Some Sleep Medications may Increase the Risk of Sleep Apnea

Alcohol and sedatives have long been known to increase the risk of sleep apnea. Interestingly, several studies that have surfaced over the past two years have found that “sedatives” may include a number of popular sleep medications such as Ambien, Restoril, Sonata and Lunesta.

One study, conducted by researchers from the Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center in La Jolla, CA, and the Jackson Hole Center for Preventative Medicine, in Jackson, Wyoming, found that these medications not only increased risks for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, but also greatly increased the risk of cardiovascular failure in people who used the medications frequently.

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

A restful night’s sleep can be hard to come by in our modern age and the occasional use of sleeping medications is safe from most adults. However, when you rely on sleeping medications to fall asleep every night, you are placing yourself at an increased risk for serious and even fatal consequences.

If you have difficulties sleeping, talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes and other alternatives to medications. If you are have developed sleep apnea, talk to a qualified sleep apnea physician to learn more about the best ways to combat the problem and restore a good and full night’s sleep.

If you are suffering from sleep apnea, please contact I Hate CPAP today to find an experienced sleep apnea physician in your area.

Lack of Sleep May Increase Sleep Apnea Risks

A study appearing in the July 2013 issue of the journal SLEEP has found that participants who slept four hours per night were more likely to gain weight than those who slept ten. The study, conducted in the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, confirmed what previous studies have found as regards sleep deprivation and weight gain, but the researchers were surprised at the significant amount of weight gained in the participants who slept fewer hours.

A Dangerous Cycle

Obesity is a risk factor for sleep apnea, but sleep apnea interrupts sleep, making it a risk factor for obesity as well. This allows these two conditions to aggravate one another, causing further issues and increasing your risk for serious medical problems. If you have a weight issue and are having troubles sleeping, talking to your doctor about your options is vital to your health.

Sleep apnea treatment may include things such as orthotic devices to keep your airways open and lifestyle changes to increase your overall health. In addition, getting plenty of exercise and maintaining a healthy diet is often a part of sleep apnea treatment. In many cases as these things increase your general health and help you lose weight they also decrease sleep apnea symptoms and assist in a restful a complete night’s sleep. Your sleep doctor will be able to discuss this with you in more detail during your sleep apnea consultation.

To learn more about treating sleep apnea, please contact I Hate CPAP today to find an experienced sleep physician in your area.

Rhinoplasty and Sleep Disorders

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons there were over 240,000 rhinoplasty procedures performed in the United States in 2012. In fact, rhinoplasty, also known as nose reshaping, nose job, and nose surgery, was the second most popular plastic surgery procedure in the U.S. in 2012.

With rhinoplasty, the size and shape of the nose is altered to better fit a patient’s cosmetic desires. However, in the reshaping of cartilage, nasal passages can be narrowed, increasing a patient’s chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea.

Nasal Congestion

Nasal congestion can make sleeping uncomfortable even for people who do not suffer from sleep apnea. In people with sleep apnea, nasal congestion can make breathing difficulties during sleep much more serious.

Some studies have found that people who have had rhinoplasty experience a gradual narrowing of the nasal passages over time. While this may be an issues addressed by future advanced rhinoplasty techniques, it remains a current risk.

If you suffer from nasal congestion and are experiencing any of the symptoms of sleep apnea, talking to your doctor about treatment is important for more than just a good night’s sleep. Sleep apnea poses a number of dangers to both your physical and mental health, making it essential that you discuss sleep disturbances with an experienced physician as soon as possible.

To schedule a consultation with a qualified sleep apnea physician in your area, please contact I Hate CPAP today.

Can Sleeping with a Fan Increase Snoring?

If you have lived with a loved one’s snoring, you may have turned to sleeping with a fan to drown out the noise. The problem is, fans can actually exacerbate sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders by increasing dryness and irritating airways.

If you are living with a chronic snorer, drowning out the problem is not the best idea, particularly if the method used to drown it out is something that can make it worse. Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea and if you love a snorer, it may be time to suggest they discuss the issue with an experienced sleep doctor in your area.

Snoring Treatment

One of the most effective snoring treatments is a customized orthotic device that can hold soft tissue in place and keep airways open during sleep. These devices can be customized by a sleep apnea dentist and are often enough to completely illuminate the problem.

In some instances, snoring can be aggravated by lifestyle choices and physical factors as well. A sleep apnea physician can discuss this with your loved one in more detail to come up with a personalized plan to restore a good night’s sleep to everyone in the house.

To find an experienced sleep apnea physician in your area, please contact I Hate CPAP today.

Is Sleep Apnea Genetic?

Studies conducted by the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research have found that genetics play a role in all three types of sleep apnea. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that 30 to 40 percent of patients with obstructive sleep apnea have genetic factors that increase their risk for the disorder.

The NIH reports that genetic factors may include “craniofacial structure, body fat distribution and neural control of the upper airway muscles,” but have not yet identified the role specific genes play in the development of sleep apnea.

In addition to genetic factors, you may be at an increased risk for sleep apnea if you:

• Smoke
• Use narcotics 
•  Drink alcohol
• Are overweight
• Lead a sedentary lifestyle

The causes of sleep apnea are not always known, but several studies have found that risks can be reduced by adopting a healthier lifestyle. Even if you are at an increased risk due to genetic predisposition, you can greatly reduce additional risks for sleep apnea by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol and narcotics. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, lifestyle changes are often part of a more comprehensive treatment plan to help ensure proper airflow and help you get a good and healthy night’s sleep.

To learn more about your risks for sleep, please contact I Hate CPAP today to find a qualified physician in your area.

Is Sleep Apnea caused by TMD?

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is the name given to anything that results in the misalignment of the jaw. TMD may be caused by trauma, stress, bruxism, certain types of arthritis, and disc erosion and is often marked by pain and swelling around the jaw joint.

In a study published in the Journal of Orofacial Pain, it was found that 52 percent of patients with sleep apnea had mild to moderate TMD. The findings of this study have been compelling enough to prompt the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to begin studying sleep apnea as a temporomandibular disorder.

With this information, it is not surprising that both TMD and sleep apnea treatment are often treated with oral appliances. With both disorders these appliances are customized by a sleep apnea dentist to fit comfortably in the mouth during sleep, but there may be some slight differences.

Sleep apnea appliances generally angle the jaw to allow for proper airflow while TMD appliances will be created to retrain jaw muscles in their optimal alignment. However, if you are suffering from sleep apnea and TMD, your dentist may be able to customize an orthotic device that addresses both issues at the same time.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms of sleep apnea or TMD, please contact I Hate CPAP today to find a qualified physician in your area.

Can Yoga Help with Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when muscles in the throat over relax and block proper airflow during sleep. The practice of yoga, particularly the breathing exercises known as pranayama, may be effective at improving breathing capacity, toning and strengthening throat muscles, and helping reduce snoring and other symptoms of sleep apnea.

In addition to pranayama exercises, the asanas, or physical yoga postures, have shown to help increase overall wellbeing by assisting in both relaxation and physical fitness. Because one of the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea is obesity and physical inactivity, adopting a regular yoga practice could be used in conjunction with other treatment methods to help restore a restful night’s sleep.

In general, yoga alone will not cure sleep apnea, but may be an ideal type of behavioral therapy that can be combined with other sleep apnea treatments for a more holistic approach. The best way to learn what treatment or combination of treatments will work best for you is through a comprehensive evaluation with an experienced sleep apnea physician.

If you are suffering from sleep apnea and looking for an individualized treatment approach, please contact I Hate CPAP today to find a qualified physician in your area.