Blog


March 2023

How Can I Tell if My Child Has Sleep Apnea?
Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Sat 03/25/2023 - 09:00

Sleep apnea can affect people of any age, even children. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder. If you have children, it is important that you understand the signs that your child may have sleep apnea. In this blog, Dr. Ivan Stein and Dr. Allan Stein discuss how you can tell if your child has sleep apnea.    

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can cause breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. Sleep apnea in children can impact their health and well-being. That is why early diagnosis and treatment is so important.

How To Tell if Your Child Has Sleep Apnea

The only way to know for sure if your child has sleep apnea is by talking to a doctor. As with adults, sleep apnea in children is diagnosed using a sleep study. However, sleep apnea often presents with a number of symptoms. If your child is experiencing any of the below symptoms, you should schedule a sleep apnea consultation.

Snoring

Snoring is the most common symptom of sleep apnea. If you personally notice that your child is regularly and loudly snoring, or if others in the household complain of your child’s snores, then they may have sleep apnea.

Irregular Breathing

Irregular breathing is also a sign of sleep apnea. If possible, observe your child while they sleep. If you notice that your child seems to stop/start breathing, makes choking or gasping noises or wakes up throughout the night to catch their breath, they may have sleep apnea.

Daytime Sleepiness

Irregular breathing and snoring can impact a child’s sleep cycle. Even if they “sleep” for an adequate duration, they may lack adequate restful sleep. This can cause them to be tired throughout the day.

Irritability

Sleep is important and a lack of adequate sleep can impact a person’s mood. If your child seems inexplicably irritable or displays other behavioral problems, sleep apnea may be the cause.

Bed Wetting

If your child’s brain is focused on breathing, it may ignore other signals, including those telling it to go to the bathroom. If your child is potty trained but begins wetting the bed, it may be a sign of another health issue like sleep apnea.

Complaints of Throat, Jaw, Head or Neck Pain

A child with sleep apnea may breathe through their mouth while they are sleeping instead of their nose. This can cause a number of issues when the child is awake. They may wake up with headaches or a sore, dry throat. They may also complain of pain in their jaw or neck.

If your children have symptoms of sleep apnea, please schedule a sleep apnea consultation with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939

Sleep Apnea Treatment Can Help Restore Your Memory

 Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Wed 10/26/2022 - 09:00

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a person repeatedly stops breathing as they sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat tissues and muscles relax and block the airway. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can cause a number of health problems including memory issues. Luckily, early and effective sleep apnea treatment can actually help to restore your memory.

How Does Sleep Apnea Impact the Brain?

Repeated breathing pauses during sleep can interfere with the body’s ability to get enough oxygen to the brain. This lack of oxygen to the brain can actually lead to brain damage, dementia and memory issues.

Studies on Sleep Apnea’s Impact on Memory

The impact of sleep apnea on memory has been observed in numerous studies, including the following:

According to the Cleveland Clinic, researchers recently confirmed that those who had sleep-disordered breathing had an earlier onset of mild cognitive impairment compared with people who didn’t suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

Another study published in the National Library of Medicine found that the presence of sleep-disordered breathing was associated with an earlier age at cognitive decline.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Can Help Restore Your Memory

There is hope for individuals suffering from memory issues related to sleep apnea. The same studies mentioned above also found that sleep apnea treatment can help restore your memory. The following insight is from the studies:

According to the Cleveland Clinic, researchers also found that people who treated their sleep breathing problems with a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, were diagnosed with memory and thinking problems about 10 years later than people whose problems were not treated.

According to the study published in the National Library of Medicine, its findings suggest that CPAP treatment of sleep-disordered breathing may delay progression of cognitive impairment.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

The best time to treat sleep apnea is now. The doctors at New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions are experts at finding the right sleep apnea treatment to meet the needs of every patient. They offer a number of sleep apnea treatment options including oral appliances.

Learn More About Your Treatment Options

If you have been diagnosed with or suspect that you are suffering from sleep apnea, it’s time to learn about your treatment options.

A Full Breath Center dentist will be able to help you determine if sleep apnea treatment is right for you. Please make an appointment with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939.


Early Warning Signs You May Have Sleep Apnea

New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Tue 05/24/2022 - 09:00

Sleep apnea can present a number of symptoms early on. Recognizing them can help you secure a diagnosis and good treatment with as few health impacts as possible. Poor-quality sleep can have a huge impact on your metabolism, hormones and cardiovascular health if left unaddressed. It’s important to also note that obesity is a risk factor for sleep apnea. This is because excess fat in the neck and abdomen decreases the size of the airway and can obstruct breathing.

Additionally, be aware that men are more likely than women to suffer from sleep apnea. Individuals with diabetes should also be aware of an increased correlation with sleep apnea. Beyond this, let’s explore six early warning signs that you or a loved one may be struggling with sleep apnea.


1. Snoring, Breathing Pauses or Gasping During Sleep

Snoring, breathing pauses or gasping during sleep are common symptoms for people with sleep apnea. Why? These symptoms occur with sleep apnea due to upper airway obstruction. Louder snoring can indicate more advanced sleep apnea. If you sleep with someone else, they may notice snores alternating with gasps for breath. You may also kick or be restless during sleep as you struggle to breathe.


2. Fatigue During the Daytime

Many people with sleep apnea feel they have slept but experience fatigue and exhaustion during the daytime. You may find yourself nodding off while trying to work or watch television. This can also pose a risk of motor vehicle accidents while driving.


3. Hypertension

The American College of Cardiology reports that up to half of those with high blood pressure also have sleep apnea. When sleep apnea causes a pause in breathing, the sympathetic nervous system is triggered and causes a spike in blood pressure as well as stress hormone levels. When sleep apnea is treated appropriately, blood pressure often returns to normal.


4. Memory, Concentration and Mood Issues

Making mistakes or being less productive at work, being forgetful or struggling to concentrate are common side effects of poor-quality sleep. Unexplained mood swings may also accompany the feelings of fatigue during the day.


5. Sore Throat and Dry Mouth

Obstructive sleep apnea forces people to breathe through their mouths at night. A night of frequent mouth breathing causes the mucus membranes of the mouth and throat to become dry. This can sometimes cause a dry mouth or sore throat upon waking.


6. Headaches

Many patients with apnea report headaches upon waking. The exact cause is unclear, but it may be a result of decreased blood oxygen levels and blood vessels dilating in an attempt to compensate for low oxygen. The headaches often affect both sides of the head and tend to resolve within a few hours of waking.

A Full Breath Center dentist will be able to help you determine if sleep apnea treatment is right for you. Please make an appointment with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939.

 
Treatments for Snoring
Houston Sleep Solutions, October 14 2022

To treat your snoring, your doctor likely will first recommend lifestyle changes, such as:

For snoring accompanied by OSA, your doctor may suggest:

Oral appliances. They are custom-fit mouthguards that help improve the position of your jaw, tongue, and soft palate to keep airways open. If you choose to use oral appliances, you should work with your

You should also work with your sleep specialist to make sure the oral appliance is working as intended. A dental visit may be required at least once every six months for the first year and at least once a year thereafter, to be thoroughly examined in your oral health examination.

Excessive salivation, dry mouth, jaw pain, and facial discomfort are possible side effects of wearing these devices.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This technique involves wearing a mask or nasal pillow on your nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask directs pressurized air from a small pump next to the bed to your airways to keep them open while your CPAP (SEE-pap) relieves snoring and is often used to treat snoring when it is associated with OSA.

Although CPAP is a reliable and effective method of treating OSA, some people find it uncomfortable or have trouble adjusting to the sound or feel of the machine.

Upper airway surgery. There are many methods that aim to open the upper airways and prevent excessive narrowing during sleep through different methods. For example, in a procedure called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), you receive general anesthesia, and your surgeon closes and cuts tissue in your throat – a kind of facelift for your throat. Another technique called maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) involves moving the upper and lower jaw forward, which helps open the airway. High-frequency tissue ablation uses low-frequency radio frequency signals to soften tissue on the palate, tongue, or nose. A new surgical procedure called hypoglossal nerve stimulation uses stimulation placed on the nerves that control the movement of the tongue so that the tongue does not block the airway. The effectiveness of these surgeries varies, and response can be difficult to predict.


A Full Breath Center dentist will be able to help you determine if sleep apnea treatment is right for you. Please make an appointment with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939.


February 2023

The Link Between Depression and Sleep Apnea

Have you been struggling with depression? Although there are many things that can cause depression, you should also be aware that there is a link between depression and sleep apnea, a serious sleep problem.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

In patients with sleep apnea, breathing is disrupted during sleep – this can happen hundreds of times during the night without you even realizing it. This, of course, makes it hard to get quality sleep, and you may find it difficult to get through the next day because you are simply exhausted. You may also have dry mouth or sore throat, morning headaches, and difficulty concentrating.

There are some factors that may increase your risk for sleep apnea. For instance, men are twice as likely to have it than women; it occurs more often in adults who are over 60; and if you are overweight you may have too much tissue around your upper airway, which can obstruct breathing and lead to sleep apnea.

What Is the Link Between Depression and Sleep Apnea?

Not getting a good night's sleep is enough to get you in a bad mood, but if you have sleep apnea it can do more than that. Consistently not getting enough sleep can start to change your brain activity, which affects your energy levels, which can make it difficult for your brain to fight off depression and anxiety. Fortunately, there are different options for treating sleep apnea to help your energy levels and your state of mind.

Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is typically the first line of treatment, may patients find CPAP machines difficult to use. Oral appliance therapy is another option. An oral appliance is simply a plastic device you wear at night that helps to keep your airway open so that you can breathe freely and have an uninterrupted night of sleep.

How is sleep apnea affecting you and your quality of life? It is bad not only for your physical health but your mental health as well. To learn more about sleep apnea treatment from the Full Breath Solution dentist, please make an appointment with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939.

Sleep Apnea Treatment with Dental Appliances
Houston Sleep Solutions, January 27th 2023

Sleep apnea is a medical condition that can cause a person to stop breathing while they sleep. It can lead to significant health problems, such as daytime fatigue, mood swings, and heart issues. If you’re having difficulty sleeping due to snoring or other symptoms of sleep apnea, you may want to consider dental appliances for treatment. Let’s take a look at the basics of sleep apnea and how it can be treated with oral appliances.

WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?

Sleep apnea occurs when an individual’s throat muscles relax during sleep, allowing the tongue and soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the airway. This causes them to either partially or completely stop breathing for 10 seconds or more at a time throughout the night. When this happens, oxygen levels in the blood drop significantly, which causes them to wake up briefly in order to regain normal oxygen levels. These brief awakenings can occur many times each night without the person even realizing it; however, it still results in poor quality of sleep and untold damage on their overall health.

Sleep Apnea Dental Treatment

Fortunately, there are treatments available for those who suffer from sleep apnea. One such treatment is oral appliance therapy (OAT). OAT involves fitting an individual with a custom-made dental appliance that helps keep their airway open while they sleep by repositioning their jaw slightly forward or pushing down their tongue slightly so that it doesn’t block their airway during sleep. Oral appliances are effective at treating both mild and moderate forms of OSA, as well as snoring associated with OSA. The appliance fits comfortably over your teeth much like a retainer or mouthguard would; however, it is designed specifically for each patient’s individual needs so that it works most effectively for them.

ADVANTAGES OF ORAL APPLIANCE THERAPY

Oral appliance therapy offers several advantages over other forms of OSA treatment such as CPAP machines (continuous positive airway pressure). Unlike CPAP machines which involve wearing a mask connected to an airflow machine throughout the night, dental appliances are much more discreet and comfortable since they fit directly inside your mouth while you are sleeping. They also require less maintenance than CPAP machines since they don’t need any external power sources or filters changed out regularly; all you have to do is clean your appliance daily with toothpaste and water! Additionally, oral appliances are portable so if you travel often you won’t have to worry about lugging around a bulky machine wherever you go!

Sleep apnea can be a serious medical condition that affects millions worldwide; however, it doesn’t have to control your life if you get proper treatment right away! Oral appliance therapy is one effective form of treatment that offers numerous advantages over other forms such as CPAP machines including comfortability, portability, and ease of use/maintenance. If you’re considering getting an oral appliance for your own sleep apnea diagnosis or snoring issue make sure to consult with your doctor first in order to determine what type will work best for your individual situation! Thanks for reading–we hope this blog post has given insight into why dental appliances may be useful when treating sleep apnea!

To learn more about sleep apnea treatment from the Full Breath Solution dentist, please make an appointment with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939.


Is Sleep Apnea Breaking Your Heart This Valentine’s Day?

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you know that the condition can make you tired, rundown, and exhausted. However, did you know that sleep apnea may also be breaking your heart? Valentine’s Day is about sharing love, so how about sharing some love with your heart by taking steps to manage your sleep apnea?

The sleep experts at Silent Night Therapy want to help you understand how sleep apnea can impact your heart health and what you can do to put a little love in your heart this Valentine’s Day.

How Does Sleep Apnea Hurt Your Heart?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where a person’s breathing starts and stops periodically throughout the night. Obviously, sleep apnea impacts the quality of a person’s sleep and can cause daytime fatigue, drowsiness, and exhaustion. Many sleep apnea sufferers don’t know that the condition can lead to significant cardiovascular problems. How exactly does a sleep disorder impact cardiovascular health? Listen to your heart:

How does sleep apnea lead to significant heart conditions? Obesity may play a vital role in developing both heart disease and obstructive sleep apnea. An increase in fat deposits around the neck can block the upper airway, leading to obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity is also associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

There is also evidence that repetitive disruptions in breathing may damage the heart and cardiovascular system by causing drops in a person’s blood oxygen level. Frequent changes in oxygen levels may stress the body and cardiovascular system, promoting systemic inflammation.

Managing sleep apnea with a CPAP machine or oral appliances can give you a more peaceful night’s sleep and may decrease your risk of cardiovascular complications.

Heal Your Heart This Valentine’s Day 

This Valentine’s Day, skip the flowers and candy and give yourself the gift of better sleep. 

Start your self-love journey with help from the sleep experts at Full Breath Solution, please make an appointment with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939.

Why Patients with Sleep Apnea Should Continue Protecting Against COVID-19

Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Mon 09/26/2022 - 09:00

While precautions against COVID-19 have diminished significantly since the virus’ arrival in the United States, there is no doubt that the coronavirus continues to spread amongst the population. As more and more people return to the office, ditch their masks and resume travel, you may be making your own decisions about what feels right for you and your health.

Multiple studies demonstrate that people who have sleep apnea are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and its effects. Here, the experts at New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions present some of the research so that you can make an informed decision about your health.

Increased Chance of Catching COVID-19

One study found that people with (untreated) sleep apnea were more likely to catch COVID compared to a control group without sleep apnea. Though the study can only show correlation and not causation, it would make sense that patients with respiratory issues are more likely to fall victim to an airborne virus. The good news is that patients who treated their sleep apnea significantly reduced their risks.

Infection Is More Severe

Another study found that the symptoms of sleep apnea patients were harsher overall. Those with sleep apnea were more likely to have extreme fever, muscle aches, fatigue, coughing, etc. In fact, 21% of people with sleep apnea who contracted COVID-19 had to be hospitalized — a rate much higher than  average.

Sleep Apnea Gets Worse after COVID-19

Not only does sleep apnea make coronavirus worse, but an infection can worsen the symptoms you experience for your sleep

apnea well after you start testing negative. According to the CDC, approximately one in five Americans (with and without sleep apnea) develop what is known as “long COVID” with lingering symptoms. This can exacerbate respiratory issues and heighten the fatigue an already-tired sleep apnea patient may feel.

Take Care of Yourself

With this information in mind, it is a good idea for patients with sleep apnea to continue taking precautions when it comes to COVID-19. Wear a high-quality mask (particularly when indoors and surrounded by many people) to lower your odds of contracting the virus. Getting vaccinated and boosted similarly lowers your risk of getting coronavirus and, just as importantly, dramatically reduces the odds that you will end up in the hospital. Ultimately, it’s your decision what kind of steps you want to take; but knowing your elevated risks may make that decision easier for you.

To learn more about sleep apnea treatment from the Full Breath Solution dentist, please make an appointment with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939.

January 2023

Is Sleep Apnea Jeopardizing Your Health?

 Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Sun 12/25/2022 - 09:00

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the throat muscles relax and limit air passage during sleep. This can interfere with quality sleep and cause low oxygen levels. Many people think of sleep apnea as an annoyance because of its main symptom: snoring. However, sleep apnea can have serious life-threatening consequences. Here, Dr. Ivan Stein and Dr. Allan Stein at New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions discuss the ways that sleep apnea can jeopardize your health.

Increased Risk of Health Problems

As mentioned above, sleep apnea is more than just snoring. Sleep apnea is actually linked to a number of life-threatening conditions and other health problems including the following:

Sleep apnea isn’t just linked to an increased risk of life-threatening conditions; it can actually increase the risk of premature death. A number of studies have suggested a link between untreated sleep apnea and an increased risk of death. A recent study by Penn State College of Medicine found that sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause sudden death.

Decreased Cognitive Functioning

Our brains need quality sleep to function properly. When sleep is repeatedly interrupted due to sleep apnea, that can impact cognitive functioning during the day. People with sleep apnea can have difficulty functioning at work or managing their home life due to being chronically tired. When a person suffers from sleep apnea, they often struggle with the following while they are awake:

Increased Risk of Accidents

Quality sleep is necessary for people to function properly during the day. Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of accidents, including accidents on the job and motor vehicle accidents. Drowsy driving is a serious problem and can occur due to untreated sleep apnea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 6,000 fatal crashes each year may be caused by drowsy drivers. This creates a danger to everyone’s health and safety.

Contact The Full Breath Solution

Don’t continue to put your health at risk due to sleep apnea. Effective treatments are available. Our doctors at Full Breath Sleep Apnea Solutions are experts at treating sleep apnea. 

To learn more about sleep apnea treatment from the Full Breath Solution dentist, please make an appointment with Dr. P. J. Nagjee by calling (310) 435-7939. We are here to help!

How your CPAP machine could affect your oral health 

If you have sleep apnea, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t just ignore it. However, for many people who use a CPAP machine for their sleep apnea, they find that the treatment is as bad as the problem. There can be many disadvantages to using a CPAP machine, and one of these is that your machine could be doing damage to your teeth.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition in which your airway narrows while you sleep, preventing enough oxygen from getting into your system. This can happen several times throughout the night, and your brain reacts to this by waking you up every time it happens (although you may not even realize it) to make sure you are getting enough air. The result is that you may be tired and irritable all the time, and you may have morning headaches and dry mouth, but all of these symptoms are just the beginning – sleep apnea that is left untreated can result in serious health problems, such as depression, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Your doctor may recommend a CPAP (a continuous positive airway pressure) machine for your sleep apnea, but many people find that a CPAP comes with its own set of problems, from difficulty keeping it clean, to difficulty traveling with it, to feeling claustrophobic when wearing it. Another problem is that it may be causing damage to your teeth. As the machine forces air into your mouth, it is possible that this pressure is causing your teeth to move, which can lead to tooth and jaw problems and a misaligned bite. You may start to notice pain in your teeth, and in the worst case scenario you may eventually end up with tooth decay, loose teeth, jaw pain, and gum disease. There are many possible problems that a CPAP machine can cause, and many reasons why you may not be happy with your CPAP. But there are other options! An oral appliance,( the Full Breath Solution Mouthpiece) which fits comfortably over the teeth, may be the answer to both your CPAP problems and your sleep apnea. 

To learn more about sleep apnea treatment from the Full Breath Solution dentist, Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 

December 2022

Why Better Sleep Should be Part of Your Resolutions
December 9, 2022

From working out more to quarreling less, all sorts of New Year’s resolutions might be in play for you in 2023. But whatever is on your New Year’s resolution list, achieving better sleep will make your other goals more realistic. In this article, you’ll learn why.

Improved Work Performance

If one of your 2023 aspirations is to boost your career, sleep can be your best friend. That’s because quality sleep improves workers’ performance and makes motivation less likely to fade throughout the day. 

Some people find that work stressors directly impact their ability to sleep. That may create a loop in which bad sleep contributes to poor work performance and vice versa. Should that apply to your situation, consider seeking schedule changes that make it easier to get enough sleep. Also keep in mind that sacrificing sleep to work longer hours is often counterproductive.

Easier Workouts

Does improved physical fitness appear on your list of goals for 2023? In that case, better sleep should appear on your list, too. Some studies have posited that people with inadequate rest are less likely to exercise. Therefore, waking up well rested will likely make it easier for you to pursue fitness-related goals. That’s true whether they involve hitting the gym or taking a hike in a scenic area like Colorado Springs.

Better Interactions with Others

When problems like sleep apnea reduce the quality of a person’s rest, those around them may feel the impact, too. Researchers have found that a bad night’s sleep makes myriad facets of getting along with people harder. Others’ emotions become more inscrutable, one’s own emotions become more unmanageable, and conflict resolution moves farther out of reach.

Fortunately, tackling problems like sleep-disordered breathing to boost your rest can improve interactions with the people in your life. Consequently, if building better relationships is on your roster  of 2023 to-dos, consider adding improving your sleep to the list.

Improved Health

One of the best resolutions anyone can make is to work toward better overall health. Sleep is the backbone of those efforts. For instance, raising your sleep quality may improve your immune system’s functioning and blood sugar regulation. Sleep also improves decision-making, so with more adequate rest, you’ll be likelier to choose healthy options.

Getting Started

Many different behavioral and environmental changes can increase your sleep quality. To find the best approach for you, an appointment with a professional may help. Sleep doctors can advise you on current problems and potential solutions, setting you up for a more restful 2023. 

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 


Is Your Christmas Tree Making You Snore?
December 15, 2022

Does it seem like, around this time of year every year, you seem to snore more loudly and more intensely? Or maybe you only seem to snore around the holidays and no other time of year? Have you considered that it may be because of your Christmas tree?

Should you stop getting a Christmas tree?

Having either a live tree or a fake one could be causing your snoring or making it worse. A live tree can quickly and dramatically increase the level of mold in your home, and a fake tree may have dust, mold, or other debris on it. The bottom line is that you may be bringing allergens into your home when you set up your Christmas tree, and allergies can lead to a congested nose, which can lead to snoring.

And yes, one solution would be to stop getting a Christmas tree – but that doesn’t sound like any fun at all! As a matter of fact, it sounds pretty depressing. Instead of nixing the tree altogether, try these tips:

• Clean your tree off before you bring it into the house. You might try spraying your tree with a hose or even a spray bottle to get dust and debris off, or at least give it a good shake. If you spray it off, leave it outside to dry for a couple of days.

• Get rid of your tree within a week. Any more time than that in your home gives dust and mold a chance to accumulate, so take it down soon after Christmas.

• Store it carefully. If you have an artificial tree, take some time to store it properly. Use a waterproof container to protect it from getting dusty and moldy so that you don’t have to deal with allergies next Christmas.

Have you been snoring more than you used to? It may be allergies, it may be a problem with your nose or mouth anatomy, or it may be something else.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 

Does Sleep Apnea Cause Memory Loss?
Medically reviewed by Nick Villalobos, MD — By Catherine Crider on August 11, 2022 

“When was I supposed to be there?” “What did she say I should bring?” “Where did I put my keys?”

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea (or just noticed that you’re waking up a lot during the night and not feeling refreshed after sleep), you may feel like you’re asking these types of questions more frequently.

This can cause you to question whether there’s a connection between these lapses of memory and sleep apnea. You may also want to know if you should worry about more serious forms of memory loss, including Alzheimer’s Disease.

It’s important to discuss any medical concerns with your healthcare professional. This article offers information about sleep apnea and memory loss to help you prepare for this conversation.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a fairly common condition where an individual’s breathing pauses repeatedly while they sleep. This can cause the individual to wake frequently and not feel fully rested even after “sleeping” for a long time.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can be divided into two categories based on its cause: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. While many individuals experience only one type of sleep apnea, some experience a combination of both.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

This is the most common type of sleep apnea and occurs when the airway becomes blocked or collapses while an individual is trying to sleep. Obesity, large tonsils, and changes in hormone levels can all increase the chance of OSA.

Central sleep apnea (CSA)

A different type of sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not send the signals needed to breathe. CSA can be caused by various health conditions that affect the brain’s control over the airway and chest muscles. Snoring or gasping in your sleep can be a sign of sleep apnea, especially if you’re experiencing daytime sleepiness or other signs of poor sleep.

If you believe that you have sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend a sleep evaluation.

Why does sleep apnea affect the brain?

Sleep is an important time to consolidate memories. Those with untreated OSA may find it hard to recall details from the past because their brain does not have sufficient time to consolidate or encode certain types of life memories with more frequent waking in the night.

Additionally, a lack of sleep can leave you feeling groggy or foggy. This can make it hard to think clearly or solve problems throughout the day.

Researchers analyzing the results of 42 studies found that individuals with untreated OSA were significantly impaired compared to others in their verbal episodic memory and visuospatial episodic memory.

Because people with untreated OSA may have difficulty recalling specific details about their lives, it can lead to depression. More research beyond this older 2011 study is needed to determine the extent to which treatment of sleep apnea can restore memories that have been lost.

Does sleep apnea lead to cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s?

Poor sleep can lead to cognitive decline and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Studies have shown:

Because there are treatment options available to help improve sleep apnea, the increased risk it poses for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s may be modifiable. More research into the effect sleep apnea treatment has on the risk of cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s is still needed though.

If you have sleep apnea, you may wish to talk with your doctor about signs of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s to watch out for, as early detection can be beneficial for treatment.

How do you treat sleep apnea?

Your doctor may suggest a variety of lifestyle changes if you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea. These can include:

While these lifestyle changes may not resolve your sleep apnea completely, they can help to decrease the severity of your sleep apnea and improve the quality of your sleep.

Your doctor may also suggest a breathing device to help provide air pressure to keep the airway open while you sleep. Some of the more common breathing devices include:

Alternatively, oral devices like mandibular repositioning mouthpieces and tongue retaining devices may be suggested to keep the airway open while you sleep. These are custom fitted and worn at night to prevent the jaw and tongue from blocking the upper airway.

Your doctor may also suggest orofacial therapy, which includes exercises to improve the position of your tongue and strengthens the muscles responsible for controlling the lips, tongue, upper airway, and face.

In some cases, surgery may be useful to correct a physical obstruction in the throat, but this is a less common treatment choice.

Takeaway

Sleep apnea can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep and remembering everything you need to during your awake hours. (When were you supposed to meet up with that friend again?)

However, there are a variety of treatment options available for those with sleep apnea including breathing devices, lifestyle changes, and even, in some cases, surgery. These can assist you in getting a better night’s sleep and may help prevent memory issues.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 


October 2022

Is your CPAP machine hurting your teeth?
October 15, 2022

If you have sleep apnea, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t just ignore it. However, for many people who use a CPAP machine for their sleep apnea, they find that the treatment is as bad as the problem. There can be many disadvantages to using a CPAP machine, and one of these is that your machine could be doing damage to your teeth.


How your CPAP machine could affect your oral health

Sleep apnea is a serious condition in which your airway narrows while you sleep, preventing enough oxygen from getting into your system. This can happen several times throughout the night, and your brain reacts to this by waking you up every time it happens (although you may not even realize it) to make sure you are getting enough air. The result is that you may be tired and irritable all the time, and you may have morning headaches and dry mouth, but all of these symptoms are just the beginning – sleep apnea that is left untreated can result in serious health problems, such as depression, high blood pressure, and heart disease.


Your doctor may recommend a CPAP (a continuous positive airway pressure) machine for your sleep apnea, but many people find that a CPAP comes with its own set of problems, from difficulty keeping it clean, to difficulty traveling with it, to feeling claustrophobic when wearing it. Another problem is that it may be causing damage to your teeth. As the machine forces air into your mouth, it is possible that this pressure is causing your teeth to move, which can lead to tooth and jaw problems and a misaligned bite. You may start to notice pain in your teeth, and in the worst case scenario you may eventually end up with tooth decay, loose teeth, jaw pain, and gum disease.


There are many possible problems that a CPAP machine can cause, and many reasons why you may not be happy with your CPAP. But there are other options! An oral appliance, which fits comfortably over the teeth, may be the answer to both your CPAP problems and your sleep apnea.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 



The different types of sleep apnea: Obstructive, Central and Mixed


By Kevin Asp, CRT, RPSGT - October 1, 2022 


The word apnea means "no breath" and implies that, for whatever reason, your ability to breathe has been compromised. Apnea is a temporary cessation of breathing, however: if you decide to hold your breath, you are essentially giving yourself an episode of apnea. Eventually, you resume breathing because your brain won't let you hold your breath forever. Breathing is critical to all body functions, after all, and respiratory failure is not an option.


Your brain generally regulates your breathing during waking periods; you also have the option to voluntarily take a deep breath now and again, such as while yawning or in response to an increase in physical activity, like running for the bus. Once you take those breaths, your bloodstream will self correct for any imbalances in oxygen or carbon dioxide; this "gas exchange" is one of primary purposes of breathing. 


However, periods of involuntary apnea can also happen. Sleep apnea refers to these pauses in breathing which occur while you sleep. The main difference between apnea and sleep apnea relates not only to the time of day, but to "who's in charge" of breathing.


During the day, you may enjoy having the conscious choice to take a breath at any time. However, once you're asleep, you do not consciously control your breathing: it is only the brain regulating your breathing at this time.


When you have an episode of sleep apnea, the brain takes note of the changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream caused by the temporary pause in breathing, just like it does during the day. But since you are asleep, it will now either wake you up or send stress hormones into your bloodstream to inspire breathing in order to fix the problem.


Even though you technically fix your problems by breathing again, it's important to note that, following any form of apnea, you have less oxygen to begin with in your system. This means it will require more work from your heart, your diaphragm, your muscles of breathing, your vascular system, and other organs to bring the oxygen levels in your bloodstream back to normal.


An apnea here or there is not a problem; it's the regular episodes of long-lasting pauses, night after night, and all night long, which lead to negative long-range results from untreated sleep apnea.


Ultimately, sleep for someone suffering from sleep apnea is extremely fragmented and of poor quality, which leads to serious consequences, including excessive daytime sleepiness, high probability of developing other chronic disease, and increased risk for motor vehicle accidents.


The Three Types of Sleep Apnea


Clinically, the term sleep apnea actually applies to three different types of sleep apnea. 


Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)


The most common form of sleep apnea is OSA. The word obstructive is key here: something has happened to the upper airway during sleep to obstruct the process of inhaling and/or exhaling. This an issue of mechanics and it can be caused by a number of things:


An episode of OSA typically consists of a partial or complete pause in airflow for at least ten seconds while you are asleep. During this time, your body continues to try to breathe; the diaphragm at the base of the lungs is still moving up and down per instructions from the brain in a process called respiratory effort. But the blockage in the upper airway won't permit the flow of air until the brain finally recognizes significant changes to the oxygen levels in your bloodstream. Then it sounds the alarm and you wake up choking, coughing, or gasping as you struggle to reclaim your lost breath.

One or two of these episodes a night is not worrisome, but repeated and lengthy pauses in breathing caused by OSA can have a dangerous long-term impact on the body if they are not addressed. 


Central Sleep Apnea (CA) 


The difference between CA and OSA is simple: the body simply stops breathing. The brain fails to signal to the diaphragm to keep working with the lungs and the muscles of breathing to inhale and exhale. The upper airway could be completely obstacle free, but with a central apnea (called central because it originates in the central nervous system of the brain, in the respiratory center), there is no measurable attempt at respiratory effort. 


CAs are temporary, and like obstructive apneas, they also last for long periods of time (from ten seconds to over a minute) and contribute to dangerously low levels of oxygen in the bloodstream.

If you experience an episode of central apnea, you will eventually start to breathe again in a state of "recovery" until you have replenished your blood's supply of oxygen. However, unlike obstructive apneas, central apneas may or may not wake you up in the process.

In addition, some people with CA may actually never stop breathing; instead, they breathe in a very shallow cycle that alternates with episodes of exaggerated deep breathing in a unique pattern identified as Cheyne-Stokes respiration.


Why would your brain fail to signal your diaphragm to manage breathing while you sleep? 



Mixed Sleep Apnea (MA)


As the name suggests, some people experience both OSA and CA at the same time. When this happens, it is called a mixed apnea. The only way to recognize when a patient has mixed apnea, rather than one or the other, is through an attended overnight sleep study where these events can be recorded and identified.


MA is also sometimes referred to as Complex Sleep Apnea (CompSA). However, MA generally describes the mixture of both OSA and CA events in a patient during a test, whereas CompSA is used as a diagnostic term to indicate a distinct disease separate from OSA or CA. CompSA is diagnosed after OSA is successfully treated with CPAP, only to discover that CA suddenly begins to occur, or continues to occur, even after therapy has cleared up obstructions.   


A word about snoring


Snoring by itself is not the same thing as sleep apnea. Snoring does not result in a partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway; it occurs because the tissues in the airway are creating upper airway resistance, which results in the loud vibrational or whistling sounds produced by people who snore. 


However, snoring is a major marker for OSA, and if someone has a long history of loud snoring, their chances of having undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea are pretty high. If you or a loved one has a problem with snoring, it is worthwhile to look into whether the snoring is actually a symptom of undiagnosed OSA. Snoring may also eventually progress into OSA over time, so it's better not to wait until then to look into treatment options.


Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 


September 2022

9 Sleep Apnea Statistics You Should Know in 2022

Written By: Merritt Wakefield


Around 35% of all American adults report sleeping less than seven hours per night on average, and people with certain medical conditions like sleep apnea—especially when undiagnosed—have a harder time getting enough shut-eye each night. When you read sleep apnea statistics, it’s easy to see why so many people are missing quality sleep and why seeking treatment for sleep apnea is so important. 

We’re exploring sleep apnea facts and statistics to help you learn who is impacted by sleep apnea, how it affects the body, and why it’s critical to diagnose and treat this common sleep disorder.

Take a Look: Sleep Apnea Statistics

There’s a lot of information out there about sleep apnea. We want to share some of the most frequently asked questions about sleep apnea statistics, so consider this your sleep apnea fact sheet! 

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is sleep-disordered breathing characterized by a number of involuntary breathing events during a single night of sleep. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is classified by an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which reflects the severity of sleep apnea and is calculated by the number of apneas or hypopneas per hour of sleep. AHI ranges from 0 to > 30, which is severe sleep apnea.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

The symptoms of sleep apnea can be subtle (and mild sleep apnea can present in numerous unpredictable ways), so it’s alarming but not surprising that 75% of sleep-disordered breathing cases remain undiagnosed. Some signs and symptoms to look for include:


Keep in mind that having one or more of these signs or symptoms does not necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. If you think you may have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, consult with your doctor and arrange for a sleep study.

Who Suffers From Sleep Apnea?

So, how common is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea and other sleep-disordered breathing conditions affect all ages, genders, and races. Approximately 3% to 7% of men and around 2% to 5% of women have sleep apnea. Men are twice as likely as women to have sleep apnea. About 26% of adults aged 30 to 70 have obstructive sleep apnea, and though around 20% of children snore, only 1% to 8% of children aged 2 to 8 have sleep apnea. As we age, the rate for sleep apnea increases significantly.

How Many People Have Sleep Apnea?

You may be wondering what percentage of people have sleep apnea. Around 50 to 70 million adults in the United States have a sleep disorder and an estimated 22 million Americans are living with moderate to severe sleep apnea, so the percentage of people with sleep apnea in the United States around 18% of the adult population. Globally, over 100 million people suffer from sleep apnea. 

What Is the Prevalence of Sleep Apnea?

One in five adults have Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea. However, 1 in 15 adults have Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The prevalence of sleep apnea is similar to diabetes and asthma, as almost 24 million people in the United States have diabetes and around 20 million have asthma.

What Are the Risk Factors for Having Sleep Apnea?

People who smoke or are overweight or who have chronic nasal congestion, a narrowed airway, or a family history of sleep apnea are all risk factors for having sleep apnea. Excessive use of alcohol or sedatives and endocrine and metabolic disorders can also increase the risk factor. There are others who are living with untreated sleep apnea but may not know they have sleep apnea; up to 83% of people with type 2 diabetes have sleep apnea and may not know it.

Additionally, Obstructive Sleep Apnea is considered to be a risk factor for many other diseases, including hypertension, stroke, coronary disease, and heart failure and is often associated with other psychiatric comorbid diseases including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.

What is the Life Expectancy of Someone With Sleep Apnea?

A study observing sleep-disordered breathing and mortality showed “a significant, high mortality risk with untreated sleep-disordered breathing independent of age, sex, and BMI [which] underscore the need for treatment of sleep-disordered breathing indicated by frequent episodes of apnea and hypopnea.” Sleep apnea can cause other health conditions that lead to premature death.

Does Sleep Apnea Cause Other Chronic Health Conditions?

Compared to their peers without sleep abnormalities, people with sleep apnea have been found to be at an increased risk for numerous cardiovascular diseases, including irregular heartbeats, hypertension, stroke, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and coronary heart disease. Forty-three percent of people with mild obstructive sleep apnea and 69% of people with severe obstructive sleep apnea have hypertension. Up to 70% of stroke patients in rehabilitation have significant sleep-disordered breathing.

Overall, insufficient sleep has been linked to the development of multiple chronic diseases and conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression.

How Many People Are Getting in Car Accidents Because of Sleep Apnea?

There are some interesting facts about sleep apnea, like that people with sleep apnea are at twice the risk of having a car accident. According to one 2004 study, treating all United States drivers suffering from sleep apnea would save $11.1 billion in collision costs and save 980 lives annually. The correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and driving incidents isn’t too surprising; excessive daytime sleepiness and short sleep duration are some of the independent predictors of increased crash risk in people with sleep apnea.

Further, medical patients utilized 23% to 50% more medical resources prior to a sleep apnea diagnosis, and studies show undiagnosed moderate to severe sleep apnea in middle-aged adults may cause $3.4 billion in additional medical costs in the United States.

CPAP Therapy Improves Quality of Life

CPAP is considered the gold standard for treating obstructive sleep apnea, but this treatment plan continues to be afflicted by issues with compliance. Despite interventions “designed to improve adherence rates over the long term,” there aren’t many clinically-impactful differences. 

One study demonstrated that the quality of life in people with sleep apnea was “better after CPAP therapy” with participants reporting improvement in:

It’s worth noting that losing weight can help improve obstructive sleep apnea and the associated symptoms, though weight loss alone is not a complete or comprehensive plan for treating sleep apnea. 

Now that you’ve learned who suffers from sleep apnea and how many people use a CPAP machine, you may be wondering if you’re one of the ones who is experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea who have not yet been diagnosed with sleep apnea. If you or your partner suspect you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, it’s worth scheduling a sleep study or signing up for a home sleep test. 

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 


August 2022

The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

We sure hear a lot about sleep apnea on TV and radio. Is it as dangerous as they are saying? Yes, it is. It may well be the most dangerous disease on the planet. How could that be?

Let’s start with what does sleep apnea cause and what does it result in. Sleep apnea occurs when we sleep and the tongue, which is a muscle and suffers with loss of muscle tone, falls backwards as we sleep and blocks the airway from allowing oxygen to get to the lungs.

The blocked airway results in low oxygen levels in the body, known as hypoxemia.

When one has hypoxemia, this results in the body becoming acidic.

How do you think low oxygen and acidity effective the immune system? Not in a good way. It weakens the immune system and makes us more prone to illness, body breakdown, and pain.

The Center for Disease Control, CDC, lists on their website the 10 leading causes of death in the USA. One is suicide, and two is an accident event, the other 8 all are made worse by hypoxemia and acidosis. And there are approximately 50 more maladies that are exacerbated by these two maladies. That is why we believe sleep apnea is one of the most dangerous diseases on the planet.

Where has this data been? Great question. The answer lies with the fact that medicine did not and does not have a medical device that comfortably delivers oxygen and elevate the oxygen to abundant levels. Medicines top device is the CPAP which has a rejection rate up to 80%.

The newest addition to this stream of bad news is that the World Health Organization has a new most dangerous disease on the planet, antibiotic resistant bacteria, AMR. They are called “Super Bugs”. Their concern is that bacteria has become resistant to antibiotics and there are no answers coming from Pharma or Medicine. They state that AMR will replace cancer becoming the leading cause of death on the planet.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The good news is that dentistry has an answer for these maladies. Dentistry has a mouthpiece that can deliver oxygen to the body with an oxygen concentrator. It has high patient acceptance. This avenue of treatment is based on the research work of Otto Warburg MD, a Jewish Physician in Hitler’s 1931 Germany, who was awarded a Nobel Prize for showing that low levels of oxygen in the body could lead to increased cancer, infectious bacteria, virus, and increased acidity, acidosis.

In 1944 he was to be awarded a second Nobel Prize that Hitler and the Nazis did not let him receive. This was for research showing that abundant oxygen could eliminate or reduce these 4 maladies listed above.

American dentistry has developed a mouthpiece, the Full Breath, that has a wire tail that can be bent down to depress the tongue and open the airway. And to this open airway oxygen is comfortably delivered to the body with the Full Breath connected to an oxygen concentrator. The body’s oxygen level is elevated to abundant levels.

At this point we are in the planning stages of a clinical study at Marina Del Rey hospital in Calif. We will place the Full Breath Appliance with patients who have bacterial infections. We believe that Warburg’s Nobel Prize research will show that we can get control of this dangerous disease.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 



Our Multifaceted Mouthpiece

We know that sleep apnea and snoring cause low oxygen levels in the body, hypoxemia. This results in the body becoming acidic. These two maladies cause the immune system to weaken and can result in illness, body breakdown, and pain. Sleep apnea is one of the most dangerous maladies on the planet.

As we treat patients with sleep apnea and snoring we see that we are also getting results reducing the impact and even eliminating various other maladies. Here is a list of maladies that, while treating sleep apnea and snoring, we have had surprisingly good results reducing or eliminating the following symptoms:


How could that be? Let me introduce you to Dr. Otto Warburg, the Jewish physician in Hitler’s Germany, who was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1931. He was awarded for research showing that low levels of Oxygen, hypoxemia, in the body, could cause increased cancer, infectious bacteria, virus, and acidity.

He was to be awarded a 2nd Nobel Prize for research showing that abundant oxygen in the body caused elimination or reduction of these 4 maladies. With this fact in hand, we can see why we are getting these incredibly accessory results when treating sleep apnea and snoring. Hitler didn’t let him receive the 2nd Noble Prize.

Working with the new Full Breath Sleep Appliance is a new paradigm of treatment that brings in more oxygen to the body. And when patients have serious apnea and maladies we can get oxygen delivered to the body and meet Dr. Warburg’s desire of abundant Oxygen. We believe we have a super answer for health maladies.

If this list above pertains to you then we suggest you check with your MD or Dentist and get a home sleep test and see if you have sleep apnea. If you need help getting a sleep test you can reach us through our answering service and we can get one arranged in your locale. We can also answer your questions you may have.

If needed can get you the mouthpiece with or without the oxygen to help you with your apnea, snoring, and other body problems.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 


June 2022

You Don’t Have to Suffer From TMJ Pain

Suffering with pain, low energy, and little desire to do much is not a happy story to tell. Would you like some answers that work? Of course.

Well the good news is you came to the right website and I have some great treatment answers. Having treated TMJ and neck & facial pain for 25 years, and sleep apnea and snoring for 16 years. I have seen much misery, and have uncovered great data to get you doing better and end your misery.

Let me start by telling you that I discovered that approximately 75% of TMJ patients have sleep apnea. The two maladies are very closely intertwined. And with this knowledge, we have developed a new treatment methodology for eliminating and reducing pain.

When your body has low levels of oxygen, hypoxemia, one becomes acidic. The combination of these two weaken the immune system from slight to severe. A weakened immune system has its ability to fight pain impaired. And with 75% of the TMJ patients having sleep apnea, they are operating with their bodies at low levels of oxygen. They have weakened immune systems and now we see why they are in pain, fatigued and listless, and seeing a number of health professionals.

With low levels of oxygen, the body clenches the teeth as a defense mechanism trying to open the airway. It is called sleep bruxism. This clenching of the teeth is a big cause of TMJ patients waking with headaches and facial pain. “Menstrual cramps” in the facial muscles.

Well, we do have two answers for this, first a mouthpiece that keeps the airway open when you sleep getting you more oxygen. This results in less clenching of the teeth and reduced cramping of the muscles of the head and neck which results in less pain.

The second answer is a mouthpiece that was developed in 1999 that has you biting on the upper and lower front two teeth only. These are small teeth and they can’t take the clenching pressures that the big back molars can. The brain automatically lessens the clenching pressures about 2/3’s. This mouthpiece got FDA approval as an appliance for the treatment of migraines and chronic tension headaches.

I know these two solutions sound good. My suggestion is that you come into my office for a courtesy consultation and we see what is going on with you and what can we do to correct this problem.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 



May 2022

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome: The Importance of a Dental Diagnosis

By Heather Hakes, RDH -July 10, 2021

As dental clinicians, the medical history and clinical examination of our patients play important roles in differentiating vital signs which may be affecting the patient’s medical and dental health. Recently, the dental community has become more aware of the potential risks to medical health through disrupted sleep patterns caused by anatomical facial variances. Dental clinicians can initiate the diagnosis of possible sleep issues. Most commonly, patients are screened for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but another common sleep disorder is upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS).

Upper airway resistance syndrome is “a sleep disorder characterized by the narrowing of the airway that can cause disruption to sleep.1”  UARS occurs during sleep, as airflow is reduced from a narrowing, not closing, of the airway which can stimulate and increase inhaling. This upper airway collapse can cause “turbulence as a result of the decreasing airway diameter.”2   Furthermore, the typical UARS patient who is “not obese,” may “possess triangular face and misaligned jaw” or may suffer from a nasal valve collapse or a deviated septum.1

Snoring and/or heavy breathing during sleeping are a common sign of UARS. The disruptions during sleep can result in daytime fatigue and frequent awakenings. As UARS goes untreated, insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep), frequent awakenings, depression, and weight gain can increase.2

Understanding and differentiating UARS from OSA is important in properly diagnosing the patient to implement proper treatment options. OSA identifies more with gender and demographics than UARS. OSA typically is higher among men than women, affects those with obesity, and is common among those forty years old or older; whereas UARS is more common in women and not isolated to the female gender and can affect children.  Unlike OSA, obesity is not a common factor in UARS patients.

OSA and UARS share some of the same symptoms such as postural hypotension, headaches, gastroesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and sleep onset.  However, UARS shows signs of increased daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and sleep fragmentation.  Furthermore, OSA in indicated by pauses and decreases in breathing while sleeping. The disruptions in breathing while sleeping is less evident or non-existence in those affected by UARS.3 To positively identify UARS from OSA the difference in responses of an Electroencephalography (EEG) and the autonomic nervous system response of the breathing patterns must be examined.3

Although there are few studies designed to indicate the best treatment of UARS, there are recommendations that may positively impact the sleep disruptions caused by UARS.1 Modifications in the lifestyle of the UARS patient, such as increasing sleep time, positional therapy, and dietary alterations are recommended. Also, weight loss, if needed, may also be an effective treatment recommendation. Another treatment remedy is administering nasal steroid medication to improve the airflow through the nasal passage if warranted.

Similar to OSA, UARS can be treated with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, but this may have limited effectiveness. However, a dental oral sleep appliance is a more effective treatment option because it manipulates the tongue and jaw to open the constricted airway. Lastly, surgery to increase the dimensions of the upper airway is also an option but is a less common and riskier UARS treatment option.

The screening of OSA and UARS may be more common in the dental practice with adult patients; however, children can be affected as well. Typical markers that can indicate a sleep disorder in a child may mimic the same symptoms of an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These symptoms include behavioral problems and a lack of concentration and inattentiveness. Alarmingly, fifty to ninety percent of children that suffer from a sleep disorder develop ADHD like symptoms.4

UARS can affect children due to “minor abnormalities of facial bones” or “enlarged tonsils or adenoids”.1 Therefore, the treatment recommendations to effectively increase airflow in a child are to remove enlarged tonsils or adenoids, apply orthodontic expansion treatment, or prescribe a CPAP.

Sleep deprivation due to a breathing disorder, such as UARS, can have a negative impact on a patient’s health and daily function. Therefore, implementing your knowledge as a dental clinician when reviewing the patient’s medical history and evaluating the intra-oral and extra-oral anatomy for any malformations, may result in effectively improving the patient’s quality of life.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 


References

Alcohol's Effect on Sleep Apnea

By Aimee del Principe May 5, 2022

As a new or curious obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patient, you may be wondering if alcohol use is linked to your condition. A good night’s sleep may not seem as tempting as a wild night of heavy drinking, but hangovers are only the beginning in the world of an OSA patient!

There is a link between sleep apnea and drinking alcohol. In fact, alcohol ingestion can increase the risk of apnea in adults by 25%! So stick with us while we explain the interplay of alcohol and sleep apnea, why alcohol is a terrible sleep medicine, and what you should do if you think you have OSA.

Can Alcohol Make My Sleep Apnea Worse?

Yes, alcohol can exacerbate sleep apnea. Studies have shown us that the depressive effect of alcohol may cause the muscles of your upper airways to relax to the point of collapse. (Yikes.)

Just like your arms and head may feel heavier when you’ve been drinking, the muscles and tissues in your airways relax, too. Alcohol’s sedative effect can also make you slower to awaken when you can’t breathe, making apneas (instances of stopped or slowed breathing) longer and more severe. That means your body has to produce more intense arousal responses in the night (for example, suddenly waking to gasp for air) putting major strain on your cardiovascular system.

It’s not a minor issue - losing the oxygen in your blood (called desaturation) puts huge stress on your body and all the cells and tissues therein. You may wonder, ‘Is it any really worse than drinking myself into a hangover?’

The truth is that obstructive sleep apnea itself often feels much like a hangover the next day, and might even be mistaken for one. Consider these OSA symptoms and their similarity to a rough morning after inebriation:

Daytime sleepiness
 Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Headache
Sore throat and dry mouth
Irritability

The problem that outstrips a hangover is that drinking an alcoholic beverage before bed puts those with underlying OSA at increased risk of the sleep issues they’re already at risk for and undergoing treatment to manage.

Wait, Doesn't Alcohol Help Me Sleep?

You’d think so, right? Because of the sedative effects of alcohol, many people believe alcohol helps them sleep, but it actually does the opposite. Alcohol reduces both total sleep time and overall sleep quality. Talk about a double bummer!

Alcohol has been proven to reduce the body’s natural production of melatonin, undercutting it by nearly 20%. Melatonin is the sleep hormone that responds to darkness so that your circadian rhythm stays balanced. Without it, your sleep cycle can be interrupted, opening the door to sleep disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, and a downward spiral in your mental health due to a lack of REM sleep.

How Long Before Sleep Should You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

We know there are windows of time after drinking that make for wiser, safer (and legal) driving, but what about mitigating the effects of alcohol on your OSA? This really depends on your body and health as well as both how much and how often you drink. The basic idea is to get the alcohol through and out of your system before your head hits the pillow.

To that end, you should typically play it smart and close your tab at least 4 hours before bed. Also, aim to limit yourself to 1-2 drinks in a given day. If you think OSA is hard on your health, alcoholism is a misadventure you want no part of. Be sure to remember to drink lots of water, too, to stay hydrated so your body is better able to clear the alcohol from your system.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have Sleep Apnea?

If you frequently experience the above symptoms of sleep apnea - even when you don’t drink before bed - you should talk to your doctor about OSA right away. Treating obstructive sleep apnea can vastly improve your quality of life by improving your quality of sleep. It also dramatically lowers your risk factors for hypertension, heart disease, and depression.

Your doctor will recommend an overnight test called a sleep study, which can be done in-lab or at home. They will do a systematic review of your heart rate and oxygenation as well as determine your AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) - a measure of how many times your breathing slows or stops entirely each hour. The higher the AHI, the higher the severity of your OSA.

If the sleep study does determine that your sleep problems are due to obstructive sleep apnea, you’ll probably be recommended a moratorium on nightcaps. Sorry! 

More importantly, the medical advice will almost certainly be to begin CPAP therapy. Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) keeps airways open while you sleep. This improves your oxygen saturation, reduces that chainsaw snore you’ve been ripping each night, and lowering your risk of sleep apnea-related cardiovascular effects.

But which CPAP machine should you use? What mask will be best? That’s where we can make your life so much easier! At CPAPsupplies.com we have a highly knowledgeable team ready to help make this process as smooth as possible.

We can offer recommendations based on how you sleep to find you the right fit and accessories. We can’t wait to hear from you and get you back on track to a better night’s sleep!

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 

April 2022


Did Any Doctor Tell You About Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea affects close to 50% of American adults. This results in low levels of oxygen in the body, hypoxemia. The low oxygen causes the body to become acidic.  This is a major cause of illness, pain, and body breakdown.

On the website of the Center for Disease Control they list the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. They are:

These 10 are all made worse by hypoxemia and acidosis.  And you could add another 25 to 100 other maladies to this list.
The CDC also says on their website that 117 million Americans suffer from chronic disease.  And chronic disease is also made worse by hypoxemia and acidity.

Sleep apnea causes low O2 to the body, which results in acidosis, and then we see the effect it causes.  A Nobel Prize was given for research showing that low oxygen levels in the body, hypoxemia, caused increased cancer, infectious bacteria, virus, and causes the body to become acidic.

This is a very dangerous malady that causes disruption with body function.  There are treatment cures for reducing the effect of apnea. Medicine has the CPAP a mask that fits over the nose and mouth or either one and it blows pressured air into the nose and mouth and opens the airway. It presents a problem of being very tough to adapt to wearing it.  Rejection rate for the CPAP runs as high as 83% in the literature.

Dentistry has developed mouthpieces that pull the lower jaw forward to pull the tongue forward and open the airway.  They are called MADs, Mandibular Advancing devices
They have moderate success oxygenating the body. As they advance the lower jaw they have 2 drawbacks: one they cause facial and neck pain, and second the lower jaw can be permanently moved forward and creates a “bad bite”or malocclusion that could need corrective treatment.

But dentistry now has a new designed oral sleep appliance, the Full Breath Solution, that depresses the tongue with an adjustable wire tail and opens the airway for oxygen in the body.  This appliance with O2 creates abundant O2 and converts the body alkalinity. This is the appliance we need to handle all the negative problems that occur with hypoxemia.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939. 


March 2022


Getting good sleep is an important part of enjoying life – it is difficult to work hard, play hard, and make the most out of every day if you are tired all the time. If you consistently have a problem sleeping, it can indicate that you have a serious health problem that should be dealt with. 


Are you wondering why you are having sleep problems?

Are you wondering if it is time to get help?

Read on for the symptoms of sleep apnea, a condition that is not only annoying but could be dangerous.


What is sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. It happens when the muscles in the back of the throat relax as you sleep, causing your airway to narrow. This prevents an adequate amount of air from getting into your system and your oxygen level drops. Your brain wakes you up because you are not getting enough oxygen. This can happen several times a night – even several times an hour, but you may not even realize you are waking up so often in the middle of the night.


How do you know that it is sleep apnea?

You may wonder if your sleep problems are temporary and harmless or if they are something serious. You may need your partner to help you identify some of the symptoms of sleep apnea. They include:

• Gasping for air while sleeping

• Loud snoring

• Periods where you stop breathing

• Feeling excessively tired during the day

• Irritability

• Morning headache

• Morning dry mouth

What can be done about sleep apnea?

While continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are commonly used to treat people with sleep apnea, many people find them bulky, uncomfortable, and just a hassle to deal with. Another option is an oral appliance- the full breath appliance. This appliance is a custom made mouth piece with an attachment to depress the tongue, thus opening the airway without ADVANCING the mandible.

It is no wonder that many people stop using their CPAP machine – they can be uncomfortable, difficult to sleep in, hard to clean, and a huge hassle to travel with. The good news is that if you have sleep apnea, you can be treated without CPAP, with oral appliance therapy from the Full Breath Center for dental sleep!


What is oral appliance therapy?

Oral appliances resemble mouth guards that athletes wear. You wear it while you sleep, and it fits easily over your teeth – after a few nights you won’t even realize you are wearing it. It works by repositioning your tongue and jaw, which opens up the airway, which makes it easier to breathe.

What are the benefits of oral appliance therapy?

A recent study has found that over 80% of patients preferred oral appliance therapy compared with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines, and it is easy to see why. Oral appliances are very effective, but they are much more comfortable, easy to use, and easy to take care of. Traveling with a small oral appliance compared with a bulky CPAP machine is another benefit.

Getting an oral appliance is also an easy process. You and your doctor will meet and discuss your sleep problems and your concerns, and we will go over your treatment options. If you decide that an oral appliance is right for you, your doctor will check your teeth, airway, and jaws to make sure that the correct type of appliance - the Full Breath Solution oral appliance has been approved by the FDA and there are 5 United States patents as well as 5 FDA approvals.

It may take some time to get used to an oral appliance, but it is worth it. Soon you will start to sleep better and feel better during the day, too.

You may think that the only option for dealing with sleep apnea is a bulky and uncomfortable CPAP machine, but that is simply not true! If you have tried CPAP but didn’t like it, or if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are hesitant to even try CPAP, oral appliance therapy may be the answer.

Contact  the full Breath Center in Beverly Hills, CA for an appointment today, at 310-435-7939.