Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts while the patient is asleep. Patients may not be aware of these short breathing pauses that occur hundreds of times a night. The sleep deprivation (can’t fall asleep or can’t stay asleep) caused by sleep apnea can result in daytime sleepiness, slow reflexes, poor concentration, and increased risk of driving accidents. Sleep apnea is also linked to some serious medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, liver problems, and diabetes.
Major warning signs of Sleep Apnea: • Loud and chronic snoring almost every night • Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep • Pauses in breathing • Waking up at night feeling short of breath • Daytime sleepiness and fatigue Other warning signs of Sleep Apnea • Insomnia or nighttime awakenings; restless sleep • Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat • Going to the bathroom frequently during the night • Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating • Moody, irritable, depressed • Morning headaches *If you experience any of these symptoms, contact Glendora dentist, Dr. Anna Lee, for a free consultation for Sleep Apnea. Call for an appointment at 626-335-5114 or email: drannalee1@gmail.com.
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It is so frustrating when you can’t sleep or fall asleep at night even when you are so tired. A bad night of sleep can cause you to feel groggy or unproductive throughout the day. Insomnia is a sleep disorder. People who suffer from insomnia have a difficult time falling asleep or staying asleep at night, resulting in feeling fatigued, moody, and irritable during the day. Some people suffer short-term insomnia; it is usually due to a temporary interruption of routine. Others suffer chronic insomnia and it is more likely caused by unhealthy daytime and bedtime habits, such as having an irregular sleep schedule, drinking caffeinated beverages late in the day, or eating heavy meals before bedtime. Possible causes of insomnia may be psychological and medical. Insomnia can be a symptom of other sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, which is a serious medical problem.
Some causes of insomnia • Psychological: anxiety, stress and depression are common causes of chronic insomnia. Anger, worry, grief, bipolar disorder and trauma also contribute to insomnia • Medications: antidepressants, high blood pressure medications, cold and flu medications that contain alcohol, pain relievers that contain caffeine, diet pills • Daytime habits: irregular sleep schedule, napping, drinking caffeinated beverages late in the day, heavy meals too close to bedtime, lack of exercise • Medical: insomnia can be a symptom other sleep disorders, including SLEEP APNEA, restless legs syndrome, and circadian rhythm disturbances tied to jet lag. *You should definitely be checked if you can’t sleep. If you have insomnia, it can be a symptom of Sleep Apnea. Contact Glendora dentist, Dr. Anna Lee, for a free consultation for Sleep Apnea. Snoring is a common condition that can affect anyone, men and women, socially and medically. Socially, snoring is disruptive to family life and causes other family members sleepless nights. A recent study by the Department of Health of advertisements promoting martial health reports that snoring is a potential source of tension between spouses. Medically, snoring can be a warning sign of a serious medical condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
What is Snoring? Snoring occurs when something blocks air from flowing freely through the nose and mouth. When you breathe, the walls of the throat vibrate and cause the snoring sound. What are some of the causes that can lead to snoring? • swollen tonsils and adenoids that block the airways • being overweight, the fatty tissue in the neck puts pressure on the airways • growths in the nasal passages (nasal polys) • nasal congestion, stuffy nose from a cold or allergies • alcohol consumption before bedtime reduces the resting tone of the muscles in the back of the throat (reports WebMD) ** Snoring is definitely a concern because it is linked to a serious medical condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). What it means is that if you snore, you may be at risk of having Obstructive Sleep Apnea. What are the symptoms of OSA? Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) • multiple episodes of breathing pauses, lasting for more than 10 seconds at a time (can experience up to 300 episodes per night) • wake up with a choking or gasping for air sensation • loud snoring • wake up with a sore or dry throat in the morning • wake up with morning headaches • daytime sleepiness, lack of energy during the day, sleepy while driving • forgetfulness, mood changes If you have any of these symptoms, contact Glendora dentist, Dr. Anna Lee, for a free consultation for Sleep Apnea These are some serious medical problems linked to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea: The sleep medicine expert, Karl Doghramji, MD, medical director of the Sleep Center at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals in Philadelphia said that people with severe sleep apnea have a 40% greater chance of dying early than do their peers. • Stroke-health data from a sleep study found that the intensity of snoring was related to the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. The louder and longer you snore each night, the greater your long-term risk for a stroke. • Heart Disease -sleep apnea is linked to cardiovascular problems and may lead to heart attacks • Arrhythmias-people with long-term snoring or sleep apnea risk developing an irregular heart rhythm called arrhythmia • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-people with sleep apnea may have GERD • Headache-people with sleep apneas may have frequent morning headaches due to lack of deep sleep at night • High Blood Pressure If you snore at night, feel fatigue and moody during the day, or you are not sure if you have sleep disorder, contact Glendora dentist, Dr. Anna Lee, for a free consultation at 626-335-5114 or visit our sleep website at www.glendorasleep.com Some Treatment Options Treatment options depend on the cause of snoring and the severity of the condition: consult with Glendora dentist, Dr. Anna Lee, to decide what treatment is best for you. • Cause of snoring1: lifestyle Treatment: quite smoking, avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, sedatives, caffeine and heavy meals. Exercise regularly • Cause of snoring2: overweight Treatment: lose weight • Cause of snoring3: swollen tonsils Treatment: tonsillectomy • Cause of snoring4: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment: CPAP for moderate to severe OSA Treatment: Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) for mild to moderate OSA Treatment: Surgery Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) CPAP machines are used with a variety of breathing masks. They are most widely used treatment for moderate and severe OSA. CPAP treatment may cause side effects: dry or stuffy nose, irritated skin on the face, dry mouth, and headaches. If the CPAP device is not adjusted properly, patients may get stomach bloating and discomfort while wearing the mask. Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has approved oral appliance therapy (OAT) as a first line treatment for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate OSA. The AASM also recommends oral appliance therapy for patients with severe OSA, who are unable to tolerate or cannot wear CPAP devices. Another option for people with severe OSA is combination therapy (wearing CPAP and an oral appliance together) to help reduce the pressure on a CPAP machine, making it more comfortable to use. Advantages of Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT): • Oral Appliance Therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle. Patients like Oral Appliance Therapy because it is: -comfortable, easy to wear, -quiet -portable, convenient for travel -easy to care for Oral Appliance Therapy my cause side effects: soreness of the mouth, saliva build-up, nausea, and damage or permanent change in position of the jaw, teeth and mouth. Typical Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) patients are usually men who are overweight and snore loudly with choking or gasping sounds at night. There are over 20 million American adults suffer with OSA. While obstructive sleep apnea is more common in men, many women suffer from OSA as well. Men are twice more likely to have sleep apnea than women, but men are diagnosed with the condition almost 8 times more often than women. Are women with sleep apnea under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed? What are the symptoms and health risk factors of sleep apnea in women? What are the treatment options?
Under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis for women with sleep apnea Women with sleep apnea are often diagnosed for other sleep disorders instead of sleep apnea. According to the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist, Dr. Angie Randazzo, at St. Lukes Sleep Medicine & Research Center, “Women often don’t have the stereotypical body type and don’t always say they are sleepy. Many will say they are fatigued, leading clinicians to think they have insomnia versus OSA.” Some of the reasons women are under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed with sleep apnea may be:
-breathing problems during sleep more subtle
Women’s Sleep Apnea and Related Health Issues A study at UCLA found that the heart rate of women with sleep apnea was less likely to adjust during physical activity than that of men with OSA. Women are more vulnerable to heart conditions. Other studies found women to be at higher risk of inflammation, hypertension and dementia. Sleep Apnea is linked an increased risk of serious health problems:
Women’s Risks for Sleep Apnea
There are different factors that may contribute to sleep apnea. Treatment options vary based on the individual needs. Women of all ages can suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Some treatment options:
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Dr. Anna LeeGeneral and Family Dentist in Glendora, CA Archives
September 2017
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