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.

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.

There are alternative options to a CPAP machine.

Many sleep apnea sufferers are not given an option.

If you are like Mike, or Molly, visit our website:  www.TiredofSnoring.com and learn more about the #1 alternative to CPAP – Oral Appliance Therapy.

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois would love to help you and your bed partner get a good night’s sleep, CPAP-Free.

Archive for Monday, November 15, 2010

Monday Medical: Sleep apnea linked to diabetes

“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.”— Thomas Dekker (1572-1632)

Sleep — it’s more important than you think. Healthy sleep has numerous benefits, while sleep disorders have been linked to everything from drowsy driving to diabetes.

Research has shown that as many as 80 percent of white males with Type 2 diabetes also have sleep apnea, which can be a serious disorder. Although Type 2 diabetes puts people at higher risk for heart disease and stroke, adding sleep apnea on top of it multiplies that risk even more.

We are just now discovering how crucial sleep is to our health and well-being. Accor­­ding to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, sleep helps us improve learning, memory and mood, while lack of sleep causes slower thinking, confusion and difficulty focusing.  CONTINUE

Please stay tuned to our blog this week as we share with our readers the truth about Drowsy Driving.

Our first celebrity,  drowsy driver:  Alex Trebek.

Please follow this link: Drowsy-Driving-Facts to the National Sleep Foundation to get the 2010 Facts on Drowsy Driving.

1550 Deaths, 71,000 accidents.

Help Reduce these numbers.

Get the Sleep You Need, Every Night.

What are some telltale signs that you are not getting enough sleep?

• Loud snoring more than 4 times per week
• Being told you gasp for air during sleep
• Daytime drowsiness
• Waking with a headache
• A large neck – 17”+ in men, 16”+ in women
• High blood pressure

Do you wake up every morning fully rested and ready to start your day?

Millions of Americans do not get the sleep they need; in fact, 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders.

The first signs of lack of sleep:

• Irritability
• Moodiness
• Reduced Inhibition

If you do not act upon these first warning signs, your symptoms will become more severe.

A few signs of continued lack of sleep:

• Lapse in attention
• Dozing off during activity: work, reading and even driving
• Impaired Memory
• Apathy

You may notice forgetfulness and irritability, but you may not notice the hidden signs.  These signs are life-threatening, including: hypertension and increased risk of strokes, weight-gain, erectile dysfunction and much more.

What can you do to help yourself get the sleep you need? Set a sleep pattern for yourself and get yourself into a regular sleep routine.  Start with the minimum of 7 hours for a consecutive week.  If you awake unrested, add 30 minutes each night until you notice your alertness return.

If you are getting a full nights sleep and STILL wake unrefreshed and fatigued throughout the day, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder. Please, consult with your physician and let him know you are concerned.