Obstructive Sleep Apnea Linked to Sleepwalking

According to a new research study, almost 1 in 10 people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea also suffer from some form of parasomnia. While obstructive sleep apnea may not cause parasomnia, it can make the condition worse if you are already predisposed to it. An experienced sleep dentist can help people determine if they are suffering from either parasomnia or sleep apnea.

Parasomnia is a sleeping condition many people suffer from that includes a few different symptoms like sleepwalking, sleep paralysis, acting-out dreams, hallucinations, and even eating or driving.

New research looked at the sleep records of 537 sleep patients and found that 51 patients who suffered from sleep apnea also suffered from one or more symptoms of parasomnia. This means that about 10 percent of sleep apnea sufferers may also be suffering from the symptoms of parasomnia. Parasomnia can be very dangerous, sleepwalking or driving while asleep can injure you or the people around you.

One of the reasons sleep apnea can put people more at risk for parasomnia is because the brain becomes active the going through a sleep apnea episode. During one of these episodes, the soft tissue in the throat closes and the body is momentarily deprived of oxygen; the brain is then aroused so that you can breathe again.

This brain arousal can cause the symptoms of parasomnia. Sleep apnea can have other hazardous affects on your health like an increased risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke. Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea include being tired during the day, snoring, depression, and weight gain.

If you believe that you or your sleeping partner is suffering from sleep apnea or parasomnia, there are solutions available to you. To put an end to your sleep problems, please contact Dr. Ira Shapira, Gurnee, Illinois sleep dentist today.

Millions of People Suffering From Type 2 Diabetes May Also Suffer From Sleep Apnea

Right now, there are more than 24 million people on the planet suffering from type 2 diabetes. In a recent study, 306 obese type 2 diabetes patients were studied while they slept. Staggeringly, 87% of the patients in the study were suffering from obstructive sleep apnea but had never been diagnosed for the sleep disorder.

A healthy night's sleep is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy. For people already dealing with being overweight and having other health problems, suffering from sleep apnea can make matters even worse. One of the ways obese or overweight people can make sure they don't have obstructive sleep apnea is by having a sleep study performed by an experienced sleep apnea dentist.

Type 2 diabetes can increase an individual's risk of heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, and kidney damage. What's worse is that sleep apnea and obesity also affect a person's overall health in dangerous ways. Some of the dangers of sleep apnea include increased risk of heart attack or stroke, as well as high blood pressure.

Obstructive sleep apnea develops in overweight and obese people because the muscles and soft tissues in the throat weaken over time with the stress of excess body mass. This means that as you sleep, the soft tissues in the throat can close, stopping air from reaching your lungs. When this happens, the body wakes up momentarily to clear the airway, preventing you from getting the deep, restorative sleep you need.

If you are feeling drowsy or are suffering from other sleep apnea symptoms, or if you believe your partner has sleep apnea, it may be time to schedule a sleep study. Please contact an experienced sleep dentist like Dr. Ira Shapira in Gurnee, Illinois who can help you diagnose and treat your obstructive sleep apnea.

Snoring While Pregnant Can Put Both Mother and Child at Risk

A new study released information also showing that snoring while pregnant can lead to future health issues between both the mother and the baby. By having a sleep apnea evaluation performed by Dr. Ira Shapira in Gurnee Illinois, you can make sure you put a stop to your snoring and sleep apnea so you and your baby get the sleep you need.

The study was performed on 189 healthy women who were observed and surveyed both early in their pregnancy, when they enrolled, and in their third trimester. The results showed that women who snore at least 3 nights per week had 14.3% chance of developing gestational diabetes. Women who did not snore this often only had a 3% chance of developing the disease.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops in 1% to 3% of pregnant women, and it affects their ability to process sugar. The results of having gestational diabetes include an increased risk of complications and health problems with the baby at birth.

Doctors believe that pregnant women develop serious snoring problems and sleep apnea because the increased weight gained by the pregnant body can lead to airway resistance. An experienced sleep dentist can help determine what the best sleep apnea treatment is for you.

If you or your sleep partner is pregnant and snoring at least 3 times per week, you should contact sleep apnea dentist Dr. Ira Shapira in Gurnee, Illinois to schedule a sleep evaluation.

Trucking Companies Testing Drivers For Sleep Apnea

Trucking companies have a notoriously high number of overweight people driving trucks, and with more people becoming aware of the dangers of sleep apnea, companies are beginning to screen drivers for sleep apnea.

Since sleep apnea develops in seriously overweight people, trucking companies are beginning to treat drivers that may be suffering from the sleep problem. People who suffer from sleep apnea often suffer from sleep apnea symptoms like being tired during the day and not being able to make it through the day without a nap.

This can be dangerous for people whose occupation involves driving a multi-ton commercial truck. Drivers are already regulated, and are not supposed to drive more than 11 hours without a 10 hour break, but this might not be enough for victims of sleep apnea.

Trucking companies believe that by identifying drivers with sleep apnea and treating the problem, they may be able to cut down on truck accidents. If a driver is falling asleep at the wheel because they are suffering from sleep apnea at night, it poses a serious danger on the road.

If you would like to find out if you or your sleeping partner is suffering from sleep apnea, please contact Dr. Ira Shapira in Gurnee Illinois to schedule a complete sleep apnea evaluation.

More and More People Discover They Have Sleep Apnea

With the rise of sleep medicines in the United States, more and more people are discovering they are suffering from sleep apnea. When people come into the doctor and describe why they need sleep medicines, doctors often discover either they or their sleeping partner is suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

With sleeping pills and other medicines increasing in popularity, patients have been coming to doctors describing a few different reasons as to why they need to get better rest at night. Some people want to sleep through a sleeping partner's loud snoring; other people feel like they wake up throughout the night for no reason. Both of these are common sleep apnea symptoms.

Sleep apnea occurs very often in older and obese people when the muscles in the throat become weak and are unable to keep the airways open. The result of this obstruction is loud snoring that can be a true nightmare for sleeping partners. In addition to snoring, the body can also force you awake because it is in need of air. When you wake up multiple times a night simply for your body to get oxygen, it can have a serious effect on other aspects of your life.

Sleep apnea dangers include an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, obesity, and high blood pressure. If you're feeling tired during the day, or if you're hearing from your sleep partner that you snore all night, it may be time to discover if you have sleep apnea.

The best way to determine if you have sleep apnea is to schedule a full sleep apnea evaluation with Dr. Ira Shapira, Gurnee, Illinois dentist.