People who often snore are at risk of higher blood pressure, strokes, heart attack, and of course relationship strains. If that’s not enough to look into ways to get your snoring treated, you may be interested to know that snoring can also have a dangerous effect on your eyes.

People who snore often may have a condition called obstructive sleep apnea, a life-altering condition, in which a person unknowingly stops breathing during sleep, or has oxygen-dipping events throughout the night.

This lack of oxygen affects the body negatively in many ways.  In relation specifically to eyes, people with obstructive sleep apnea are at risk for:

• Floppy Eye Syndrome
• Normal tension glaucoma
• CPAP associated – eye strain
• Asthenopia (generalized eye discomfort)
• Papilledema (swelling of the optic nerve)
• NAION (decreased oxygen and blood flow to optic nerve)

These last 2 conditions can lead to vision loss.

Also, some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Fatigue
• Tiredness
• Eye strain
• Morning headaches

These common symptoms of snoring and apnea are often confused with eye problems.

If you are snoring or have a family history of snoring, consider treatment and evaluation for your particular situation. If you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above and sleeping disorders have been ruled out, it may be time to get your eyes evaluated.

Dr. Sosenko’s husband, Dr. Chris Burch, is a local optometrist (eye doctor) who provides state-of the-art-eye care at Danada Vision Center located 10 minutes north of Sherman Oaks Dental at 115 Danada Square W, Wheaton, IL near the Subway at Butterfield and Naper Blvd. Their telephone number is (630)668-0378.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko of Dental Sleep & TMD Center of Illinois is a general dentist with specialized training in the state of the art treatment of snoring and apnea with oral appliance therapy.  She also works with local physicians who treat obstructive sleep apnea with other treatments such as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure device).

For more information on the dangers of snoring and apnea, visit Dr. Sosenko website www.TiredOfSnoring.com.  It could save your relationship, and your life!

You may be desperately searching for a snoring solution. Media advertised stop snoring mouth devices such as Puresleep and many other similar retainers may seem like the answer to your prayers. But, here are some important facts to be aware of  that may not only save dental funds, on a greater scale may add years to your life!

• If you are snoring often, you should have your snoring evaluated by a professional knowledgeable in sleep medicine.
• If your medical provider says, “everyone snores” and doesn’t see the importance of an evaluation, consider finding someone trained through the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
• People who snore regularly often have a serious sleep condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
• Devices purchased though mail order media sites can put people at risk by ‘hiding’ apnea while reducing snoring levels.  Dangerous oxygen dips during sleep may still be occurring.
• Many of these ‘mail ordered’ devices can create quite serious side effects like dislodgements of dental work, loosening of teeth, and teeth shifting to the point of even lisping.

Several months ago, I examined a new patient that had been using a Puresleep mouth device. The patient was suffering from mild obstructive sleep apnea and was originally recommended the CPAP device. Since his diagnosis was mild OSA, he decided to get a Puresleep mouth device as a short-term option. The device worked with marginal results, and eventually the patient found us to see if further similar treatment could improve results.

Upon examination and discussion with this new patient, the patient found some concern. He now noticed himself lisping during speech. At times, this side effect can be corrected with stopping using the device, other times braces (orthodontics) may be needed to get the bite back to normal, often a costly expense.

Next time, when searching for a snoring cure, consider seeking help from a trained dentist in dental sleep medicine. These dentists work with professional devices that are custom made. A trained dental professional can help prevent or manage potential side affects that can occur with professional oral appliance therapy. For snoring in the absence of apnea, these devices are extremely effective.  For those snoring with apnea, they work in the majority of cases.

For more information on the dangers of mail order anti-snoring devices, see my interview with sleep expert Dr. Gail Demko. www.tiredofsnoring.com/2012/05/the-dangers-of-over-the-counter-anti-snoring-devices/

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, Wheaton, 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.

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During this past holiday season, I admit that the television was on a little more than usual.  I could not help but notice some great snoring-help commercials.  From specialized pillows, to specialized mattresses, to the over-the-counter anti-snoring mouth retainers such as ‘Pure sleep’, the plea for help is quite noticeable.

When I first started helping individuals with snoring and apnea conditions over 15 years ago, there were approximately 40 or so professional types of devices for snoring and apnea relief, now over 80!  I can’t even imagine how many non-professional treatment options for snoring are on the market! But what many people don’t realize, although helpful, many of these can mask life-threatening conditions of obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. Also, not easily reversible side effects can occur, especially with anti-snoring devices inserted into the mouth.

In as little as a few weeks of wearing a mail order device similar to Pure Sleep, noticeable permanent tooth changes may occur. Lisping is one potential side effect that may require orthodontic work to reverse.  Although similar side effects can occur with even the professional devices, it’s important to work directly with a dentist trained in sleep disorders.  There are several ways to help prevent or manage such side effects, and obviously direct supervision is non-existent with mail order treatments.

If you are interested in finding out more about the dangers of over-the counter anti-snoring mouth devices, we encourage you to listen to a previously recorded audio interview, The Dangers of Over-the-Counter Anti-Snoring Devices, with sleep expert Dr. Gail Demko, a general dentist and one of the pioneers of the field of oral appliance therapy that treats snoring and apnea with CPAP alternative.

For more information on how we can help you stop snoring safely and with thorough dental-sleep guidance, call our practice today 630-369-5508.

By Dr. Lydia Sosenko

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This is a tough one! Over the past decade and a half, I have come across so many individuals, both men and women that have complained about his or her sleep partner’s snoring.  In many cases, the snoring individual is reluctant to getting help, quite frankly, because the snoring is really not bothering that person. When the snorer realizes the impact it has on family and finances, he or she is more likely to take action.

I wish I had the magic answer to this one.  I can tell you what my team and I have heard over the years that helped spur the snorer to seek help.

• Couples have moved into separate bedrooms and are tired of it.
• Refusing to travel together and share rooms, which often leads to higher expenses
• Pleading from other family members that they are worried about their health or, in some circumstances, death during the breathing struggles.
• Suffering spouses make the appointment for their partner and plead with them to go together for the appointment.
• Increased insistence from the person’s physician or health care provider.
• Embarrassing your partner in public at events.
• Giving the snorer some literature on the potential dangers associated with snoring. (Ask us if you need some.)
• Refusal of sex.
• Threatening to terminate the relationship.

We don’t recommend all of these choices, as some may not be helpful for the snorer. The key is for the person to realize the impact snoring has on their daily life and happiness.

If all else fails, consider getting the snoring individual to listen in the car or elsewhere to our recorded powerful podcast called Treating Snoring: A Life and Death Decision with myself and Dr. Steve Park.  You can access it here at http://www.tiredofsnoring.com/2012/01/1048/

by Dr. Lydia Sosenko, D.D.S.

Many people experience moderate to severe morning headaches. If you wake up with a morning headache, sleep apnea and snoring could be to blame. What is the connection between morning headaches, sleep apnea and snoring?

Sleep apnea occurs while you are asleep. People who suffer from sleep apnea stop breathing, often hundreds of times during the night. How does sleep apnea have a connection to morning headaches? The brain is literally starved of oxygen during these hundreds of nightly episodes. If sleep apnea is left untreated the continued “starvation of oxygen to your brain” can actually cause slight brain damage, so it’s no wonder that a person would get morning headaches from this!

One of the main reasons a person that is snoring has morning headaches is due to the snorer having untreated sleep apnea. A symptom of sleep apnea is chronic snoring. While you snore, the constant vibration of your throat tissue can cause damage to the back of your head and neck, causing your morning headache.

If you experience morning headaches, be sure to consult with your doctor. Morning Headaches could be an indication of a more serious health concern.

Dr. Sosenko is a Diplomat of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the founder of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois. She offers snoring and apnea sufferer’s relief through professional oral appliance device therapy. Visit her podcast page for  more information.