Do you have trouble sleeping because of a loved one's snoring? Believe it or not, snoring can be more disruptive to the person snoring than it is to you.
Snoring is caused by a blocked airway. It is often dismissed as an annoyance, but it can actually be a sign of a very serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. The tongue falls backward during sleep and can fully or partially block the airway. There is then a struggle to obtain air, and this is what causes the vibration we call snoring. Much of the time the body will continue to get just enough air so there will be very little harm. However, snoring is a condition that means sleep apnea could be right around the corner.
Apnea episodes can occur from 6 to 100 times per hour. The oxygen deprivation causes people to feel exhausted when they wake up, as though they haven’t really been sleeping. It is no wonder they feel tired, headachy, and irritable because they’ve spent most of the night fighting for air.
The lower oxygen levels caused by snoring also put a strain on the heart. Because of this, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are considered medical problems.
Read more on sleep disorder solutions.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Snoring? A quick and practical questionnaire...
Many patients come to us because their partners or family members noticed heavy snoring or frequent episodes where they stopped breathing. Spouses often report pauses in breathing followed by a gasp for air.
But not everyone can discover their situation this way. Many people sleep alone, or with partners who sleep too deeply to notice a problem. If you suspect you have a nighttime breathing problem but aren’t sure, ask yourself these questions:
• Do you snore on a regular basis, or wake others up in your household?
• Do you awaken frequently at night gasping for air?
• Are you excessively tired during the day?
• Do you fall asleep at unusual times during your day?
• Do you have morning headaches or frequent sore throats or dry mouth?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider getting a thorough sleep evaluation. Visit our website for Snoring Solutions.
But not everyone can discover their situation this way. Many people sleep alone, or with partners who sleep too deeply to notice a problem. If you suspect you have a nighttime breathing problem but aren’t sure, ask yourself these questions:
• Do you snore on a regular basis, or wake others up in your household?
• Do you awaken frequently at night gasping for air?
• Are you excessively tired during the day?
• Do you fall asleep at unusual times during your day?
• Do you have morning headaches or frequent sore throats or dry mouth?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider getting a thorough sleep evaluation. Visit our website for Snoring Solutions.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Sleep Apnea Treatments
The lack of quality sleep can take a huge toll on your life. There are many disadvantages to lack of sleep. Sleep apnea patients complain of a lack of energy, poor concentration, decreased productivity, slowed metabolism, and general loss of quality of life. In addition, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and in extreme cases, even sudden death. It is not a condition to take lightly. Diagnosis and treatment can have a huge impact on your future, and on your life.
There are four main treatments for sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy repositions the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open. The appliance is molded to the inside of your mouth and worn at night. We suggest that a follow up appointment is necessary to achieve the best results. A second treatment is simply to adjust some of your behaviors. For example, avoid alcohol before bed, lose weight, moisten the air, quit smoking, raise the head of the bed or mattress, and increase daily exercise to name a few. This is a good option for mild sleep apnea. Thirdly is the CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, and is a machine located next to the bed to provide a constant stream of air via a mask. This constant stream of air keeps breathing passages open, and has close to 100% efficiency when used. The last option is surgical treatment. There are several surgeries that can be preformed, but like any surgery there is risk involved.
With over two decades of training and experience in the field of dental sleep medicine, Dr. Blumenstock is one of the most active and influential practitioners of this type in New Jersey. We function in cooperation with a medical sleep team that includes sleep physicians, neurologists, pulmonologists, and ear, nose, and throat specialists. Since snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are medical problems, you’ll obtain an objective medical assessment before we explore oral appliance therapy.
Following referral from a physician, Dr. Blumenstock thoroughly examines all patients and discusses all options, advantages, limitations, and consequences. You will decide together what the best option is for you and your sleep apnea.
Read more on Sleep Apnea Treatment in NJ
There are four main treatments for sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy repositions the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open. The appliance is molded to the inside of your mouth and worn at night. We suggest that a follow up appointment is necessary to achieve the best results. A second treatment is simply to adjust some of your behaviors. For example, avoid alcohol before bed, lose weight, moisten the air, quit smoking, raise the head of the bed or mattress, and increase daily exercise to name a few. This is a good option for mild sleep apnea. Thirdly is the CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, and is a machine located next to the bed to provide a constant stream of air via a mask. This constant stream of air keeps breathing passages open, and has close to 100% efficiency when used. The last option is surgical treatment. There are several surgeries that can be preformed, but like any surgery there is risk involved.
With over two decades of training and experience in the field of dental sleep medicine, Dr. Blumenstock is one of the most active and influential practitioners of this type in New Jersey. We function in cooperation with a medical sleep team that includes sleep physicians, neurologists, pulmonologists, and ear, nose, and throat specialists. Since snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are medical problems, you’ll obtain an objective medical assessment before we explore oral appliance therapy.
Following referral from a physician, Dr. Blumenstock thoroughly examines all patients and discusses all options, advantages, limitations, and consequences. You will decide together what the best option is for you and your sleep apnea.
Read more on Sleep Apnea Treatment in NJ
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