Important! Snoring is a health risk!

Snoring is a health risk! Are you embarrassed or annoyed by your own snoring or someone else’s snoring? Do you snicker when people talk about snoring? It is no laughing matter! People who snore may have a medical condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Severe OSA patients have a 40% greater chance of dying earlier than their peers. It’s time to do something about it!

Here are 11 health risks linked to snoring and apnea.

• Stroke – The intensity of snoring and apnea can lead to risk of carotid atherosclerosis.
• Heart disease – We know apnea is linked to cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and possible heart attacks.
• Arrhythmias – Long term snoring can develop irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia.
• Gerd – Throat closure during apnea causes pressure changes that can suck the contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus.
• Injury – Sleep deprivation can cause driving accidents.
• Mental – Sometimes just crankiness is witnessed, but all too often so is depression and anxiety.
• Headaches – Habitual snorers are likely to have morning headaches.
• Nocturia – Bathroom breaks two or more times during the night is called nocturia.
• Less satisfaction – Men who snore loudly and have OSA have higher levels of impotence.
• Fetal complications – Pregnant women who snore can have an increased risk of fetal complications.
• Excess weight – Half of overweight people have sleep apnea.

Is this post your wake-up call? If you snore, it’s important that you to talk to your physician today. It may add years to your life!

Teens need 9 hours of sleep every night

Are your teens getting enough sleep? A recent article in the New York Times discusses what I have been witnessing personally for the last several years – teens are NOT getting enough sleep.

The article reviews findings of a recent survey through the National Sleep Foundation. Based on its results, 4 out of 5 teens are not getting the recommended 9 hours of sleep. Sadly, most parents, in fact, believe that their teens are getting enough sleep. These same teens are describing themselves as being “extremely sleepy” during the day.

We encourage you to review your teens’ sleep hours. Make 9 hours of sleep along with good nutrition a daily priority. Good quality sleep helps improve the overall health and demeanor of your kids. It increases “brain power” as well!

For more on this topic, visit http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/what-do-students-need-most-more-sleep/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0.

We Are Excited to Announce that
Dental Sleep & TMD Center of Illinois
is going to be Collecting Halloween Candy
for Operation Shoebox to Send to our Troops!

From Monday, November 4th  to Monday, November 11th, we are asking our patients to bring their Halloween candy intoDental Sleep & TMD Center of Illinois. We will be raffling off three big prizes! The more candy you bring in the better chance you have. We will weigh the candy per pound. For each pound of candy you bring in your name will get entered.

Prizes to win are –

1. Electric Sonicare toothbrush
2. $50 dollar gift card for Downtown Naperville
3. $50 dollar gift card to Hollywood Palms

We also want our patients to share this trade in with friends and family. We are hoping to collect a lot of candy to brighten the troop’s day! We are opening this candy trade in to all Naperville residents.

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville, has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully. We are extremely passionate in helping individuals that have been struggling with CPAP therapy.

CPAP therapy is considered ideal treatment for many obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) sufferers, especially those diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA. However, CPAP compliance has always been a problem for patients. Many OSA patients have anxiety problems when attempting CPAP therapy; others may find their sleep quality even poorer when they wear it.

Luckily, professional oral appliance therapy (OAT) is also recommended as standard of care for mild to moderate apnea patients, or for those with severe who cannot tolerate CPAP. OAT has been researched for over 3 decades, and there are many scholarly written articles demonstrating the effectiveness of this therapy. But for some patients oral devices may be not fully effective. The possible consideration of additional ‘mask-less’ types of treatment may be of help.

I came across this article recently in the Wall Street Journal Sleep Apnea Alternatives, Minus the CPAP Mask and thought we’d share it with you.

It’s important to note that there is limited research to this point on some of these options, such as the Winx treatment. Nonetheless, I like the idea of looking beyond traditional therapy when a patient is simply not wearing CPAP. Although the article describes several ‘mask-less’ treatments for OSA, it’s important to also note, there are additionally other options not listed here.

Hope you enjoy the article!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323407104579036844067088688.html

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville, has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully.  We are extremely passionate in helping individuals that have been struggling with CPAP therapy in Naperville, Lisle, Aurora, Bolingbrook and surrounding Chicago suburbs.  For more information on this physician recommended treatment option visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630)369-5508.

Considering a ‘Sleep Divorce’?
New Study Shows 30-40% of Couples Sleeping Apart

Several years ago, a large survey from the National Sleep Foundation pointed to estimates of couples sleeping apart to be 25%. A 2013 study by Toronto’s Ryerson University suggests that 30-40% of couples are now sleeping in separate rooms.

Why? Well here’s a list of some reasons why couples are parting ways during bedtime:

• Different work schedules
• Snoring or restless sleep
• Uncomfortable or inadequate beds
• Poor sleep environment
• Conflicts with co-sleeping (children in room)
• ‘Night owl syndrome’ conflicting with a ‘morning person’

The study also revealed that couples that slept in the same room suffering with sleep disturbances often expressed less sense of gratitude and appreciation for their partners.

A recent article written by Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., a Clinical Psychologist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, reviews some of the important points that couples need to take into considerations if the sleeping apart habit has kicked in.  ‘Have You Considered A Sleep Divorce’?

Join us on our next few blogs for ideas to help you tackle obstacles that are keeping you in separate bedrooms!

Please “Share” this post if you know anyone facing this concern.

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville, has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully. We are extremely passionate in helping individuals that have been struggling with CPAP therapy in Naperville, Lisle, Aurora, Bolingbrook and surrounding Chicago suburbs. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630)369-5508.