…but, you don’t want to spend a night taking a sleep test?

That’s a common reaction. Most people do not want to take the time or be inconvenienced by spending a night at a sleep center.  We recently treated a 41 year old marathon runner that thought he was a “light” snorer.  His wife insisted he woke her up several times each night.  She had enough! She was waking up with headaches, irritable all day and basically at her wit’s end!  Her husband went in for a sleep test, received his results and found he had moderate to severe apnea.

Top 3 Reasons to Schedule a Sleep Test

1. Determine the severity of your snoring and/or apnea.
2. Develop a treatment plan to help you and your bed partner sleep.
3. Stop the detrimental effects that untreated apnea causes, including strokes, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, weight gain and heart attacks.

Your first step in scheduling a sleep test is to visit your primary care physician to discuss your concerns.  Next, follow-up with a sleep test at a certified sleep center.  Finally, request a copy of your sleep test to discuss and review with a knowledgeable medical professional trained in sleep disorders.  Contact our office, we would be happy to refer you to a MD in the area that will help you determine the best treatment option for both your sleep condition and lifestyle. The options that should be presented to you?  Positional therapy, CPAP-therapy and Oral Appliance Therapy.  All of these treatment options may not work for you, however, know they are available.  Be an advocate for yourself, know your options!!

Please call us if you have any further questions. 630/369-5508

Please watch this important sleep apnea video on helpful questions on medical coverage for oral appliance therapy, the most frequently prescribed CPAP alternative for apnea treatment.  It also covers what criteria is needed for medical insurance coverage that your doctor’s office will need for filing your claim.

Contact us directly for further details – 630/369-5508

I recently had a patient who came in for oral appliance therapy, a CPAP alternative treatment for the condition of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). I could not help but notice her red face. Later I found out that what I thought was a form of rosacea, was a reaction to her CPAP mask.

Because I have quite a few patients that use both CPAP and oral appliances (intermittently), here is a list of some of the more common reasons for redness after wearing the CPAP device. Increases levels of adult acne are also not uncommon with CPAP usage.

Some of these reasons for redness or increased levels of acne include:

• Over tightening of the mask straps.
• Not cleaning the mask properly.
• Sensitivity to the mask cleaning products.
• Sensitivity to silicone or the mask material itself.
• Poor fitting mask needing replacement.
• Mask needing replacement.
• Pressure points caused by poor mask fit.
• Moisture accumulation between the mask and the skin.
• Problem with skin products under the mask..

Here are some possible solutions based on the problems above:

• Discuss fit of your current mask with your healthcare professional.
• Review home care-cleaning instructions.
• Consider nasal pillows interphase.
• Consider mask liners or cheek mask liners.
• Don’t over tighten the straps of your CPAP mask.
• Consider discussing problems with others of an A.W.A.K.E. apnea support group.
• Investigate chemical sensitivity of cleaning products.
• Consider oral appliance therapy, an alternative to CPAP.
• Limit skin products under mask.
• Consider mask liners.

Redness and acne that results with the use of CPAP mask can become a real problem for many patients. Because apnea is a life-altering condition that needs to be treated, it’s important to find the root of the cause and attempt to work through it.

Here are some references that many help:

• Mask liners–RemZZZs for over the counter purchase
• AWAKE support group –  http://www.sleepapnea.org/support/a.w.a.k.e.-network-map.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.

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Usually comparative studies of oral appliance and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat obstructive sleep apnea are small and with limitations.

Recently in a randomized crossover trial that involved 126 obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, researchers compared CPAP with an adjustable mandibular advancement device that was adjusted to the most comfortable maximum limit.  Sleep apnea was shown in patients mild, moderate and severe and the study lasted one month.

The baseline apnea index (AHI) was 26 events per hour.  AHI was markedly decreased both in CPAP and oral device.  But mean on-treatment AHI was significantly lower with CPAP 5 vs. 11 events/hr, and the proportion of patients whose AHI normalized was higher with CPAP (about 75% vs. 40%).   The AHI difference between treatment groups of OSA and CPAP patients was striking between patients with severe OSA and moderate OSA.  Patient compliance was significantly higher with the mandibular device than with CPAP (average reported use 6.5% vs. 5.2 hours).

Blood pressure was measured for 24 hours and were unchanged in both groups.  Equally improved daytime sleepiness was seen in both groups.  When eight quality of life indicators were evaluated, the mandibular appliance was equal to CPAP in four indicators and superior to CPAP in four indicators.

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. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630) 369-5508.

Sleep Apnea is well known to affect women and men differently.  But new studies show that women with this sleep disorder are actually reported to have greater evidence of brain damage than men with the same condition.

Presence of nerve fibers called (white matter) were compared in the brains of 80 men and women and researchers have found that with /or without obstructive sleep apnea, brain damage in women affected the brain more.

These women’s brains were affected in two areas in the front of the brain (the cingulum bundle and the anterior cingulate cortex).  This is known to play a role in decision-making and regulation mood.

Women are also know to have higher levels of daytime sleepiness, stress, anxiety and reduced quality of sleep, according to the study in the December issue of the Journal of Sleep.

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. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630) 369-5508.