of times during the night while you have no idea it is happening. This evens will not allow you to gain the restorative effects of sleep and will predispose to many other medical conditions that will reduce your general well being and survival.

Zafiro Med works in conjunction with Florida Lung and Sleep Apnea Center  (both created and directed by Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez) to offer physician directed evaluation and coordination of treatment of your sleep apnea condition.

Our sleep services include an easy Home Sleep Apnea test and coordination of the process to obtain the necessary equipment to begin your therapy to treat this very common disorder.

Home Sleep Test (HST):    The advantage of home testing is that it allows you to sleep in the comfort of your own bed, while a small device worn around your chest collects clinical data as you sleep.  The information collected will identify obstructive sleep apnea and its severity.

Getting the Equipment:
At Zafior Med we sell CPAP / AUTO CPAP equipment including masks and accessories at a very reasonable price.

Florida Lung and Sleep Apnea Center can also coordinate the acquisition of these equipment through your insurance carrier (if covered by your plan).

Troubleshooting and Follow up:
Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez and staff will be available to help you adjust to therapy and will advise on changes that will make your treatment successful. 

Common signs and symptoms of Sleep Apnea

  • Fatigue and tiredness during the day
  • Loud snoring
  • Waking up with choking or gasping
  • Not feeling rested in the morning or satisfied with a night's sleep
  • A strong desire to take a daily afternoon nap
  • Unexplained accidents or errors
  • Morning headaches
  • Obesity / weight gain
  • Small jaw, thick neck
  • High blood pressure
  • Restless sleep; the repeated struggle to breath can be associated with a great deal of movement.
  • Depressed mood and/or irritability
  • Reduced sex drive and impotence
  • Snoring, gasping, choking during sleep

Do you snore and think you have Sleep Apnea?

  1. Do you snore?
  2. Are you excessively tired during the day?
  3. Have you been told you stop breathing during your sleep?
  4. Do you have a history of hypertension?
  5. Does your neck measure > 17 inches (male) or > 16 inches (female)?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you have a positive screening for Sleep Apnea.  Contact Zafiro Med to schedule an appointment.

How serious is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition that can potentially produce life-threatening issues.

Undiagnosed severe sleep apnea can cause irregular heartbeats, unstable high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest during sleep, or a harmful accident.

Increased daytime sleepiness poses a serious risk of automobile accidents, impaired functioning in the workplace and in personal relationships.

Untreated sleep apnea tends to progressively worsen and can cause partial or complete disability or death.

How is Sleep Apnea treated?

At Zafiro Med Center our number one goal is to get out patient’s back to enjoying the life they once had prior to their sleep deprivation.  The most commonly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

How does PAP or "CPAP" therapy work?

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) treats OSA by providing a gentle flow of positive-pressure air through a facial mask to keep the airway open during sleep. As a result:

  • Breathing becomes regular during sleep
  • Snoring stops
  • Restful sleep is restored
  • Quality of life is improved
  • Risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and motor vehicle and work accidents is reduced

What are the benefits of regular usage of PAP therapy?

Most PAP users who remain committed to treatment enjoy:

  • Increased energy and attentiveness
  • Fewer morning headaches
  • Reduced irritability
  • Improved memory
  • Increased ability to exercise
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Decreased risk of strokes and heart attacks
  • Increased effectiveness at home and at work
  • Improved overall quality of life

CPAP

A CPAP (Continues Airway Pressure) machine delivers air pressure through a small mask that the patient wears while sleeping.  The pressure acts as an "air splint" which keeps the throat open, eliminating obstructive apneas.

Sleep becomes uninterrupted and restorative, and dramatically improves daytime functioning as well as general health.

Oral Dental Device

For those patients who do not tolerate CPAP therapy or are not interested in using it , we can direct you to a Board Certified Sleep Apnea Dentist. They will be able to fit you with a dental device that will help to reduce your OSA incidence and symptoms.

 

Surgery

Dr. Rodriguez and staff will assess if  a surgical correction will help you to reduce / resolved you airway obstruction. Unfortunately only a small subset of patients will benefit from surgical procedures.

Weight Loss

Zafiro Med offers Medically supervised weight loss that may help reduce / cure your obstructive sleep apnea.

Will my Insurance cover the diagnostic and therapy for OSA?

Most major insurance carrier will cover diagnosis and therapy of OSA.

At Zafiro Med & Florida Lung Sleep Apnea Center we specialize in coordinating the process with your doctor / insurance. 

We also have self pay rates that are very competitive and will not break the  bank.

We will be working with you all the way, from dealing with your insurance (as applicable) until the time you are happily enjoying your new refreshed life.

Why is sleep important?

To understand why sleep is important, think of your body like a factory that performs a number of vital functions. As you drift off to sleep, your body begins its night-shift work:

  • Healing damaged cells
  • Boosting your immune system
  • Recovering from the day’s activities
  • Recharging your heart and cardiovascular system for the next day

We all know the value of sleeping well, and we’ve all experienced the feeling of being refreshed after a good night’s sleep – and the feeling of fatigue after a poor night’s sleep. But even though we know this, in our busy society, many of us are not getting the quality sleep needed to truly receive the health benefits of sleep.

Understanding the sleep cycle 

Understanding what happens during sleep also means understanding the sleep cycle, which consists of  two recurring phases: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-REM or non-rapid eye movement). Both phases are important for different functions in our bodies.

NREM sleep typically occupies 75–80% of total sleep each night. Many of the health benefits of sleep take place during NREM sleep – tissue growth and repair occurs, energy is restored and hormones that are essential for growth and development are released.

REM sleep typically occupies 20–25% of total sleep each night. REM sleep, when dreaming occurs, is essential to our minds for processing and consolidating emotions, memories and stress. It is also thought to be vital for learning, stimulating the brain regions used in learning and developing new skills.

If the REM and NREM cycles are interrupted multiple times throughout the night — either due to snoring, difficulties breathing or waking up frequently throughout the night — then we miss out on vital body processes, which can affect our health and well-being the next day and long term.

What happens if you don’t get enough sleep?

If your body doesn’t get a chance to properly recharge – by cycling through REM and NREM – you’re already starting the next day at a disadvantage. You might find yourself:

  • Feeling drowsy, irritable or sometimes depressed
  • Struggling to take in new information at work, remembering things or 
  • making decisions
  • Craving more unhealthy foods, which could cause weight gain

If this happens night after night, it places a tremendous strain on your nervous system, body and overall health. So if you’re not sleeping well or aren’t feeling rested when you wake up in the morning, it’s important to talk to your doctor and ask if a sleep study is right for you.