Pushing A Wheelchair With Our Feet

Heard a funny observation this morning on the way into work: you ever wonder why there are people who are bound to a wheelchair, yet they somehow find a way to push themselves across the street with their feet, all the while remaining seated in the chair?

Then I picked through the morning's literature review, and the disabled wheelchair riders may be similar to patients suffering a sleep breathing epidemic. The increase in middle-age and elderly population's use of medication "sleep aids," and the rising prevalence in sleep disordered breathing that goes undiagnosed. It is a silent epidemic on the rise, and those who suffer it may be able to navigate through their lives with no clear understanding of their breathing disability.

In recent studies, it was observed that over 90% of women and over 80% of men with moderate to severe obstructed breathing disorders were living undiagnosed prior to survey.

Middle age and elderly individuals have a greater prevalence of sleep breathing disorders, most of them being obstructive sleep breathing type. Many sufferers have other associated conditions that make their condition worse, like the rising prevalence of chronic allergic rhinitis and sinus congestion, and the rising incidence of obesity.

With that being said, I have witnessed a great number of patients in my practice that are candidates for a sleep breathing evaluation. And a majority of those patients I refer are confirmed with sleep breathing disorders by our specialists.

We routinely screen our patients for a risk of airway obstruction. Call us today for an appointment.

Treat Blood Pressure By Treating Apnea

A patient walked in to see me last week, middle aged gentleman, energetic, talkative, friendly. Not the least bit stressed-out from all outward appearances. But his blood pressure was 210/130!  His readings came down modestly as we sat and talked.  But I booked him a visit at his primar care doctor's office before he left. Upon examination, I recognized he had lots of risky physical characteristics and a positive history for sleep breathing obstruction. I told him he could manage his blood pressure by managing his breathing.  His eyebrows went up.

It's true--blood pressures are reduced in patients treat their obstructive sleep apnea. The atricle I attached goes on to describe the study was performed with patients using oral appliance therapy.

I am a member of the AADSM--The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.  Call today to begin your treatment.

Let Us Help You Understand Your Risk For Sleep Disordered Breathing

Sleep apnea is more common today than ever. Just look at how national news covers this disease. But a better way of defining this problem is sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). SDB is connected to a higher risk of depression, loss of concentration, hyperactivity, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, dementia, as well as a number of dental problems.Children and adults are candidates for this problem. In previous posts, I have shared what signs you or your partner should look for when you suspect a sleep breathing disorder for you or your family.

If you are worried about you, your partner, or your family having SDB, we can help. We can screen you for signs and symptoms of the disease in our office.

Some people question a dental office as the best place for a screening. But Dentists may likely be the best providers to screen patients for SDB based on their understanding of the head, and neck, the many anatomic signs they can diagnose in SDB patients. Dentists also have the luxury of seeing patients more often over time than their physician counterparts, and that is a helpful element when being able to track changes in patients' health as it relates to SDB.

Based on your initial consultation, we can offer an at-home overnight oximetry and motion sensor test to monitor your breathing and motion while sleeping. We will analyze the data from your at-home test and determine if you are at high risk for sleep disordered breathing.Call us today for a free consultation to discuss your sleep breathing concerns.