February 16th, 2012 amogell
As a dentist treating sleep apnea patients in Columbus I hear stories about disrupted sleep every day. New research appears to link sleep disruption with an increased risk for memory problems and even Alzheimer’s disease.
According to study author Dr. Yo-El Ju “Disrupted sleep appears to be associated with the build up of amyloid plaques, a hallmark marker of Alzheimer’s disease, in the brains of people without memory problems. Further research is needed to determine why this is happening and whether sleep changes may predict cognitive decline.”
The researchers monitored patients sleep for two weeks and assessed brain health. One fourth of the study participants showed signs of amyloid plaques. The study participants who did not wake frequently during the night were 5 times less likely to have the plaque build up.
Disruptions to our nightly sleep can be caused by many things: dogs barking, babies crying, insomnia, snoring partners and obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleep breathing disorder that causes the airway to collapse during sleep, stopping the flow of air. The sleeper briefly wakens with a gasp and then returns to sleep. The bed partner of the sleep apnea sufferer also has their sleep disrupted by the snoring and gasping but does not immediately return to sleep. Both partners have disrupted sleep with all of the health consequences that go along with it.
If you think you or your partner may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea please contact StoneRidge Dental Care to find out about your options for diagnosis and treatment. Oral appliances available from sleep medicine dentist Dr. Mark Levy can help you breath easily all night. Please call us today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.
Posted in dental sleep medicine | No Comments »
January 31st, 2012 amogell
Two common questions I hear when talking to patients about sleep breathing disorders are:
What is obstructive sleep apnea? Why is this happening to me?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which the upper airway collapses during sleep. This causes the sleeper to literally stop breathing. Each of these stoppages is called an apnea. Apneas can occur a few times each night or even hundreds of times.
Why this occurs is simple. The throat contains many muscles that control our airway and allow us to speak, breath and swallow. During sleep our muscles relax and this causes the airway to narrow and sometimes to become completely blocked. Think of a garden hose with a kink that stops the flow of water.
Because the airway is blocked, the oxygen levels in the body fall. The sleeper will typically waken with a gasp and begin breathing again. The remarkable thing about this process is that the sleeper does not remember waking during the night.
Most people with sleep apnea are not aware of their abnormal nighttime breathing until a bed partner complains or extreme daytime fatigue prompts them to seek medical help.
Fortunately there are good treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea. While the CPAP is the gold standard for treatment, many patients find sleeping with the masks, hoses and machine difficult and stop treatment. An oral appliance can also be used to treat sleep apnea and most patients find them comfortable and easy to use.
For more information about obstructive sleep apnea and to discover if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy please contact Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care in Columbus, OH at 614-476-6696.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
January 27th, 2012 amogell
Common sleep problems like difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or even sleeping too much increase the risk of heart disease and obesity. A study reported in the Journal of Sleep Research looked at almost 140,000 people. Those that reported sleep disturbance three nights out of the week were more likely to experience obesity, heart attack and heart disease.
When the researchers from the University of Pennsylvania adjusted their results according to other health risk factors and sociodemographic factors the association between sleep and cardiometabolic problems remained. The investigators concluded that poor sleep patterns are associated with a number of outcomes including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attack and stroke. This supports previous studies but the wording of the questions used focused on sleep quality versus length of sleep — in other words did you actually get 8 hours of good quality sleep or were you continually woken during the night by your bed partner snoring loudly?
Loud snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea which is a dangerous condition for the sleeper. What most people don’t realize is that the person trying to sleep with someone with sleep apnea also has their health impacted in a big way. The loud snoring, gasping for air and pauses in breathing cause both bed partners disturbed sleep. If this sounds familiar it may be time to seek a diagnosis and get treatment.
To schedule your consultation regarding snoring and obstructive sleep apnea please contact Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, OH today at 614-476-6696. You both deserve a good night’s sleep to ensure your health!
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
January 11th, 2012 amogell
Health trends for 2012 will be changing. The Values Institute at DGWB, a national research group, determined the following are going to be hot in 2012:
- Natural energy drinks – Instead of Red Bull and Monster consumers will be looking for an energy boost from more natural ingredients like vitamins and tea extracts.
- Sleep – Study after study confirms the link between poor quality sleep with high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain, depression and even sexual dysfunction. Anyone who snores loudly should be tested for a sleep breathing disorder such as sleep apnea to preserve their own health as well as the health of their bed partner.
- Flexitarian eating – This means that more American’s will enjoy a few more vegan or vegetarian meals each week for health purposes but still eat animal protein on occasion. Vegan and vegetarian diets can be excellent for gum health.
- Health Apps - Do it yourself health applications for smart phones and tablet computers can do everything from monitor your moles and blood pressure to scan your sleep for disruptions. Expect to see even more as the Apple App Store expects their offerings to increase to 13,000 in this category by the end of the year.
- Digital Motivation – Track your fitness with a gadget or commit to losing weight via a Facebook page where your friends can help lend accountability to your actions.
According to Mark Weisman of the Values Institute “These trends are consistent with the growing importance of health in America — if not yet as a daily routine then certainly as a primary goal in 2012 for three out of four consumers… Health is the new prestige barometer in the country — meaning that the great majority of Americans would rather be considered healthy than wealthy.”
We must add improving our oral health to the list above. In 2012 make a commitment to proper brushing, flossing and regularly schedule hygiene visits. Overall health begins with a healthy smile and StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, OH is looking forward to helping you make 2012 your healthiest year ever. Contact us at 614-476-6696 today.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Oral Heath Care | No Comments »
January 9th, 2012 amogell
A study from Norway suggests that poor sleep habits may increase the risk of fibromyalgia in women. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome with symptoms including long term pain throughout the body with increased muscle and joint tenderness. The risk of developing fibromyalgia increased with more severe sleep problems. The connection appears stronger among women who were past middle age as compared to younger women.
This is interesting because about 5 million people in the US suffer from fibromyalgia and most are women. Prior scientific studies have shown that waking at night, fatigue and insomnia are common in people with the condition. This study shows that the sleep problems occur before the patients develop fibromyalgia. Dr. Paul Mork explained “Our findings indicate a strong association between sleep disturbance and fibromyalgia risk in adult women. We found a dose-response relation, where women who often reported sleep problems had a greater risk of fibromyalgia than those who never experienced sleep problems.”
While many people suffer from insomnia or waking at night, others suffer sleep disturbances because of their bed partner’s sleep problems. Loud snoring or the snoring and gasping sounds of a bed partner with sleep apnea provide continual interruptions throughout the night for both parties. The big difference is the partner with sleep apnea doesn’t remember the wakings but the exhausted spouse can detail the night all too clearly.
If a bed partner’s sleep issues are affecting your health it is time to get a diagnosis and put a stop to the snoring once and for all. Not everyone that snores has obstructive sleep apnea but an oral appliance created by Columbus area sleep medicine dentist Dr. Mark Levy can quiet that snore and allow an open, quiet airway all night long.
For more information please contact StoneRidge Dental Care at 614-476-6696 today.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
January 4th, 2012 amogell
It seems that yesterday was National Sleep Day and I missed it. Maybe you missed it too! Considering how important a good night of sleep is to our overall health I think we really need more than one day per year devoted to sleep.
Following the hectic holiday season we are all a little overtired during the first week in January. If it seems to be taking you more than a few days to get back into your normal routine without excessive daytime tiredness you may want to check to see if an undiagnosed sleep disorder could be stealing your energy.
Good sleep hygiene is important for a good night of sleep every night so here are a few tips:
- Make sure your sleep environment is comfortable and cool
- Use a good pillow that supports your head and neck
- Try a white noise machine to help you relax
- Avoid caffeine late in the afternoon and evening and don’t drink alcohol before bed
- Watch your fluid consumption in the evening so you don’t have to wake in the night to urinate
- Stick to a regular bedtime
- Don’t use the bedroom for work or watching TV
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes the sleeper to stop breathing during sleep. If you snore loudly, experience excessive daytime sleepiness, have morning headaches and are having difficulty losing weight you may have obstructive sleep apnea. For more information about sleep apnea and available treatment options please contact your Columbus area sleep medicine dentist Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care at 614-476-6696 today.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
December 22nd, 2011 amogell
It has been estimated that sleep problems affect one-third to one-half of all Americans causing a huge toll on the individuals and on society as a whole. In a recent screening of almost 5,000 police officers in the US and Canada, about 40% of them tested positive for at least 1 type of sleep disorder. The most common was obstructive sleep apnea. 
Dr. William Kohler of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine stated “Police officers are obviously a very important group because they are there to protect us, and unfortunately, at times when they are distracted because of tiredness, they are at risk to themselves and others.”
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with being overweight and about a third of the officers in the study had a BMI higher than 30. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues of the mouth and throat relax during sleep and block the airway. The sleeper stops breathing for several seconds until the lack of oxygen causes a partial wakening to begin breathing again. The sleeper does not remember these episodes which can occur from a few to hundreds of times each night. The bed partner of the sleeper is also wakened frequently because of the loud snoring and gasping for breath that accompanies the disorder. Both partners feel exhausted the next day.
Untreated obstructive sleep apnea is associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, weight gain and increased risk of accident. Treatment usually begins with CPAP but many patients find it difficult to tolerate sleeping with machines. Oral appliance therapy is proven to be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and is available in the Columbus, OH area from Dr. Mark Levy.
Police officers are not the only ones that need a good nights sleep in order to perform their jobs. Contact StoneRidge Dental Care today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.
Posted in dental sleep medicine | No Comments »
December 13th, 2011 amogell
Sleep problems affect about one-third of Americans. Some, such as obstructive sleep apnea, are serious and may be life threatening. But many more people suffer from problems such as insomnia or waking throughout the night. No matter what the cause, poor sleep quality can lead to serious medical problems over time. A study in the European Journal of Nutrition showed that drinking tart cherry juice improved sleep quality.
The researchers gave adults 2 glasses of tart cherry juice per day. They found that the cherry juice drinkers slept an average of 39 minutes longer and had up to a 6 percent increase in sleep efficiency (meaning they actually were asleep while in bed). When the study participants drank a non-cherrry juice drink they did not have these improvements. The sleep benefits seem to be caused by the melatonin content of the tart cherries. Previous research had shown that tart cherries could be used as a sleep aid and since American’s spend over $84 million on over-the-counter sleep aids per year drinking tart cherry juice may be a healthier, money saving alternative.
If your sleep is disturbed by loud snoring by either you or your bed partner the problem may be obstructive sleep apnea. This is a serious condition that causes the sleeper to stop breathing many times during the night. The signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping during sleep, a large neck size and high BMI (body mass index). Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated using a comfortable oral appliance worn while sleeping. This stops the snoring and allows the sleeper to breath all night long.
If the signs of sleep apnea sound familiar to you please contact StoneRidge Dental Care in Columbus, OH today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
November 15th, 2011 amogell
Researchers have found that eating a Mediterranean diet and exercising can improve some sleep apnea symptoms. The study published in European Respiratory Journal looked at the impact of the Mediterranean diet on obese sleep apnea patients as compared to patients on a prudent diet.
Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep breathing disorders and becomes more prevalent as weight increases. Approximately 20-40% of obese patients suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and weight loss is an essential part of the treatment. Obstructive sleep apnea causes frequent stoppages of breathing during sleep. Sleep is fragmented causing excessive daytime drowsiness and other health complications.
Researchers in Greece studied 40 obese sleep apnea patients. 20 were placed on the Mediterranean diet and the other 20 were given a prudent weight-loss diet. Both groups were encouraged to walk at least 30 minutes each day. Both groups also received CPAP therapy.
The results showed that the group following the Mediterranean diet had a reduced number of apnoeas during REM stage sleep and were more likely to adhere to the lower calorie diet. While the study showed an improvement for this one stage of sleep it did not show an overall improvement in the severity of the condition. The authors feel that further studies with more patients are needed.
If you experience daytime sleepiness, weight gain and have been told you snore loudly you may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. For more information about this disorder, diagnosis and treatment in the Columbus, OH area please contact StoneRidge Dental Care at 614-476-6696. Oral appliance therapy is a highly effective method of treating mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
November 8th, 2011 amogell
The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can sometimes mimic those of mental illness – lethargy, irritability, forgetfulness. When those suffering from depression or another form of mental illness also have obstructive sleep apnea it can make the mental illness worse and possibly contribute to manic episodes. Unfortunately, screening for sleep disorders in psychiatric patients is rarely done.
A new study from the University of Utah suggests that using a simple questionnaire to screen patients may be helpful. “Sleep problems are so integral to psychiatric problems, we wanted to make sure that along with psychiatric disorders we were treating obstructive sleep apnea too,” said Dr. Vanita Jain. Because many medications used in treating psychiatric conditions are also respiratory depressants it is especially important for these patients to be screened.
The questions asked included: Do you snore loudly? Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day? Has anyone observed you stop breathing during your sleep? Do you have high blood pressure? Are you over 50 years of age? Are you male? Other questions include a large neck circumference and high body mass index (BMI).
If you answer yes to several of these questions you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep breathing disorder. To schedule your consultation please contact StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, OH today at 614-476-6696. We will discuss testing for a correct diagnosis and treatment options available.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
