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.

Feeling Tired? You Might be Suffering From Sleep Apnea

One of the biggest signs of suffering from sleep apnea is feeling tired in the middle of the day. If you have sleep apnea, you may be waking up numerous times throughout the night, depriving you of the sleep you need. At the moment, it’s estimated that over a quarter of the American population is not getting the sleep they need.

For most adults, seven to nine hours of sleep per night is plenty of time for the body to relax and repair itself. Unfortunately, obstructive sleep apnea can deprive you of this important rest and make you feel tired throughout the day. Some of the most common sleep apnea health problems include:

• Obesity
  
• Increased Risk of Stroke
  
• High Blood Pressure
  
• Impotence
  
• Weight Gain
  

Some people feel so exhausted during the day that they feel the need to take numerous naps just to make it through work or other activities. One of the ways you can take care of your sleep apnea symptoms is by speaking with an experienced sleep apnea dentist.

If you are suffering from lack of sleep due to obstructive sleep apnea and you are ready to fix things, please schedule a full sleep apnea evaluation with Dr. Ira Shapira, Gurnee Illinois dentist.

Sleep Apnea Now Directly Linked to High BMI

A recent study has now shown that length and quality of sleep is linked directly to a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI). The study found that on average, people sleeping less than normal had a BMI index about 4 points higher than a “normal” sleeper.

In addition to these findings, the study also found that “short sleepers” have a harder time falling asleep in general. Despite sleeping less, short sleepers tended to also be about 25% more active than long sleepers during the day and spent almost 1,000 more calories during the day.

This is interesting because it shows that a long, restful night sleep can be even more beneficial than we once thought. People who sleep longer and more soundly use fewer calories but tend to have a lower BMI.

People suffering from sleep apnea can wake up many times during the night because their body needs oxygen. These countless repetitions of waking up momentarily and going back to sleep can cause many other Sleep Apnea Dangers in addition to a higher BMI.

If you or your spouse is suffering from snoring or sleep apnea and are ready to correct the problem, please contact Gurnee, Illinois sleep apnea dentist, Dr. Ira Shapira, to find out the best way to treat your obstructive sleep apnea.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: What is it?

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) has been the main treatment modality for patients suffering with the very dangerous condition known as sleep apnea. The CPAP machine works by using pressure to send air flowing through the nasal passages, keeping the throat from collapsing during sleep-the main reason why individuals with sleep apnea stop breathing periodically throughout the night. CPAP, however, is uncomfortable and many people do not use CPAP because of the inconvenience and bulkiness of the apparatus.

Sleep apnea must be treated; if it is not, it can lead to many serious medical problems including:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Sore throat
• Dry mouth
• Excessive daytime drowsiness
• Poor concentration
• Short-term memory problems
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Impotence
• Cognitive deterioration

Most of us are aware that a good night's sleep is essential. REM Sleep, the time during sleep when we dream, contributes to overall health and proper body function. But during a sleep apnea event, the individual leaves REM sleep many times throughout the night to restart his or her breathing. The result is a lack of deeply restful sleep that seriously affects the body's ability to function.

There are three different types of CPAP machines:

• CPAP: delivers one continuous air pressure
• APAP: adjusts to your need for oxygen by starting out at low pressure, senses raising the pressure during a sleep apnea event
• BiPAP: uses a higher pressure when you inhale and lower pressure when you exhale

To learn more about snoring and sleep apnea, please contact sleep apnea specialist, Dr. Ira L. Shapira, in Gurnee, Illinois today to schedule your initial consultation.