Sleep and breathing disorders can significantly impact your health and quality of life, affecting everything from your energy levels to your cardiovascular system. These conditions, including snoring, sleep apnea, and various vocal cord disorders, can disrupt your breathing patterns during sleep and wakefulness, leading to fragmented sleep, daytime fatigue, and potential long-term health complications if left untreated.
At Kaplan Sinus Relief, Dr. Michael Kaplan offers specialized treatments for a comprehensive range of sleep and breathing conditions. Our expertise includes advanced solutions like balloon sinuplasty for sinus snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, surgical interventions such as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, specialized care for voice and vocal cord disorders, and targeted treatments for vocal cord paralysis.
Don’t let sleep and breathing disorders compromise your health and quality of life. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kaplan for a thorough evaluation and personalized treatment plan. Dr. Kaplan can help restore proper breathing function, improve your sleep quality, and enhance your vocal health, allowing you to live life to its fullest.
Snoring and sleep apnea
Sleep apnea and snoring are common breathing disorders that affect sleep quality. Snoring occurs when air passes through narrowed airways, while sleep apnea involves complete airway collapse that temporarily stops breathing. These interruptions can happen repeatedly throughout the night, disrupting sleep cycles and reducing oxygen levels without your awareness.
Key signs you stop breathing while sleeping include:
- Loud, persistent snoring
- Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
- Gasping or choking upon awakening
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- High blood pressure
Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk for serious conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. At Kaplan Sinus Relief, Dr. Kaplan provides tailored snoring and sleep apnea treatment options, including balloon sinuplasty, aimed at addressing the underlying anatomical causes of your breathing difficulties.
Our approach focuses on delivering effective, potentially permanent solutions that may eliminate the need for lifetime CPAP therapy, helping you achieve the restful sleep essential for your overall health.
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy involve the surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids — lymphatic tissues located in the throat and behind the nasal cavity. While these tissues normally help fight infections, they can become chronically enlarged or inflamed, causing significant breathing difficulties and recurring infections. When these tissues create more health problems than benefits, surgical intervention often becomes the recommended solution.
How do you know if you need your tonsils or adenoids removed? Key indicators include:
- Recurrent throat infections or tonsillitis
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Chronic snoring
- Recurrent ear infections
- Difficulty swallowing
- Speech problems
Dr. Kaplan employs advanced surgical techniques that significantly reduce discomfort and recovery time compared to traditional approaches. Patients typically experience substantial improvements in breathing quality, sleep patterns, and a noticeable reduction in infections following these procedures. Each case receives careful evaluation to determine if tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy would provide meaningful, long-lasting relief for your specific breathing and sleep concerns.
Voice and vocal cord disorders
Voice and vocal cord disorders encompass a range of conditions affecting the larynx (voice box) and vocal folds, impacting sound production and quality. These disorders can stem from overuse, irritation, inflammation, growths, or neurological issues. When vocal function becomes impaired, it can significantly affect communication, professional performance, and overall quality of life.
Common voice and vocal cord disorders include:
- Vocal nodules and polyps
- Laryngitis (acute and chronic)
- Muscle tension dysphonia
- Vocal cord hemorrhage
- Vocal tremor
- Spasmodic dysphonia
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux
Using advanced diagnostic technology, including video stroboscopy, Dr. Kaplan can precisely identify the underlying causes of vocal issues. Treatment approaches range from voice therapy and medication to minimally invasive procedures for more complex conditions.
With appropriate intervention, many patients experience significant improvement in voice quality and function, allowing them to speak, sing, and communicate with renewed confidence.
Vocal cord paralysis
Vocal cord paralysis occurs when one or both vocal folds cannot move properly due to nerve damage or disruption. This condition prevents the vocal cords from closing completely during speech or swallowing, leading to voice changes and potential breathing or swallowing difficulties. The paralysis may result from surgical injury, viral infections, neurological disorders, or sometimes without an identifiable cause.
Symptoms of vocal cord paralysis include:
- Breathy or hoarse voice quality
- Voice fatigue and weakness
- Difficulty projecting your voice
- Shortness of breath while speaking
- Frequent throat clearing
- Choking or coughing while eating/drinking
- Sensation of food sticking in throat
- Aspiration of liquids or food particles
At Kaplan Sinus Relief, Dr. Kaplan offers care for vocal cord paralysis through detailed evaluation and personalized treatment plans. Options may include voice therapy techniques, temporary injections to bulk up the affected cord, or more permanent surgical procedures like thyroplasty or reinnervation. Our goal is to restore voice function and reduce swallowing difficulties by improving vocal cord closure.
Many patients experience significant improvement in their vocal quality and related symptoms with appropriate intervention, allowing them to regain confidence in their communication abilities.
Learn more
Why wait for better breathing? Your solution is one consultation away.
Living with sleep and breathing disorders can take a toll on your health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Dr. Kaplan’s specialized treatments address the root causes of these conditions, offering effective solutions that go beyond temporary symptom relief. Our comprehensive approach to snoring, sleep apnea, vocal cord disorders, and related conditions has helped countless patients breathe better and live fuller lives.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kaplan today and discover the difference expert care can make. Our team will provide a thorough evaluation, answer your questions, and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Why wait for better breathing? Your solution is one consultation away.