Without treatment, middle-aged men are much more likely to suffer fatal consequences from OSA (obstructive sleep apnea).  In OSA, a person’s airway collapses causing the individual to struggle to breathe while asleep. This study highlights that men with OSA have a 58% higher risk of developing heart failure.  Men with the most severe OSA had a 68% higher risk for developing heart disease than those who do not have OSA.

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea is described as 30 or more breathing interruptions.  These interruptions cause oxygen depletion and can last at least 10 seconds.  Accompanying burst of adrenaline from sudden wakefulness increases blood pressure, which possibly contributes to vascular problems, according to researchers.

Researchers add that most people suffering from OSA do not get diagnosed until years and up to a decade after the onset of symptoms.  Therefore, those most at risk for associated cardiovascular death are those individuals ages 30 to 50.   “The take-away from our study is that obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition that warrants medical treatment, said Daniel J. Gottlieb, M.D., M.P.H., lead study author and associate professor at Boston University’s School of Medicine. “Many patients don’t experience symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, such as daytime sleepiness, or if they do, don’t mention it during routine medical exams. It’s important for anyone who suspects they have obstructive sleep apnea to discuss it with their primary care physician.”     (July, 2010) Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

At Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, we can help you understand your risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and align a treatment that best meets your needs and lifestyle.  Prevent serious health consequences and consult with us today.

ACo-authors are: Gayane Yenokyan, M.D., Ph.D.; Anne B. Newman, M.D., M.P.H.; George T. O’Connor, M.D., M.Sc.; Naresh M. Punjabi, M.D., Ph.D.; Stuart F. Quan, M.D.; Susan Redline, M.D., M.P.H.; Helaine E. Resnick, Ph.D., M.P.H.; Elisa K. Tong, M.D., M.A.; Marie Diener-West, Ph.D.; and Eyal Shahar, M.D., M.P.H. Author disclosures are on the manuscript.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute funded the study.

Recent headlines in the news have described a potential new treatment option for snoring and apnea sufferers. The excitement on this potential treatment option lies in the fact that 40-60% of patients that have prescribed the treatment of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) do not use their machines.  Many more who have snoring symptoms without apnea are not using anything at all to control their snoring, often causing disturbances with their sleep partners.  Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person’s airway is blocked repeatedly throughout the night, from 5 to over 100 times per night. Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can lead to life threatening conditions. Some of these include high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and more.

This new “tongue-zapper” therapy is based on hypoglossal nerve stimulation.  With this treatment a small pacemaker like generator is implanted under the skin near the collarbone. A small wire leads to the hypoglossal nerve near the base of the tongue.  The relaxation of the tongue, jaw and associated muscles and tissues often lead to the airway blocks that occur during apnea.  As breathing is monitored by sensors, a signal is delivered to this nerve.  Signals include mild electrical currents that “zap” the tongue muscles preventing them from relaxing to the point of blocking the airway.

It’s important to realize that this type of therapy is experimental and although studies are scheduled, my research has found that only a handful of patients at most to date have been treated worldwide with this implant.  My clinical observation from working with apnea patients for the past 15 years  is  that although this therapy remains hopeful for some select patients, there are far more associated anatomical obstructions and considerations  of the airway in addition to the tongue muscles. In addition, medical reimbursement for experimental therapy remains almost impossible.

Patients looking for an alternative for CPAP therapy at this time would overwhelmingly  benefit from oral appliance therapy that has been developed,studied and researched for over 30 years. Oral appliance therapy remains the standard of care as an alternative for mild to moderate apnea and for those with severe who are not able to use CPAP therapy.

Do you wonder how well you are sleeping?

Is your room set up for the best night of sleep possible?  We often give tips on how to arrange your room in the best way for optimal sleep.

Today, one of our oral appliance patients at Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois sent us the following link to share with our others that suffer from poor sleep.

BBC Sleep Site

Try out the short test to give you a sleep profile.  They make excellent suggestions to help you change your habits to give you a better night’s sleep.

Not sure if you are alert enough to get behind the steering wheel? Scroll down the BBC site, and try out the Sheep Dash test. This VERY short test will give you your reaction to stimulus time and might make you rethink getting behind the wheel.

If you snore, or suffer from sleep apnea, I urge you to see your physician and discuss your personal situation.  Sleep is essential to your health, when you take the time to improve your quality of sleep, you will improve your overall health.

How many times have you started a new year with brand new resolutions?  Or the same resolutions that you are still working on?

We found the following article that can help you set up resolutions to  have a great 2011.

Don’t Forget to pay special attention to Get Enough Sleep and Floss!

10 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep Posted on December 14, 2010 *

*retrieved 1/6/11 from: http://www.toponlinecolleges.com/blog/2010/10-new-years-resolutions-you-can-actually-keep/

New Year’s is a time for starting fresh and setting goals that you’d like to accomplish. For many people this comes in the form of New Year’s resolutions. Get fit, stop smoking, learn a new language and lose 30 pounds are just a few of the popular resolutions that just never seem to come to fruition. Instead of making promises you can’t keep again this year, face the reality and start making resolutions that are within your means. Here are 10 New Year’s resolutions you can actually keep:

1. Be Nicer to People: Being nicer to people is something we can all realistically do more often. This New Year’s resolution doesn’t require you to donate to a charity every month or compliment every person you see on the street, but just be kinder to people. Simply saying hello and goodbye to people, watching what you say before you blurt out an insult and lending a helping hand to someone, even when it’s inconvenient for you, are all realistic examples of being nicer to people.
2. Get More Sleep: One New Year’s resolution you could actually keep is getting more sleep. It will certainly require some effort on your part to finish tasks early so you can make it to bed at a decent time, but it’s not an impossible feat either. Your body and mind will appreciate the extra Zs, and getting more sleep can actually help you accomplish your other resolutions much easier.
3. Give Blood: If you’d like to give back to the community in a big way but cannot commit to being a volunteer, why not give blood? Giving blood is a terrific selfless act that makes a huge difference in people’s lives. Your donation of one pint can save up to three lives and you can give blood every 56 days if you want. Even if you only donate a couple times a year, it’s still more than what the average American donates. Your New Year’s resolution will save lives; and it doesn’t get much better than that.
4. Indulge in Moderation: So many people make grandiose New Year’s resolutions, like quit drinking and stop eating junk food, but cannot stick to them. These resolutions are not realistic for the average person because we all like to indulge every once in a while. You’ll have a better chance at limiting your alcohol and junk food intake if you do it in moderation. It’s highly unlikely that someone who enjoys red wine, chocolate and pizza are going to be able to give it up cold turkey, so let yourself indulge in moderation for a more realistic approach to healthier eating.
5. Floss Regularly: Flossing your teeth and gums regularly is a New Year’s resolution you can certainly keep up with. Obviously if you have to add it to your resolutions list, it’s not the easiest habit to develop, but it’s not impossible to get better at. For a couple extra minutes every morning or night, start flossing before you brush your teeth. Regular flossing has many oral health benefits, such as preventing cavities, removing plaque, preventing bad breath and giving you a better teeth cleaning.

Follow This Link to Read all 10 Resolutions:  10 New Years Resolutions you can keep!