Insomnia Portage IN, Sleep Apnea Lake Station, Gary IN, Sleep Disorder, DENTIST Portage IN DENTIST Portage IN Do you snore? Portage DENTAL PATIENT Do I what? DENTIST Portage IN Snore? Portage DENTAL PATIENT Snoring is annoying. Though I kind of think snoring is funny too. DENTIST Portage IN Not really. Most people who snore have something called sleep apnea, which means they stop breathing many times during the night, waking up slightly, and don’t get enough sleep - causing all kinds of serious problems. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Seriously? DENTIST Portage IN Seriously. Lately there’s a tremendous amount of concern in the news about so many people being tired and fatigued during the day Portage DENTAL PATIENT I hate being tired. I hate it! When I’m tired, I don’t get as much done. I get cranky. I have less drive to accomplish things. Did I mention cranky? Also unmotivated. I’m not too happy. And I’m cranky. DENTIST Portage IN yes, that is bad enough, but it can be more serious than that. There are news stories like the bus driver falling asleep and wrapping his bus around a power pole - killing himself and other people. Portage DENTAL PATIENT That’s terrible! DENTIST Portage IN Some believe that drivers falling asleep in cars may cause more accidents than those driving drunk. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I hadn’t thought of that. So for some people, this tiredness problem is called? DENTIST Portage IN Sleep apnea. It is estimated that eighteen million people in the United INs may have this sleep disorder. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Eighteen million? Are you kidding me? DENTIST Portage IN I am not. It’s potentially a serious ailment that can also cause medical problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, poor concentration, irritability, weakened immune system, and memory loss. Portage DENTAL PATIENT How does sleep apnea happen? DENTIST Portage IN The most common form happens when the throat muscles relax during sleep and cause the airway to be blocked, often by the tongue. Your breathing temporarily stops. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Yikes. Breathing stops? That can’t be good. DENTIST Portage IN It’s not. It causes oxygen levels to lower in the blood, the brain detects this decrease and reopens the airway and you will continue breathing again. The gap in breathing is very brief and you never fully wake up - so you don’t even know it’s happening. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I wonder if I have it. When I’m tired, I just reach for coffee or a Red Bull energy drink in the afternoon. DENTIST Portage IN That isn’t healthy and doesn’t solve the real problem. Besides, sleep apnea causes other issues, like increasing the risk of dying from heart attacks during sleep by 30 percent. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Not good at all. So how do you know if you have it? DENTIST Portage IN Most people don’t. People may think they got a full night’s sleep, but are still very tired. That’s because they really only got a couple of hours of quality sleep. Their sleep is constantly interrupted so they don’t get the deep sleep they really need. It’s believed some people stop breathing twenty to thirty times an hour. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Once more - yikes! So how does anyone know they have it? DENTIST Portage IN Sleep apnea is most common with people who also snore, and often with people who are very overweight. Frequently, your sleeping partner may notice your breathing stop during the night, or at least notice the snoring. Once you suspect, you can get tested for it. Portage DENTAL PATIENT If you do have sleep apnea, can anything be done? DENTIST Portage IN Yes. One common treatment for sleep apnea is a C-PAP device. The patient actually wears an oxygen mask while sleeping that connects to a machine. This machine pushes in air to keep the airway open. Portage DENTAL PATIENT And it works? DENTIST Portage IN Yes but no. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Yes but no? How is it yes and no? DENTIST Portage IN Yes, the C-PAP is very effective. But three quarters of patients stop using it because it is so uncomfortable, and because you need to sleep in one position on your back for it to be effective. Portage DENTAL PATIENT So yes it works. But most people stop using it. Is there anything else that helps? DENTIST Portage IN Yes, dentists can also treat sleep apnea. They make the patient a simple dental appliance to wear. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Like a retainer you get after braces? DENTIST Portage IN Similar, or like a mouthpiece you wear for sports. It actually pushes the lower jaw and tongue slightly forward to keep the airway open while you sleep. It's much more comfortable to wear. Portage DENTAL PATIENT So a person will actually use it! DENTIST Portage IN Some doctors think that it is not quite as effective as the C-PAP, but in reality, this dental device can help more people who are suffering from sleep apnea because it is more comfortable to use and therefore more patients will use it. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Thank goodness for dentists! DENTIST Portage IN That’s what I always tell my patients! An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure. Visit your DENTIST Portage IN today and get your dental checkup. You will feel better... and look better! Insomnia, Sleep Disorder, Sleep Apnea treatments are available at your DENTIST Portage IN office. Also search for SLEEP APNEA Portage IN, SLEEP DISORDER Portage IN, INSOMNIA Portage IN, INSOMNIA Lake Station IN, INSOMNIA Gary IN, SLEEP APNEA Lake Station IN, SLEEP APNEA Gary IN