Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Dr. Bowden is one the few ENT specialists in Houston who is board-certified in both Otolaryngology and Sleep Medicine. She is adept at identifying when testing is necessary and working with her patients to find the most practical treatment plan for their sleep apnea.
Sleep Testing & Diagnosis
Diagnosis begins with a thorough history and examination of the patient’s upper airway. If necessary, further evaluation with a sleep study can be performed, usually in the comfort of the patient’s home.
WatchPat Home Sleep Test
The most accurate, comfortable, and convenient home sleep test on the market.
- No probes are required on the head.
- Data is sent to the cloud and equipment is disposed of after use.
- Test can be shipped anywhere in the state of Texas and follow-up arranged via telemedicine appointment.
Treatment
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective treatment for sleep apnea. We provide CPAP machines, tubing, and masks at below-market prices (our CPAP machines start at $1,350.00) to make them more accessible to our patients.
CPAP
We offer a variety of CPAP ( or AutoPAP) masks and machines to treat sleep apnea. Pictured on the far left is our smallest model - a travel CPAP machine and pictured on the far right is our most popular mask that fits below the nostrils.
Unfortunately, many people with sleep apnea have difficulty using CPAP due to factors such as nasal congestion, claustrophobia, and mask discomfort. At BreatheSW, we provide a variety of mask options, educate patients on proper mask fitting, treat nasal congestion if necessary, and coach patients while they learn how to use their CPAP machine.
Since excess weight is the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea, we provide services at our Sleep & Wellness clinic to help our patients with sustainable weight loss, including Precision Nutrition, Wellness Classes, and our Infrared Sauna.
ExciteOSA is worn for 20 minutes a day.
Non-invasive airway modification is the next step if the above measures fail. To address the issue of the tongue collapsing into the throat during sleep, a new device called ExciteOSA uses topical energy to strengthen the tongue muscles. Patients place the device on their tongue for 20 minutes a day for 6 weeks, over time increasing the resting tone of the tongue muscles. The device costs $750 and the manufacturer provides a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Oral appliances that bring the lower jaw forward are another option. These can be very effective but can cause inflammation of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). We do not provide oral appliances but can refer you to a dentist who can.
Occasionally surgery can be helpful. Dr. Bowden is one of the few specialists in Houston who is trained in multiple modalities of surgical airway treatment.