Sleep apnea doctor in Fort Lauderdale
Loud snoring, gasping at night or waking up tired are worth taking seriously. Dr. Camilo Ruiz, a dual board-certified sleep specialist and internist, gets you tested comfortably, at home or in the lab, and finds a treatment you can live with.
Camilo Ruiz, DO · Board-certified in sleep medicine and internal medicine
What does a sleep apnea doctor do?
A sleep apnea doctor finds out whether your breathing stops or gets shallow during sleep, what type of sleep apnea you have, and how severe it is. That usually means a visit, then a home sleep apnea test or an overnight sleep study in a lab. The doctor then explains your results and helps you choose a treatment, such as a CPAP machine, an oral appliance or other options, and checks that it is working.
Does this sound like you?
- My partner says I snore loudly, and sometimes I stop breathing and then gasp.
- I sleep a full night but still wake up tired.
- I wake up with a dry mouth or a headache.
- I nod off while reading, watching TV or sitting at a red light.
- I get up several times a night to use the bathroom.
- I was given a CPAP machine, but I can't get used to it.
How Dr. Ruiz evaluates and treats sleep apnea
A careful sleep and health history
Dr. Ruiz asks about snoring, sleepiness, your medicines and your other health conditions. If you can, bring your bed partner or ask them what they notice at night.
The right sleep test for you
Many people can use a home sleep apnea test. Others need an overnight study in a sleep lab, for example when heart, lung or nerve problems are present or another sleep disorder is suspected.
Clear results and a plan
Dr. Ruiz goes over your results in plain words: what type of sleep apnea you have, how severe it is, and which treatments fit your health and daily life.
Help getting used to treatment
Mask fit, dry mouth and air pressure problems are common at first. Dr. Ruiz follows up, reviews how treatment is going and adjusts the plan when something is not working.
Care for the rest of your health
Because he is also an internist, Dr. Ruiz can look at sleep apnea alongside blood pressure, heart rhythm, blood sugar and weight.
Referrals when needed
If an oral appliance, surgery or a nerve stimulation implant may help, Dr. Ruiz refers you to a dentist or surgeon trained in sleep apnea care.
Obstructive and central sleep apnea are not the same
In obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, the muscles in your throat relax during sleep and the airway narrows or closes. Air cannot get through easily, so breathing pauses or becomes shallow. Your brain wakes you just enough to open the airway again, often with a snort or gasp. This can happen many times an hour without you remembering it.
In central sleep apnea, the airway may be open, but the brain does not send steady signals to the muscles that control breathing. It is less common and is more often linked to heart failure, stroke, some pain medicines or being at high altitude. Some people have both types. Knowing which type you have matters, because the best treatment for one is not always right for the other. A sleep study shows the pattern of your breathing and helps Dr. Ruiz tell them apart.
Home sleep test or overnight lab study?
A home sleep apnea test is a small device you wear in your own bed for one or more nights. It records your breathing, oxygen level and heart rate. It is a good choice for many adults who are likely to have obstructive sleep apnea and do not have other major health problems.
An in-lab sleep study, called polysomnography, is done overnight in a sleep center. Along with breathing, it records brain waves, eye and leg movements and sleep stages. Dr. Ruiz may order it if you have heart failure, lung disease, a nerve or muscle condition, or signs of another sleep disorder, or if a home test was negative but your symptoms still point to sleep apnea. Either way, he reviews the results with you and explains what they mean.
Why treating sleep apnea matters for your heart
Sleep apnea is about more than snoring. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, sleep apnea may raise the risk of high blood pressure that is hard to control, an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Untreated sleep apnea can also make you sleepy during the day, which makes driving less safe.
This is one reason Dr. Ruiz looks at the whole picture. If your blood pressure stays high even on medicine, or you have atrial fibrillation, it may be worth checking your sleep. If you already have sleep apnea, he can follow your blood pressure, blood sugar and weight at the same practice. Treatment can help with sleepiness and snoring, and your plan is checked over time to make sure it is doing its job.
Treatment options compared
| Treatment | How it works | Often used for | Who provides it |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAP therapy (CPAP or APAP) | A machine sends gentle air pressure through a mask to keep your airway open. APAP adjusts the pressure on its own through the night. | Obstructive sleep apnea of any severity; the most widely used treatment | Prescribed by your sleep doctor; supplied by a medical equipment company |
| Oral appliance | A custom mouthpiece worn at night that moves your lower jaw forward to keep the airway open. | Mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or people who cannot use PAP | Made and fitted by a dentist trained in sleep apnea care |
| Positional therapy | Devices or habits that keep you sleeping on your side instead of your back. | Sleep apnea that happens mainly when lying on your back | Recommended by your sleep doctor |
| Weight management | Losing extra weight can reduce pressure on the airway. It may be used with other treatments. | People with overweight or obesity | Your doctor, with diet, activity, medicine or surgery when appropriate |
| Surgery or hypoglossal nerve stimulation | Surgery can remove or reshape tissue in the nose, mouth or throat. A nerve stimulation implant moves the tongue forward during sleep. | Selected people who cannot use or do not do well with PAP | Referral to an ear, nose and throat surgeon |
What to expect
- Step 1
Request a visit
Call the office. We'll find a time and tell you what to bring.
- Step 2
First appointment
Dr. Ruiz goes over your sleep, your health history and what you've already tried.
- Step 3
Testing, if needed
A home or in-lab sleep study, or blood work.
- Step 4
Treatment and follow-up
You leave with a plan, and come back to adjust it.
Related conditions and care
Patients come to our Fort Lauderdale office from Las Olas, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Oakland Park, Lauderhill, Plantation, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and across South Florida.
Common questions
Is snoring always a sign of sleep apnea?
No. Many people snore without having sleep apnea. But loud snoring with pauses in breathing, gasping or choking, or daytime sleepiness, can be a sign of it. A sleep test is the way to find out.
Can I do a sleep apnea test at home?
Often, yes. A home sleep apnea test works well for many adults who are likely to have obstructive sleep apnea. If you have certain heart, lung or nerve conditions, or signs of another sleep disorder, an overnight study in a sleep lab may be a better choice. Your doctor will help you decide.
What if I can't get used to my CPAP?
This is common, and there is often a fix. A different mask, a humidifier, a pressure change or a slower start can help. If PAP still does not work for you, other options include an oral appliance, positional therapy, weight loss, surgery or a nerve stimulation implant.
Do I need a dentist for an oral appliance?
Yes. An oral appliance for sleep apnea is custom-made and fitted by a dentist with training in sleep apnea care. Your sleep doctor diagnoses the sleep apnea first and can then refer you. A follow-up sleep test may be used to check that the appliance is working.
Will losing weight make my sleep apnea go away?
Losing weight can reduce sleep apnea for some people with overweight or obesity, and in some cases it may lessen how much treatment is needed. It does not help everyone, and sleep apnea can have other causes. Your doctor can recheck your sleep after weight loss before changing treatment.
What is the difference between obstructive and central sleep apnea?
In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway in the throat narrows or closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the brain does not send steady signals to breathe. A sleep study can show which type you have, and that helps guide treatment.
Written by Sleep & Internal Medicine Specialists. Last updated . This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation.
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Schedule an Appointment
Send a request any time, or call Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. 1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.