Mark Russo, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist who specializes in sleep surgery. He sees patients at MedStar Health at Lafayette Center. His areas of expertise include the full range of surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, including tonsillectomy, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (a surgical procedure that opens the upper airways by removing extra tissue in the throat), nasal surgery to help patients tolerate CPAP treatment better, and hypoglossal nerve stimulator implants (an implant that stimulates a nerve in rhythm with the patient’s breathing to help keep the airway clear).
Dr. Russo has presented his research at professional meetings and conferences and has published in peer-reviewed journals, including Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and Clinical Case Reports. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. He is also a member of the MedStar Georgetown Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Diversity Committee.
His philosophy of care centers on caring for the whole person. He takes time with each patient to build a collaborative partnership so patients can be informed and active participants in their care.
Dr. Russo earned his medical degree and completed a residency in otolaryngology head and neck surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He also completed a general surgery internship at Rush University - John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospitals in Chicago, Illinois.
Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which you stop breathing for several seconds at a time during the night, is also a possibility. If your partner complains that you snore loudly, or you often feel fatigued during the day despite logging a solid eight hours in bed, ask your primary care doctor or a sleep specialist if you should be checked for this condition.
It’s possible that allergies, acid reflux, or the lack of humidity in your bedroom are to blame.