Heavy Snoring Increases Risk of Carotid Atherosclerosis

If you are a heavy snorer, you are more likely to suffer from carotid atherosclerosis, according to a recent study published in the journal "Sleep." Carotid atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque within the carotid arteries in the neck. This can lead to a narrowing of the artery, which can contribute to high blood pressure and reduce blood supply to the brain. However, the main danger of carotid atherosclerosis is that portions of the plaque can break off and lodge themselves in blood vessels in the brain, starving portions of the brain of blood supply, causing a stroke.

Researchers studied 110 adults, both snorers and nonsnorers, and evaluated them using polysomnography (commonly used to diagnose sleep apnea) and scanned them for carotid and femoral atherosclerosis. Based on the polysomnography, study subjects were divided into categories of mild, moderate, and heavy snorers. It was found that the risk of carotid atherosclerosis was 20 % for mild snorers, 32 % for moderate snorers, and 64 % for heavy snorers. There was no association between snoring and femoral atherosclerosis.

Snoring is more than just a nuisance. Not only can it be associated with sleep apnea, but it can have serious health complications of its own. If you are a snorer, you should seek snoring treatment today at the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center in Gurnee, Illinois.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Contributes to Erectile Dysfunction

A recent study sponsored by the American Thoracic Society shows that erectile dysfunction (ED) can be one of the dangers of sleep apnea. The study looked at mice, exposing them to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), oxygen deprivation, similar to what a person with sleep apnea suffers. After a week of CIH exposure, the mice showed a 55 percent decline in their daily spontaneous erections. After five weeks of exposure, the mice showed a 60-fold increase in their average interval between mounting mates, and a 40-fold increase in latency to intromission. Latency to ejaculation was also seriously affected, increasing from just a few minutes to eleven hours.

The study looked at mice who were exposed to nocturnal CIH, and it monitored not only the visible sexual behaviors, but connected sexual hormones include testosterone and estrodiol, endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is the hormone affected by sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, the active ingredients in Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, respectively.

If you want to sleep better and be able to better enjoy your waking hours, contact the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center in Gurnee, Illinois, for a free sleep apnea consultation today.

Daytime Sleeping Leads to Poor Recovery

Earlier, we looked at how sleep apnea can lead to an increased risk of surgical complications. Now it seems that daytime sleeping, one of the possible outcomes of sleep apnea, can have a detrimental impact on the recovery of patients in rehabilitation following a heart attack, stroke, or orthopedic condition. According to a study published in the September issue of the journal Sleep, residents of rehab had significantly decreased functional recovery if they slept more during the day.

The study was conducted by researchers at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. The study focused primarily on daytime sleeping and correlated it with the rate of functional recovery following three months of rehab. Although it did not focus directly on sleep apnea, researchers described sleep disturbances as one of the primary causes leading to daytime sleeping.

The value of the study is that sleep apnea treatment and treatment of other sleep disturbances can be more readily quantified than other variables that inhibit recovery during rehab. Factors like cognitive function and the likelihood of hospital readmission, which have also been shown to be significant variables in determining a patient's rate of recovery during rehab, are less remediable. On the other hand, sleep apnea treatment, whether through CPAP or oral appliance therapy, has a consistent record of documentable success.

If you would like to learn more about how sleep apnea treatment can increase your general health and ability to recover from surgery or injury, contact the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center in Gurnee, Illinois, today for a free initial consultation.

Have Diabetes? Get Screened for Sleep Apnea

About 85 % of sleep apnea cases among diabetics go undiagnosed, simply because doctors do not screen for the condition, according to a speaker at the 35th annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators. The speaker urged doctors treating diabetics to institute effective screening protocols to identify possible sufferers and send them to specialists for diagnosis of sleep apnea and, if necessary, sleep apnea treatment.

As part of the numerous dangers of sleep apnea, sleep apnea sufferers are at an increased risk of suffering diabetes. Some studies suggest that sleep apnea may worsen insulin resistance. In addition, behavioral effects related to daytime sleepiness, such as snacking and stimulant consumption, followed by inactivity, can worsen diabetes and impair behaviors such as exercise and diet control that are an important part of diabetes treatment.

If you suffer from diabetes, it is important to be tested for sleep apnea to make sure that you can effectively treat both conditions together for maximum effect. If you have diabetes and have not been tested for sleep apnea, but think you might have the condition, contact the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center in Gurnee, Illinois, today for a free initial sleep apnea consultation.

Oral Appliances More Effective and Comfortable than CPAP

When provided by doctors and dentists trained in sleep apnea, such as Dr. Shapira, oral appliances are a better option for the treatment of sleep apnea than CPAP. Patients who are prescribed CPAP complain about the noise of the machine, or the claustrophobic feeling of the mask, which can cause nightmares. Patients do not like feeling tethered by the hose. Some patients report problems with allergies, acne, bronchitis, dizziness, and dry mouth or nose, and many suffer chronic sinus infections. As a result, only about 23-45 % of patients actually use their CPAP machine, meaning that their sleep apnea goes untreated and they continue to suffer the dangers of this condition.

Patients given the choice between CPAP and an oral appliance will generally choose the oral appliance, and because it is more comfortable, they will actually use their oral appliances and experience relief.

The comfort and relief provided make oral appliances a more effective sleep apnea treatment in most cases, and that is the reason why Dr. Shapira trains dentists and doctors in the use of oral appliance therapy for the treatment of sleep apnea. Dentists trained with Dr. Shapira provide oral appliance treatment in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Dallas, Texas; Tampa Bay, Florida to Palo Alto, California.

If you have either been prescribed CPAP, and either cannot use it or would rather try a better alternative, contact Dr. Shapira at the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center today to learn how oral appliances can provide relief.

Ringing in the Ears or Tinnitus? You Could Be a Victim of the Great Impostor.

Many people experience an occasional ringing in the ears, but for some this phenomenon becomes persistent and may even lead to a reduction in productivity, an increase in irritability, and a general decrease in one's quality of life. In seeking treatment, people may see some of the best experts in the field of medicine, but still find no relief, despite many years and much money spent on numerous treatments and medications.

Why can something so simple be so hard to treat? Because it is often due to what is known as temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), one of the hardest conditions to treat because it masquerades as so many other things. If you look at a partial list of the symptoms, you can see why. In addition to tinnitus, symptoms for TMD include:

· Headaches

· Facial and/or sinus pain

· Earache

· Dizziness

· Shoulder, neck, and other muscle pain

· Sleep disorders

· Irritable bowel, abdominal pain, and gastric reflux are often associated secondarily

Looking at the symptoms, it's easy to see why TMD can be confused with one or more other illnesses. If you have tinnitus or any of these other symptoms, and your doctor has been unable to provide relief, you should consult with a neuromuscular dentist. These specially-trained dentists specialize in treatment of TMD and its related symptoms.

Dr. Ira Shapira, founder of the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center, is a neuromuscular dentist who can provide relief for TMD and its symptoms. Please contact him today to schedule a consultation.

The Effectiveness of the SomnoDent MAS

The SomnoDent MAS (Mandibular Advancement Splint) is a relatively simple oral appliance for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. It is manufactured by the SomnoMed corporation. Compared to both CPAP and most other oral appliances, it represents a minimalist solution to the problem of snoring and sleep apnea. The SomnoDent consists of two pieces that are custom-fitted to the teeth of the patient. One piece has flanges that fit into pockets in the other piece to maintain the jaw in an appropriate position during sleep.

Although it is a minimalist solution, it is highly effective. Objective studies showed that 63 % of patients treated with the device saw complete cessation of clinical obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (reduction of apneic events to less than 5 per hour) or a 50 % improvement in their apnea/hypoxia index, a measure of blood oxygen levels during sleep. This includes mild, moderate, and severe sleep apnea sufferers. Studies also showed that SomnoDent users saw an increase in REM sleep, and a reduction in waking.

SomnoDent also improved snoring. On average, snorers saw a 43 % reduction in the number of snores per hour. The snoring was also quieter. Both the average snoring volume and the maximum snoring volume were reduced by 3 decibels.

Subjectively, 83 % of SomnoDent users said they had "significant improvement" in snoring, sleep quality, and reduction of daytime sleepiness. Its ease of use meant that 86 % of patients reported using the device every night. And the combination of comfort and effectiveness led 96 % of patients to say they would continue using SomnoDent MAS.

Because it is a minimalist solution, SomnoDent also has the benefit of being less expensive than other snoring and sleep apnea treatment options. If you would like to learn more about this inexpensive and effective treatment option, contact the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center in Gurney, Illinois, today for a free initial consultation.