Sleep apnea patients avoid treatment: CPAP device intolerance

Despite the growing number of Americans who suffer from sleepless nights, snoring, and serious medical consequences (estimated at over 15 million Americans), studies show that sleep apnea sufferers are avoiding treatment, and running serious health risks in the process.

Although the CPAP machine has proven itself to be almost 100% effective at treating sleep apnea, scientists are discovering that the catch phrase that goes along with that statistic is “if used properly”.  It’s common knowledge that data can be interpreted in many ways, and often is misleading.  In the case of the CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure machine), the numbers don’t lie.  It is hands-down the most effective machine for treating sleep apnea, if it can be used as intended.  To illustrate the point, check out the photo under “CPAP machine” on the “treatments” page on Dr. Blumenstock’s web site:  http://www.sleep-apnea-dentist-nj.info/sleep_apnea_treatments.htm.  If you have not looked, I will describe it for you here: a cousin to the World War II gas mask, with a band strapped around the head and neck, a plastic mask similar to those worn by hospital patients, connected to a large, fairly rigid plastic tube, all leading to the machine itself, which must be placed beside the bed and is about the size of a small humidifier.  Though sleep apnea patients suffer from sleepless nights and oxygen deprivation, it’s hard to imagine that their quality of sleep is much improved when strapped to such apparatus, and it is doubtful that they don’t wake just as often by discomfort and hampered movements due to the cumbersome parts of the machine.  Some patients complain that it also produces noise and chafes the skin intolerably.

Perhaps this explains the new CPAP machine effectiveness data:  50% or less.  While many Americans are just beginning to realize that their “snoring problem” is really a more problematic health issue, with serious, long-term ramifications, it seems that the traditional, or most common remedy (the CPAP machine), is frequently ineffective or intolerable.  Do not despair!  This is one of the reasons that Dr. Blumenstock invests his time in maintaining an internet presence, with up-to-date information and solutions.  It’s important for sleep apnea sufferers to understand that there are other treatments, and many patients are finding relief for the first time in years, based on advances in Dental Sleep Medicine.

If you are reading this article, odds are that you, or a loved one close to you, has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or has symptoms of the condition.  Do not rely upon word of mouth to convince you that there is no effective remedy for your suffering.  Many diagnosed in the past were given the CPAP machine, and have either tolerated the machine, or given up on it in despair.  New technologies have produced oral appliances and a variety of other approaches to effectively treat sleep apnea.  Visit Dr. Blumenstock’s site today to learn more:  http://www.sleep-apnea-dentist-nj.info/  His patient testimonials attest to his and their success!

This holiday season, give yourself the gift of good sleep!

There are many things available for purchase each holiday season.  So many, in fact, that the shopping can be quite overwhelming.  In the whirlwind of trying to get everything on the list while scouring ads for “this year’s newest and best,” all at the lowest prices, sometimes it seems impossible to make a decision.  It’s always frustrating, too, to find that some hot item turns out to be dud.

Don’t let that be your experience this year.  One market that we see consistently advertised each year is the “sleep better” category.  Granted, there are a wide variety of items that make this claim.  From pillow-top mattresses, to herbal remedies, from nasal devices, to diet plans, from black-out curtains, to relaxation cd’s, the list is really quite varied.  While many of these things may have some positive effect on your sleep, some people have a much more severe situation, and only proper treatment will provide relief.

Sleep apnea: a condition that affects 20% of U.S. adults; 90% are undiagnosed.

If you have never heard of sleep apnea, but perhaps stumbled across this article because you’ve been having “sleep problems” or “snoring issues,” it’s worth taking a moment to learn more.  Especially if you fall into the group of people who’ve been buying “duds” every holiday, hoping that your sleep quality will improve, but finding no relief.

There are a great many reasons that people do not sleep well.  Sleep apnea is a specific condition in which the breathing airway actually becomes blocked during sleep, cutting off oxygen to the body.  One of the primary signs is snoring.  The body struggling or “gasping” for air is the snoring sound that is heard, and it is not a harmless nuisance.  Apnea episodes can occur from 6 to 100 times per hour, leaving people feeling exhausted when they wake up.  Irritability, headaches, and impaired thinking and memory are common complaints.  Unfortunately, more severe cases can lead to heart disease, stroke, depression and suicidal thoughts.  Apnea sufferers are also at higher risk throughout the day, as their motor skills are impaired from lack of sleep.

If you have concerns because you have any of these symptoms, have been struggling with snoring, or feel that you’re just not getting the sleep you need, do yourself a favor this holiday season.  Don’t buy another “dud”.  Invest in yourself by contacting your doctor about what could be a serious condition, sleep apnea.  Your family physician can help you decide whether you need to see a sleep medicine specialist.  Also, read more at:  http://www.sleep-apnea-dentist-nj.info/index.htm

Happy Holidays, from Central Jersey Dental Sleep Medicine! (732) 251-7766

From Central Jersey Sleep Medicine, Letter to Dr. Blumenstock (testimonials)

Dear Dr. Blumenstock:

I am writing this to let you know what a difference meeting you made in my life.

I am 48 years old. Sometime during the year of my 41st birthday I began to develop a problem with snoring that progressed slowly but by the time I was 47 the effect of the snoring on my lovely wife and children was becoming a severe aggravation. My wife Maria tried to adapt to my snoring by using ear plugs. This worked temporarily but ear plugs would get misplaced. The novelty effect of the ear plugs eventually wore off and they became a nuisance to her. Each morning my two sons would report to me about the volume of my snoring. It was very unpleasant for them. I resolved to relocate to the downstairs couch to sleep at night. While there I felt isolated from my wife and children.

I was in excellent physical condition, was not overweight, had recently completed the NY Marathon, and yet 2 sleep studies confirmed a sleep apnea and snoring problem. Because of the shape of my face and nose I was not a good candidate for a C-PAP device. Even if I was, I did not look forward lugging around a boxy electrical appliance for the rest of my life. I was getting used to feeling tired, I stopped running, and was letting myself get out of shape. After my last sleep study in December 2008 I was referred to you but hesitated to take action because I was still convinced I could work out this problem on my own. By February 2009 I was in poor physical condition. I had no more motivation to run because I burned myself out running and learned that all the running in the world could not help me eliminate the snoring. I resented sleeping on the couch away from my family. It began to “get to me,” and I was unpleasant to be with. I was becoming tempted to blame my family for my situation. Here I was blessed with a wonderful family yet I was feeling tired, resentful, and miserable all of the time.

In late March 2009 I finally decided I needed to see someone for help regarding the snoring. I made an appointment to see you in April. At the appointment I was impressed by the courtesy and professionalism of your staff. Even more important was when you and I discussed my problem. After I explained my situation you responded and I listened critically to what you had to say. By the time we were finished talking I was convinced that maybe someone like you, with your accumulated years of knowledge and experience in treating sleep apnea and the resulting issues, could help me.

By the next appointment you were fitting me with the EMA Appliance and by May I was no longer snoring. Not only did you provide me with an appliance that works and that I can carry around in a pocket but you also explained physiology of my particular problem and explained which sleeping positions would help me get the most out of the appliance. I resolved to do exactly what you told me to do. Armed with these tools I moved back upstairs with my family. I am not snoring any more. I feel refreshed when I awake each morning and once again I enjoy the sport of running. The quality of my life with my family is wonderful again and I have you to thank for it. Very truly yours, Daniel.

- Daniel T.

New Brunswick, NJ

Sleep apnea potentially life-threatening

Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects almost 18 million Americans. Unlike mild snoring, sufferers of sleep apnea stop breathing completely for 10 seconds or more while sleeping, 10-60 times in a single night. During these episodes, the brain briefly wakes up in order to restart breathing. This means that a person can be waking 10-60 times a night, in addition to suffering low oxygen levels from lack of breathing. Sleep apnea patients suffer fragmented, poor-quality sleep. In fact, studies have shown that sufferers of this disorder are so fatigued during the day that, when driving, their performance is similar to that of a drunk driver. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to impaired daytime functioning, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. To say that this disorder is life-threatening is no exaggeration.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea are: morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability and impaired mental or emotional functioning, snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, insomnia, and waking with a dry mouth or sore throat.

Who should you consult if you are worried that you may have sleep apnea?

If you suspect that you suffer from sleep apnea, discuss it with your personal physician. The symptoms listed above are common for sleep apnea, but can also be symptoms of other disorders and/or physical ailments. Visiting your personal physician first allows them to rule out other dangerous possibilities, and they can then refer you to a sleep medicine specialist (dentist) if they believe that sleep apnea is the issue. The sleep apnea specialist is able to conduct an overnight sleep study, in addition to studying your medical history and general medical background. The sleep study monitors heart rate and identifies sleep interruptions. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, most of the treatments are dental in nature, although for mild cases, a sleep apnea specialist may work with your physician to make modifications to lifestyle and diet that may be affecting the condition.

Is there any good news about sleep apnea? Yes.

Sleep apnea awareness has been growing and sleep apnea treatment is advancing each year. Specialists like Dr. Blumenstock focus specifically on the treatment of sleep apnea, and offer the most up-to-date and innovative treatments available. Many patients have been pleasantly surprised by the new dental devices that are available to alleviate sleep apnea. Previous therapy included appliances that were large, ungainly, uncomfortable and simply not user-friendly. Or, many sufferers believed that surgery was the only option. Newer appliances are compact and come in a variety of models so that your sleep apnea solution is custom-fit to your unique situation.

A Hard Turn: Big-Rig Drivers Focus on Getting Healthy

Enjoy Thanksgiving...but watch out for some of those truckers on the road, especially if they overeat like we all tend to do! You might want to read this ...

A Hard Turn: Big-Rig Drivers Focus on Getting Healthy

Beset by insurance costs and desperate to make sure that drivers pass health tests, trucking companies and industry groups are working to persuade them to change their habits.

“How do I know if my sleepiness is abnormal? Isn’t everyone tired these days?”

In the medical field, The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is used to determine the level of daytime sleepiness. A score of 18 or more is very sleepy. Download and print your own copy from Dr. Blumenstock’s site:

http://www.sleep-apnea-dentist-nj.info/sleep_apnea_questionnaire.htm

Or, test yourself now:

How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the situations described below, in contrast to feeling just tired?

This refers to your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you haven't done some of these things recently try to work out how they would have affected you. Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:

0 = would never doze

1 = Slight chance of dozing

2 = Moderate chance of dozing

3 = High chance of dozing

Situation Chance of dozing

Sitting and reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____

Watching TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. _____

Sitting, inactive in a public place (e.g. a theatre or a meeting) . . . . . . . _____

As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____

Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit . . . . . _____

Sitting and talking to someone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____

Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____

In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in the traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____

Score:

0-10 Normal range

10-12 Borderline

12-24 Abnormal

If you score 10 or more on this test, you should consider whether you are getting enough sleep and/or need to see a sleep specialist. Talk to your personal physician, or visit Dr. Blumenstock’s web site for more information: http://www.sleep-apnea-dentist-nj.info/sleep_apnea_questionnaire.htm

Signs of sleep apnea:

It is important to remember that most people with sleep apnea do not remember waking up during the night. Instead, family members often report or complain about the problem. These daytime symptoms may also be a clue:

• Morning headaches
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Irritability and impaired mental or emotional functioning
• Excessive snoring, choking or gasping during slee
• Waking with a dry mouth and/or sore throat

It’s important to understand that sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening disorder. Those with sleep apnea are often so fatigued during the day that their performance while driving is similar to that of drunk drivers. When the condition goes untreated, it can lead to impaired daytime functioning, high blood pressure, heart attack and even stroke.

“Is it ever ‘just snoring’? It seems like everything these days is life-threatening!”

Actually, yes, there is just “plain old snoring”, and then there is “sleep apnea”. What’s the difference? Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person actually stops breathing for 10 seconds or more, between 10 and 60 times a night. This frequency can have a tremendous negative impact on a person’s health. There are actually two major types of sleep apnea-obstructive and central. With obstructive apnea, the walls in your throat relax while you are sleeping, so much so that the airway actually collapses and prevents air from flowing. Central apnea works entirely differently in that the brain mechanisms that control breathing are actually interrupting breathing during sleep. Obstructive apnea is the more common of the two.

“So how do you know the difference between snoring and sleep apnea?”

1. A classic sleep apnea pattern may sound like this: your spouse hears you snoring loudly, followed by silence, then a snort or choking sound as you resume breathing. The silence and the choking are important to notice, as this is when the body is not getting any oxygen at all, then it wakes itself to gasp for air.
2. See a sleep-apnea specialist, such as Dr. Blumenstock, who can perform a dental sleep disorder consultation and give you a conclusive response on whether you have a common sleep disruption, or the much more serious disorder, sleep apnea, which should be treated to protect your health.

“What if I have sleep apnea? What now?”

If you believe that you have sleep apnea, or have already been diagnosed with the condition, there are a number of solutions, depending on the severity of the condition. With mild cases, simple adjustments to your lifestyle may be suggested such as weight loss, sleep positioning, exercise, or cessation of smoking. For moderate to severe cases, there are oral appliances and/or the CPAP mask (read more about treatments), and oral surgery. Consult a dentist if you have concerns about sleep apnea. http://www.sleep-apnea-dentist-nj.info/index.htm