A recent study from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, found a link between untreated sleep apnea and cancer. Those with untreated sleep apnea are 4.8% more likely to die from cancer than those without sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing.

For years, we have know that Obstructive sleep apnea is a life threatening and life altering condition that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. The oxygen deprivation that results can trigger severe health problems. The restless sleep that also results from Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects the quality of life of individuals. The bed partner’s sleep can also be disrupted by his or her partner’s snoring, pauses in breathing and restless sleep.

What happens if Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not treated?

People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea have disrupted sleep resulting in low oxygen levels. Both awakenings and oxygen deprivation can trigger severe health problems and decrease quality of life due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea’s links with:

• Chronic sleepiness (Excessive Daytime Sleepiness-EDS).
• Increased Motor Vehicle Accidents (People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea have three times a higher automobile accident or work-related accident than those in the general public).
• Increased work-related accidents.
• Poor job performance.
• Depression.
• Family discord (Loud snoring also disrupts the bed partner’s sleep causing frustration and anger in their relationship.)
• Decreased quality of life.
• Strokes.
• High blood pressure.
• Decreased sex drive.
• Nocturia (a need to use bathroom frequently at night).
• Morning headache.
• Systemic Hypertension
• Cardiac Arythmias
• Myocardial Ischemia
• Cerebrovascular Disease
• Pulmonary Hypertension

And now Cancer is added to the list of health consequences of untreated sleep apnea.

If wearing a CPAP is stopping you from seeking treatment, you do have other options. Dental Sleep and TMD center of Illinois effectively and efficiently has treated sleep apnea and snoring patients with Oral Appliance Therapy. To schedule your appointment for an oral appliance consultation, all our office, 630 369-5508 or 1-800-SNORING.

Please, don’t wait another day to get the sleep you need to stay healthy for life!

1. Alter your sleep schedule prior to your trip. Calculate the time difference you are traveling to: 1, 2, 6 hour time change? Alter your sleep schedule to fit the time zone you are traveling to at least a few days in advance.
2.  Pack your oral appliance with you in your carry-on. If your flight is overnight, or you plan to snooze in air, wear your appliance. Not only will you feel better, your fellow travelers will appreciate a snore-free flight.**
3. Stay Hydrated.  The day prior to and on the day of your flight drink plenty of water and fluids, 8 oz. of fluid for each hour of flight.
4. Change your electronics to the correct time zone the day of your trip.   Include your watch, phone, computer and any electronics you carry.
5. Get out in the sun! Even if your body wants to sleep, get out in the sunlight. The sun will help your body “wake up” and get on the new time zone schedule.

**If you currently use a CPAP-machine to treat your sleep apnea and snoring, consider an oral appliance for travel.  Visit our website TiredofSnoring.com to determine if an oral appliance would hellp you enjoy the vacation of your dreams. Be prepared for your best trip ever!

During snoring muscles relax in the back of the throat narrowing the airway to a smaller opening. As you breathe in your sleep, air is forced through this smaller opening causing vibrations known as snoring.

Although snoring may be harmless, it can be a sign of a more serious medical condition which progresses from Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

We are genuinely concerned about your health. Successful treatment of obstructed sleep apnea can reduce the risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure, stroke and metabolic disorders.

DID YOU KNOW? Genetics and family tendencies play a large role in the presence of sleep disorders.

DID YOU KNOW? Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea sufferers may have negative effects on driving alertness and concentration levels.

DID YOU KNOW? Other sleep disorders may predict tendencies towards diseases like Parkinson’s.

DID YOU KNOW? Successful treatment of apnea could eliminate or reduce the need of medications.

DID YOU KNOW? A Person living with a snoring partner often exhibits similar symptoms as an untreated apnea patient.

Visit our website to learn more about the health consequences of untreated sleep apnea! We can help you love sleeping with your bed partner again.

by MORGAN CHESKY / KVUE News Follow: @MorganC_KVUE kvue.com Posted on November 11, 2011 at 10:00 PM Updated Friday, Nov 11 at 10:42 PM On the road every minute of every day, they are the traveling tons of steel and rubber that are difficult to miss. Only on May 7, 2010, Wanda and John Lindsay never saw the oncoming truck…..Continue

The latest studies, published August 11, 2011 by the Journal of American Medical Association,  have found that older women with sleep apnea are twice as likely to develop dementia than those without sleep apnea.

“This is the first study to show that sleep apnea MAY lead to cognitive impairment,” study leader Dr. Kristine Yaffe, professor of psychiatry, neurology and epidemiology at the University of California at San Francisco, said in a written statement. “It suggests that there is a biological connection between sleep and cognition.”  retrieved 8/18/11: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20090746-10391704.html

298 women, over the age of 65, made up the group that participated in the study. None of these women had suffered from dementia in the 5 years previous to the study. The study found 32.5% suffered from dementia or mild cognitive impairment, half of these women had untreated sleep apnea. The study suggested treatment for sleep apnea could prevent or help prevent the onset of dementia.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a life threatening and life altering condition that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. The oxygen deprivation that results can trigger severe health problems. The restless sleep that also results from OSA affects the quality of life of individuals. The bed partner’s sleep can also be disrupted by his or her partner’s snoring, pauses in breathing and restless sleep.

What happens during a sleep apnea event?

• The muscles in the throat relax and the tongue is sucked against the throat blocking the airway.
• The entire upper airway is blocked causing air flow to stop.
• Air (and oxygen) cannot flow into the lungs.
• When the oxygen level in the brain becomes low enough, the sleeper partially awakens, the obstruction in the throat clears, and the flow of air starts again – usually with a loud gasp or snort.
• People with untreated apnea are generally not aware of the awakenings but only of being sleepy during the day.
• Loud snoring, mixed with periods of silence (apnea), is typical but is not always present, especially in children.

How can you treat sleep apnea?

The specific therapy selected for an individual with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is based on the patient’s medical history, physical examination, and the results of the polysomnography. Multiple treatments are available for OSA including, but not limited to :

• Behavioral modifications (see below)
• CPAP
• Oral appliance therapy
• Surgery
• Pharmacological treatment – currently marginally effective

In many cases, Oral Appliance Therapy is the best option for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. To find out more about Oral Appliance Therapy, and how Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois can treat your sleep apnea, please  visit our website: TiredofSnoring.com

Referenced Articles:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904480904576498492704793076.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-edlund-md/sleep-apnea-and-dementia_b_924597.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20090746-10391704.html