If you ask someone if they snore or have sleep apnea, he or she will probably tell you to ask their spouse. Despite the person is living with it, it’s just not that obvious.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which relaxed tissue in the throat periodically blocks the upper airway during sleep; as a result, the sufferer stops breathing for seconds or minutes at a time. This generally occurs until the brain’s alarm centers rouse the individual enough to tighten the throat muscles once more. This can happen over and over again, even hundreds of times per night. However, the moments are so minor that they are unnoticed by the individual.
It is a silent killer, a hidden predator.
You might be thinking, “a killer?” A little melodramatic, perhaps?
However, newer studies indicate that OSA, and sleep disturbance in particular, are related to a slew of medical conditions. Growing evidence suggests that adequate and restful sleep is central to the health of both mind and body, regulating processes ranging from memory to metabolism. Many processes occur during restful sleep, your body’s time to repair itself. Lack of proper regenerating sleep can result in inflammation, a weakened immune system, hypertension, headaches, obesity, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and bed wetting.
Studies suggest that OSA in children can be directly linked to attention disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and bed wetting.
Imagine the number of unfortunate children out there suffering from the embarrassment of bed-wetting while having a sleepover with friends or having continuous classroom reprimands, their parents frustrated to no end, all because of undiagnosed OSA.
Millions of Americans have a serious sleep disorder, as many as one in four, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and other physiological problems that may go undiagnosed.
All of that aside, there are new dental-related technologies that are doing groundbreaking work and changing lives in the process. New appliances are able to actually correct the maxillofacial profile and correct airway constriction all in one fell swoop.
Depending on the age and severity of the case, each patient is fitted with a custom mouth device that is worn temporarily (not forever and ever) and results in a change that is permanent!
For more information on sleep apnea or to make an appointment, contact Sunshine Dentistry at (609) 563-4143. You can also send any questions or comments at sunshinedentistry@comcast.net. The office is conveniently located at 109 West Atlantic Avenue in Cape May Court House.
Wildwood Crest – I believe there is a report that the Administration is thinking about taking some Palestinians into the country as refugees. Why not? They let in over 7 million that have come from many countries.
