Jun 13, 2019
Joana Vaz de Castro, ORL, discusses the research and treatment of diseases of the ears, nose, and larynx, as well as sleep disorders.
Joana Vaz de Castro is an Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) Specialist, commonly referred to as an ear, nose and throat surgeon, or ENT. Joana earned her Masters in Medicine from the Nova Medical School, went on to complete her specialist degree in ORL, then began her work in the Ph.D. Neuroscience Program of the University of Lisbon Medical School. Additionally, Joana trained for certification in sleep medicine at the European Sleep Research Society in the Centre of Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology (CENC).
The Ph.D. talks about her background and her particular interest in sleep-disordered breathing. She explains how snoring and sleep apnea affects the body. She discusses the obstructions to breathing and elaborates on how they work with patients to treat the whole problem, not just one element. And she talks in detail about the anatomical disorders and options for treatment.
ENT doctors can provide advanced medical and surgical care for patients who suffer from many issues related to the proper functioning of the ear, nose, and throat areas of the body, including but not limited to chronic allergies, facial pain, headaches, sleep disorders or other sinus or ENT conditions.
The sleep doctor details some of the current issues with insurance and the types of evaluations sleep doctors should engage in with all their patients, and the discussions doctors should have pre and post surgery.
The sleep expert and Ph.D. further discusses how insomnia and sleep apnea often go together, especially with women. She states that both must be treated at the same time in order for treatment to be most effective. Joana provides valuable information on some of the various breathing masks that are available and some of the issues that users occasionally have with them.
Additionally, she discusses mild sleep apnea and how it may progress as patients get older, put on additional weight, etc.