Tag: sleep apnea

Tired All the Time?

Posted on by MillenSmiles_aDmEEN

Do you wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested in the morning? Or, do you wake up feeling like a member of The Walking Dead and that you got no rest at all despite sleeping for several hours? If you are struggling to keep your eyes during the day, you may be living with undiagnosed sleep apnea, a serious, chronic health condition that does not just impact your sleep but can also lead to diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health issues.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

There are a variety of causes, but most commonly, the airway is blocked by the tonsils, adenoids, and/or tongue during sleep.

Here’s how you can tell you may have sleep apnea and how Millennium Smiles can help:

Eight Signs You Could Have Sleep Apnea

1. You snore a lot. Snoring is probably the most well-known symptom of sleep apnea, with pauses throughout the night.

2. Choking or gasping. If you wake up gasping for air or your partner says you stop breathing, you could be living with sleep apnea.

3. Feeling tired despite “getting enough sleep”. If you’re going to bed at a reasonable hour and waking up still tired and sluggish.

4. Unexplained lack of energy. It’s okay to be lazy or relax at times, but if you’re always tired and lack the energy to do things you want to do or need to do, you may be living with undiagnosed sleep apnea.

5. Frequently waking up with a sore throat or dry throat. How does this relate to sleep apnea? When your mouth is open because you cannot breathe, it dries out your throat.

6. Waking up with headaches. Do you wake up with a headache? Around your sinuses or temples? It could be because of sleep apnea-related tooth clenching (another fun side effect of the condition).

7. Lack of focus. Many people with undiagnosed sleep apnea complain about difficulty concentrating on tasks throughout the day. They also often report having difficulty remembering things. Why? Sleep apnea prevents your brain from getting enough oxygen and causes the blood-brain barrier of the brain to degrade, which affects both memory and cognition.

8. Irritability. Are you cranky? Of course, you are – you are exhausted, not getting good sleep, and missing out on critical oxygen! That would make us cranky, too.

So, Millennium Smiles Can Help with Sleep Apnea?

Yes, we can! Using state-of-the-art appliance therapy, we can help to open the airway, which reduces the interruptions in your sleep and allows you to feel rested. Find out why appliance therapy is beneficial compared to conventional treatment methods such as a CPAP machine or surgery. Call us now for more information at 972-987-4899.

Is Your Child Snoring?

Posted on by MillenSmiles_aDmEEN

Isn’t cute when your little one snores? Honestly, it’s adorable. It may also be a sign of something more serious. It could be evidence of a breathing disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or a deviated septum.

Causes of Snoring in Children

The causes of snoring in children are similar to the causes of snoring in adults. Some of these causes are relatively benign, but some are more serious. Here are the most common causes of snoring in children:

Congestion. A cold, respiratory infection or congestion caused by allergies can force a child to breathe through their mouth which can cause snoring.

Swollen Tonsils. Swollen tonsils and enlarged adenoids can temporarily block blocking the airway, causing snoring and difficulty sleeping. While for some children, this is a temporary situation, but many children with this condition have obstructive sleep apnea.

Deviated Septum. Some children are born with a deviated septum, which means the divider between their nostrils is offset. An offset septum makes breathing through the nose more difficult (and noisier!)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, also known as OSA, is caused when the airway is blocked. It can be blocked by the tongue or by enlarged glands. Children living with OSA often snore loudly and repeatedly wake through the night, often gasping for breath. According to statistics, around three percent of children under the age of 10 have OSA.

Incorrect Jaw Position. Did you know that the position of the jaw can contribute to snoring and sleep apnea? If the jaw is set too far back, the tongue is too far back. A tongue that is too far back can fall and block the airway when your child is relaxed during sleep and impact breathing.

Why You Should Be Concerned About Snoring

Breathing is one of the two most critical functions of the human body because it keeps us alive! When breathing is difficult because of a breathing disorder, the body can be severely impacted as can sleep. Sleep apnea and breathing disorders increase blood pressure and have been linked to other dangerous health conditions such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Also, when sleep is impacted, your child may act out, be more tired than usual, have difficulty concentrating, or complain of headaches.

What Should You Do if You Notice Your Child Snoring?

If you notice your child snoring, you should mention it to Dr. Korous. Dr. Korous recognizes that sleep apnea is a serious condition in both children and adults and has the training and resources necessary to help. Learn more about how Millennium Smiles uses technologically advanced dental care to help treat sleep apnea by calling 972-987-4899.

You Can’t Take a Vacation from Sleep Apnea

Posted on by MillenSmiles_aDmEEN

Summer is just a few weeks away – and that means fun! For many people, summer means heading out of town to see family or new sights. If traveling is on your bucket list this summer and you are living with sleep apnea, you may want to think about how your condition is going to affect your summer plans.

You Can’t Take a Vacation from Sleep Apnea

As much as you probably want to, you can’t take a vacation from sleep apnea. This means that if you are traveling, you will need to remember to pack your CPAP machine. Not only are you going to need to pack it, but you will also want to bring it on board as a carry-on because you will not want to take a chance on your machine getting lost, delayed, or damaged.

Taking your CPAP on as a carry-on may also require that you bring a copy of your CPAP prescription with you to show the TSA security agent that it is a required medical device.

If you fall asleep on the airplane or you have a long international flight ahead, you will likely want to use your CPAP to protect your health and keep your airway open. If you need to use your machine in-flight, you should be sure to ask when booking your reservation if you can have access to an electrical outlet.

Accommodating Your CPAP at Your Accommodations

If you are traveling in the United States, you probably will not have an issue finding an electrical outlet to use to power your machine, but if you’re heading overseas, be sure to bring an adapter. You may also want to pack a small extension cord just in case outlets are not conveniently placed near your bed.

Also, being on vacation still means you must clean your machine to prevent residue from building up or your machine from smelling. Pack your cleaning materials and extra tubing just in case. You definitely do not want to have to search for CPAP tubing in an unfamiliar city or country.

Speaking of tubing, many people have found that after traveling with their CPAP machine, that the tubes of the machine become damaged or split while packed. Duct tape can help if you need to make an emergency repair.

Traveling with a CPAP Does Not Sound Like Fun

Taking a heavy CPAP, packing it, lugging it through an airport, cleaning your machine, and hoping everything turns out for the best does not sound like the best way to enjoy your vacation. It turns out; you may not have to take your CPAP along with you at all. Some sleep apnea patients have benefitted from dental interventions for their condition – which may replace your bulky machine with a small dental appliance. Learn more about how Dr. Korous can help treat your sleep apnea by calling Millennium Smiles today at 972-987-4899.

More than Snoring: the Seriousness of Sleep Apnea

Posted on by MillenSmiles_aDmEEN

Obstructive sleep apnea is not just about snoring loudly; sleep apnea is a serious health condition. Sleep apnea has serious adverse health impacts, including an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. Sleep apnea sufferers are at risk of developing migraines, TMJD, and even diabetes. Sleep apnea patients may also be at risk of developing cognitive problems and dementia, according to a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing.

A Study of Sleep Apnea

The UCLA researchers examined the brain scans and health records of individuals living with obstructive sleep apnea who were not under treatment for the condition and compared them to the brain scans of people who did not have sleep apnea. Their analysis found that those individuals living with sleep apnea had evidence of thinning of the cerebral cortex thickness – the part of the brain that plays an essential part in memory, perception, cognition, and consciousness.

They also found that women living with untreated obstructive sleep apnea had greater rates of cerebral cortex thinning than men with untreated sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea affects over 22 million Americans and many more are living with the condition undiagnosed.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Exactly?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked. For many individuals, this occurs when the tongue falls back and blocks the airway during sleep. When the airway becomes blocked, patients are often jolted awake, gasping for breath. This situation can happen 30 to even 100+ times a night, depending on severity.

But What Does Dentistry Have to Do with Sleep Apnea?

We know it sounds strange for Dr. Korous to be talking about sleep apnea, but dentistry and sleep apnea are often related. For some individuals, dentistry can help sleep apnea by repositioning the jaw.

Here’s how: if the position of the jaw is set too far back, the tongue collapses into the airway when the patient is relaxed during sleep, and the airway becomes blocked. By situating the jaw in a more forward position using a custom-fitted dental appliance, the tongue will not fall and block the airway.

The result is a more restful night’s sleep, reduced blood pressure and a lowered risk of developing serious health complications like cognition problems because of sleep apnea.

For more information about the risks of obstructive sleep apnea and how our Frisco dental office can help, contact Millennium Smiles by calling 972-987-4899.

 

 

 

Make an
Appointment Emergency
Dentistry
Click to listen highlighted text!