Sleep apnea is a common condition that causes your breathing to stop and restart many times when you sleep. Symptoms can range from mild to serious, but if left untreated, sleep apnea can severely impact your day-to-day life.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea experience starts and stops in their breathing as they sleep. This can prevent their bodies from getting enough oxygen and cause serious problems if left untreated. Symptoms most often include snoring or gasping during sleep and general symptoms of fatigue including excessive daytime sleepiness.
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Both conditions impact a person’s breathing in the same way but the source of the problem differs by condition.
Obstructive sleep apnea is more common and happens when your upper airway becomes blocked many times when you sleep. Common risk factors for this condition include obesity, large tonsils, or changes in your hormone levels.
Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain fails to send the correct signals needed to breathe. This condition is less common but can occur in combination with health conditions that affect how your brain controls your airway and chest muscles.
Does Severe Sleep Apnea Qualify for Social Security Disability?
When discussing sleep apnea and disability, the answer depends on a number of factors.
First, claimants must have sufficient medical evidence establishing a diagnosis of sleep apnea. Medical providers will typically recommend a sleep study to diagnose sleep apnea. Next, claimants must use recommended treatments by their providers. Commonly, doctors recommend breathing devices such as a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine and lifestyle changes to treat sleep apnea. If these treatments don’t work, surgery is an option.
If these treatment methods are successful and you don’t have additional medical conditions limiting your ability to work, you are not disabled. But if you suffer from other medical conditions in addition to sleep apnea that severely limit your ability to seek out full-time work, your disability claim may be successful. In this instance, sleep apnea may be one condition your disability lawyer references as a part of your larger medical impairment picture.
Disability Lawyers in Winston-Salem
This content was provided by Collins Price, PLLC. Our experienced disability lawyers in Winston-Salem are compassionate and client-focused. If you are applying for or appealing a denied disability claim, contact our firm today for a free consultation. There is no obligation to hire our firm and no fee for our services unless you win your claim.
