As a hygienist, I’ve heard it many times. Wife comes in for her hygiene appointment and asks me to put a bug in Husband’s ear about his snoring. Sometimes it is Husband telling me this about Wife- snoring doesn’t discriminate. I try to do my part as dental marital counselor and initiate a conversation with the snoring perpatrator, knowing full well that he/she will probably either deny it or say it is no big deal.
But the truth is 87 million Americans snore, so you are not alone, but you could be in danger. 40 million Americans are chronic sufferers of sleep disorders, with only 10% being treated or even diagnosed. That means taht there are quite a few walking strokes and heart attacks among you and your friends.
Snoring occurs when the airway or passage through which you breathe becomes partially blocked. This can happen when your tongue falls back as you drift off into deeper sleep. As the diameter of the airway shrinks, throat vibrations begin, and snoring ensues.
Snoring is a “red flag” as it could be one of the early signs or a component of “obstructive sleep apnea” (OSA). In fact, 40% of snoreers have been shown to have OSA.
In one well known study, patients with untreated sleep apnea had a 37% chance of dying within eight years versus 4% for patients who had received treatment for their sleep apnea. That’s scary enough to pay attention to that bed partner who is sawing some serious logs.
OSA sufferers have a rough night and don’t even know what is happening to them. In a given night, these apneic events ( when a patient stops breathing) can occur more than 30 times an hour! Obviously, these individuals awake exhausted each morning, as they’ve been fighting for oxygen all night. Sleep should be a replenishing tool for each of us.
Should you be worried? Well, to answer that, first analyze some signs and symptoms of OSA sufferers. Common side effects of OSA include:
- heart attacks or irregular heart beats
- impotence
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- heartburn
- morning headaches
- dry mouth
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- impaired concentration
- depression and decreased quality of life
- decreased libido
- irritability
- poor job performance
- family discord
…and the obvious one, chronic sleepiness. A simple test can be taken that will grade this last symptom called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale ( you can find more info on our sleep apnea website). Not all apneics will score high, but if you do, it is a very good sign of OSA.
OSA can cause learning or memory disabilities, as well as periods of nodding off while on the phone or work. Obviously, sleep apnea patients aer at a much greater risk of having auto accidents.
So, what’s the cure? Unfortunately,there is not yet a cure for sleep apnea, but it is treatable. The treatment depends on the severity of the disorder as assessed by a sleep specialist.
Give yourself that early, Christmas in July gift. Come on in for your sleep apnea consult so that we can help you get on the right path to better sleep, better days and a happier spouse!
The month of April highlights oral cancer awareness. Oral cancer is no joke, and its prognosis is often poor. The trouble is that most people diagnosed with oral cancer are diagnosed in a later stage of the disease.
oday is the first day back from the Chicago Dental Convention. Our office attends every year and we bring back loads of information that we can’t wait to put into practice.
f you haven’t already tried the Angry Bird app, chances are you’ve heard of it. According to adage.com ( January 18, 2011) it passed its 50 millionth download on smart phones! It’s an incredibly addictive and infectious game that allows you to sling a bird with a sling shot to kill green pigs who threaten the livelihood of the birds. 
