February 16, 2012

Sleep Disruption Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , — admin @ 7:26 pm

A full night of sleep is needed for good health but as a Bethesda sleep apnea dentist I know many people have sleep that is disrupted throughout the night. A new study shows that people who have disrupted sleep were more likely to be at risk for memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease. Bethesda sleep apnea dentist shares study that shows disrupted sleep linked to memory loss.

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 study showed that people who slept soundly throughout the night were 5 times less likely to have the plaque buildup. The researchers are not sure of the direction of the relationship, whether the sleep disruption is causing the brain changes or if brain changes are disrupting sleep. More research will be needed.

Sleep can be disrupted for any number of reasons; a barking dog, insomnia, a bed partner’s loud snoring or sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is especially dangerous because it affects the sleep of the person with the disease and also disrupts the sleep of that persons bed partner. The loud snoring and gasping throughout the night are not remembered by the sleep apnea patient but the spouse can describe the entire night in great detail. If you experience loud snoring and daytime tiredness you may have obstructive sleep apnea.

Please contact Bethesda sleep medicine dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 to arrange for your screening for obstructive sleep apnea.

February 10, 2012

Sleep Problems and Cancer Risk

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , , — admin @ 8:58 pm

Do sleep problems affect your chances of developing prostate cancer? A study done in Iceland showed that men with the most trouble sleeping were twice as likely to develop prostate cancer. The sleep problem experienced by study participants was severe insomnia.Sleep disorders may increase risk of other diseases including cancer

Previous studies had found a relationship between sleep disruption and cancer. Earlier research had shown that sleep problems caused by working the night shift had a bigger impact on the risk for prostate cancer the longer the man worked that shift. Working the night shift has been shown to suppress the immune system and reduces the amount of melatonin created by the body, both of which may promote cancer growth. The Icelandic research did not address whether treating the sleep problems would reduce the risk of cancer and other scientists caution that more research is needed.

I believe we are just discovering how important sleep really is for our overall physical and mental well-being. Sleeping with someone who disturbs your rest by snoring loudly all night long is simply bad for your health. If you are unable to get a full night of sleep because your bed partner is too loud then it is time to get help.

Snoring can be a sign of a more serious illness like obstructive sleep apnea. There are various ways to stop the snoring and keep sleep apnea patients breathing all night and one of the most effective is by using an oral appliance. Both bed partners can get a good night’s sleep once the snoring stops and you’ll both be amazed by how much better you feel and how much more energy you have.

Please contact sleep medicine dentist Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum in Bethesda, MD today at 301-530-3600 to schedule an evaluation to see if you may be a candidate for an oral appliance.

February 2, 2012

Silent Strokes and Sleep Apnea

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 8:41 pm

Sleep apnea has been linked to strokes in many studies which talked about in our Bethesda sleep dentist blog.  New research from Germany shows that sleep apnea boosts the risk of “silent” strokes. Silent strokes are those that do not have any outward symptoms but tissue death has occurred in the brain.

Dr. Jessica Kepplinger evaluated 56 patients who had a stroke. They tested the patients for sleep apnea and found 91% experienced stoppages of breathing while asleep. They also performed brain-imaging studies of the patients and found that those people with sleep apnea were more likely to have experienced silent strokes according to the brain scans. The worse the sleep apnea, the higher the risk of silent strokes.

Dr. Ralph Sacco, past president of the American Heart Association said “There are many reasons to treat sleep apnea, including reducing the risk for clinical, and now, silent stroke.”

Sleep apnea treatment is available for patients who are CPAP intolerant. Oral appliance therapy keeps the airway open at night allowing you to breathe freely without surgery, masks or hoses. These amazing custom devices work by gently placing the jaw in a position that keeps the tissues of the mouth and throat from blocking the airway during sleep. No more snoring and no more gasping for breath during the night.

To find out if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy please contact Bethesda Sleep Apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today. We’ll be happy to schedule your appointment and answer any questions.

January 23, 2012

Talking 2012 Health Trends

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , — admin @ 6:20 pm

Every year there are certain trends that get talked about — it happens in technology, fashion and yes, even our health! The Values Institute at DGWB, a national research group,  determined the following are going to be hot health topics in 2012:Health trends for 2012

Hot Health Topics

  • 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.
  • Natural energy drinks - Instead of Red Bull or 5 Hour Energy,  consumers will be looking for an energy boost from more natural ingredients like vitamins and tea extracts.
  • 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.”

Let’s 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  sleep apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum is looking forward to helping you make 2012 your healthiest year ever. Contact us at 301-530-3600 today to schedule your consultation

January 19, 2012

Women Who Treat Sleep Apnea Lower Heart Risk

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , — admin @ 5:56 pm

Women who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and treated their disease reduced their risk of dying from heart attack or stroke. A new study from Spain looked at women with sleep apnea and how treatment affected their cardiovascular risks. Previous studies have confirmed that men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

The study found that women with untreated, severe sleep apnea were 3 1/2 times more likely to die from heart disease or stroke compared to women without OSA. The study focused on treating the women using CPAP which uses a machine to deliver pressurized air through a mask to keep the throat open at night. Researchers found that using the machine for at least 4 hours per night reduced the risk for the women to equal that of patients without sleep apnea. Great news for those patients who can tolerate sleeping with a CPAP machine.

Sleep Apnea Help for CPAP Intolerant

The problem is that a lot of people can’t tolerate sleeping with a CPAP machine. They can’t find a mask that is comfortable, the tubing bothers them, they just feel claustrophobic… there are lots of reasons. For mild to moderate sleep apnea and for patients with more severe cases who are CPAP intolerant an oral appliance may be the answer.

A custom oral appliance is created in a lab and designed to gently hold your jaw in a position that keeps your airway open during sleep. No masks or electricity needed.

For more information or to schedule a consultation to see if you may be a candidate for oral appliance therapy to treat your obstructive sleep apnea please contact Bethesda, MD sleep apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today.

January 6, 2012

Do You Have a Sleep Problem?

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:03 pm

As a dentist treating sleep apnea patients in the Bethesda, MD area I usually ask all of my patients about their sleeping habits and if they have a sleep problem. A national survey asked the same type of questions and an astounding 99% percent of the people surveyed reported at least one sleep complaint even though they rated their own health as good, very good or excellent.

Over half said they didn’t feel as if they were getting enough sleep, 45% said they snore, 45% also said they suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, 37% had trouble falling asleep and 12% knew that they stopped breathing or experienced gasping while asleep.

What is worse than the 99% number is the fact that only 24% had told their doctor about their sleep problem. The data from the survey showed that while 4.6% had received a sleep apnea diagnosis, 33% of the people actually had the signs of sleep apnea.

Living with an untreated sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea can cause serious health problems including cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes and sexual dysfunction. Getting diagnosed and treated can drastically improve your quality of life and give you back the energy and pep that you thought was long gone.

If you snore, feel excessively sleepy during the day, have experienced weight gain or difficulty in losing weight or if you have been told to stop breathing during sleep you may have obstructive sleep apnea. To learn more about diagnosing your sleep problem and how your Bethesda sleep apnea dentist can help please contact Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today to schedule your consultation.

January 4, 2012

Sleep Apnea Affects Atrial Fibrillation

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 6:05 pm

Bethesda sleep apnea sufferers should be aware of the effects of sleep apnea on atrial fibrillation. Sleep disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnea has been shown to increase the risk of heart arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (afib). A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that the risk of having an abnormal heartbeat was 18 times higher immediately after an apnea episode compared to during normal sleep breathing.

Even more frightening, the sleep apnea did not have to be severe to raise the risk of afib. “Our focus was on individuals with mild to moderate apnea since it is those people we could compare periods of sleep where there were no apneas to periods where apneas occurred,” said coauthor Dr. Susan Redline of Case Western Reserve University. This work “underscores the tight link between heart disease and sleep apnea and the need to further evaluate the impact of sleep apnea treatment on reducing heart disease burden.”

Sleep apnea treatment is vital for maintaining a healthy heart. The gold standard for treating the disease is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), however studies show that about half of patients discontinue CPAP within one year and those that do continue average only about 3 hours per night. Another treatment that has been declared effective by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine but is not well known is oral appliance therapy available from a sleep apnea dentist who is trained in dental sleep medicine. An oral appliance is a small mouthpiece that is worn while sleeping and it works by gently placing your lower jaw in a position that keeps the airway open during sleep. No more blocked airway – no more apnea events.

To find out more about oral appliance therapy to treat your sleep apnea please contact Bethesda Sleep Apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today.

December 23, 2011

Sleepy Policemen May Be Common

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , , — admin @ 9:27 pm

Sleep problems or sleep disorders of some kind affect one-third to one-half of all Americans. The cost to society in lost productivity and accidents is huge as well as the toll these problems take on the patients and their families.  Recently almost 5,000 police officers in the US and Canada were screened for sleep problems and about 40% of them tested positive for at least one 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 Bethesda, MD area from Dr. Barnard Greenbaum.

Police officers are not the only ones that need a good nights sleep in order to perform their jobs. Contact us today at 301-530-3600 to schedule your consultation to see if you may be a candidate for oral appliance therapy.

December 15, 2011

Gotta “Go”? Might Be A Sign of Sleep Apnea

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , , — admin @ 10:58 pm

Waking in the middle of the night because you have to “go”. The medical term for this is nocturia and research suggests that nighttime urination frequency can help doctors screen for sleep apnea. Nocturia and sleep apnea have been linked before but this is the first time researchers have sought to discover whether it can predict if someone suffers from sleep apnea.

The researchers looked at over one thousand patient charts from two New Mexico sleep centers. Data collected from the patients included nocturia, snoring, weight, sex and age. Snoring is typically a sign that someone may have sleep apnea but it turns out that self-reported nocturia was just about as accurate in predicting who would test positive for sleep apnea.

If you are waking in the morning feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep, if you snore or if you find yourself waking throughout the night to visit the bathroom you may suffer from sleep apnea. Treating your condition can give you back your energy and help you avoid the serious side effects that come with untreated sleep apnea such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Oral appliance therapy treats obstructive sleep apnea without masks or hoses. A small, custom mouthpiece is worn during sleep and gently places the jaw in a position that keep the airway open during sleep. No more snoring and no more stoppages of breath.

Please contact Dr. Bernard Greenbaum’s Bethesda, MD office at 301-530-3600 today to find out more about oral appliance therapy for treating obstructive sleep apnea.

August 18, 2010

Oral Appliance Therapy from Dr. Greenbaum: A Comfortable Alterative to CPAP

Filed under: Sleep Apnea/Snoring/CPAP Intolerant — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:44 pm

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a potentially dangerous condition in which breathing repeatedly stops for periods of 10 seconds or more. If you suffer from OSA, a doctor may have prescribed a CPAP machine and mask to remedy your condition. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and it’s a common treatment for sleep apnea. Many CPAP patients, however, simply can’t tolerate this therapy. Some dislike the noise, others find the mask uncomfortable, and still others object to the bulkiness of the device.

Customized Treatment for CPAP Intolerance

Bethesda sleep apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum offers a comfortable alternative to CPAP: the SomnoDent, an oral appliance made by SomnoMed, a leader in dental sleep medicine. This clinically-proven treatment is non-invasive, easy to use, and effective. The SomnoDent sleep appliance is a small, thin oral device similar to an athletic mouthguard or orthodontic retainer. Dr. Greenbaum custom fits each patient’s oral appliance to ensure optimal fit and comfort.

The SomnoDent device holds the jaw forward to prevent the soft tissues at the back of the mouth from collapsing while you sleep – the cause of most mild to moderate sleep apnea, as well as snoring. Benefits of SomnoMed oral appliance therapy over CPAP include:

  • No noise

  • Made from flexible material that conforms to your mouth
  • Two separate pieces to let you speak, drink, and yawn
  • Non-bulky, streamlined design
  • Prevents teeth grinding, as well as OSA and snoring
  • Nothing to hook up
  • Easy to keep clean
  • Doesn’t limit your sleep positions

Comprehensive Care from Your Bethesda, Maryland Sleep Apnea Dentist
As a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), Dr. Greenbaum is uniquely qualified to treat patients with OSA and other sleep disorders. He recently attended the AADSM’s 19th Annual Meeting, where he attended meetings, clinical workshop, and postgraduate courses to further his knowledge of OSA and personalized treatment regimens. (Look for news from the conference in future blog posts!)

Dr. Greenbaum has practiced dentistry in Bethesda for over 25 years. He takes hundreds of hours of continuing education courses each year to provide our patients with the best of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. Call our Bethesda, Maryland office today to schedule your appointment and discover the benefits of our comfortable CPAP alternative.

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