DesertSmiles Blog

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Sleep apnea is a very serious condition. There are more and more studies all the time showing the health risks of the disorder.

"A new study suggests that even mild sleep apnea may boost mens' risk of stroke, HealthDay reports. Researchers studied more than 5,400 adults over nine years. They found that men with moderate to severe sleep apnea were almost three times more likely to have a stroke than men without the condition. Men with mild symptoms were also at higher risk of stroke. In women studied, however, only severe sleep apnea appeared to heighten stroke risk. "Overall, the increased risk of stroke in men with sleep apnea is comparable to adding 10 years to a man's age," said lead author Susan Redline of Case Western Reserve University, according to HealthDay. The findings appear online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

In August, U.S. News's Lindsay Lyon wrote about 7 things sleep doctors say can exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea or put people at risk for the nighttime breathing disorder. More than 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing, and many are unaware, Lyon wrote. Untreated sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, memory loss, obesity, parasomnias, and insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes."

To find out more about sleep apnea, its causes and cures, contact me at my Peoria Cosmetic Dentist office today!

Source: www.usnews.com

Labels: sleep apnea, sleep problems, strokes

posted by Donald Wilcox DDS at 9:28 AM 0 comments

Monday, March 29, 2010

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis & Treatment Course | Arizona Cosmetic Dentist

As a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine I was recently invited to attend the "Sleep Apnea Diagnosis & Treatment Options" course that was given by Dr. Michael J. Breus Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Sleep Specialist & Pain Management., fellow member of American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Sleep Expert for WebMD, & Author of "Beauty Sleep". This course was mostly to educate primary care physicians in the causes, dangers, and prevalence of sleep apnea. It also went into the manifestations and diagnosis, sleep studies (PSG & Ambulatory studies), and various treatment options including oral appliances. I was honored to have been one of only two dentists that attended the event.

Labels: Cosmetic Dentist Arizona, sleep apnea, sleep problems